Help....not sure how to be a nurse.

RN1989 · Oct 5, 2007

Everyone feels like that when they get out of nursing school. Are you keeping up with emerging trends by reading nursing magazines until you start your position as a nurse? Make sure that you are going to get a good orientation, that is key to success. Also, you have been out for a long time to still be waiting on a job opening. Is this opening coming up soon? You may need to rethink things and get a job elsewhere or on a different shift. The longer you play secretary waiting for that "perfect" job, the harder it will be for you to regroup into nurse mode.

lilcajunnurse · Oct 5, 2007

you say you are new...soo you should have an orientation and a preceptor. everyone feels that way right out of school but it will come to you and the more you do things, the easier they become. i have been a nurse for 13 years and learn new things everyday. also, most days i'll say "i remember this from nursing school."

don't forget your fellow nurses and cnas can teach you new things. nursing is what you put in to it. never be afraid to say teach me. or refresh me on that. also, use your nursing books as resources and i'm sure your facility has a library of resources.

good luck !!! :nurse:

BetterMeRN · Oct 5, 2007

Everyone feels like that when they get out of nursing school. Are you keeping up with emerging trends by reading nursing magazines until you start your position as a nurse? Make sure that you are going to get a good orientation, that is key to success. Also, you have been out for a long time to still be waiting on a job opening. Is this opening coming up soon? You may need to rethink things and get a job elsewhere or on a different shift. The longer you play secretary waiting for that "perfect" job, the harder it will be for you to regroup into nurse mode.

I've been reading nursing magazines since I started the program, I work part-time as an ICU unit clerk so I see alot, but nothing is like doing it hands on. I just passed my boards, still waiting on my license. If the position in my hospital does not become available when I'm licensed i'll go elsewhere. I really can't take another shift but days, I have school in the eves and I hate nights with a passion.

The position I'm waiting on is on the Med/Surg floor, where the nurse patient ratio is 1:7 sometimes more, do you think this is safe for a new PN grad?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 5, 2007

I still have problems with blood pressure every now and then, and I have been a CNA for a good 20 years, and an LPN for a bit over a year. Invest in a good stethoscope and take every opportunity to practice. Also, there is nothing wrong with asking another person to double check behind you for a few times.

lizzybeth · Oct 8, 2007

I am a new rn, graduated in may 07. I am orienting on an orthopedic post op floor. I started just a few weeks ago. I had not had any patient care for 3 months or so(orientation started in sept.) and I feel very unsure about BP's. I did notice though that the more I do it the more I feel better about it. I have no health care back ground before nsg school, so I feel retarded 3/4 of the time, but I make sure the TV is on mute and make sure the environment is as quiet as can be when I take a BP. It is tricky to me, especially when I see the needle move before I hear a sound, but I tell myself literally to go by the sound, not the needle( i call it a needle--whatever it is called). I also have been taking blood pressures after the tech does to see if I am on the ball or not. Blood pressure is tricky for us unexperienced new nurses who only had the opportunity to do it in clinical practice a few times or with an instructor staring at you, enhancing the pressure! And it is stressfull when we have to give a bp med, or do freq. VS for blood transfusions and what not. I am paranoid about bp's because way back in nsg 101, I didn't pass the first validation (seriously--due to noise in the room and nerves--I was the first one to "perform") So, I have always had doubts in that area.

I just keep on pluggin' along and do the best I can with that. I probably take the most accurate bp's because I am so anal about it, but always have doubts. It is something you have to get used to, like everything else. Take every one in your family's blood pressure--people on the street-just kidding! The more you do it the more fine tuned you will be! I am working on it every day!

Hope this helps!

Liz

DudeNurseRN · Oct 8, 2007

hi, guys. ok, here goes don't want to sound dumb, but i'm not sure if i remember how to take bp's. i am a new pn...have been out of clinicals since may, just passed my boards. i don't think i remember anything, exactly what are you thought in orientation, do they reteach things that you learn in ns? i'm so scared, maybe i'm just being paranoid but i want to be a great nurse.
i'm a unit clerk now in a big hospital here...i'm going on staff as a nurse as soon as a day position comes available. i know the other unit clerks want to see me fall flat on my face, and some of the nurses who think a uc can't be a nurse. i need some advice, i don't want to be known as the unit clerk who went to nursing school and didn't learn a thing.

yup. everyone feels like that when they start orientation.

you are about to get setup with a preceptor. in a perfect world, your preceptor is going to be your "wingman", "go to person", confidant, mentor, and role-model. are all of them like that, nope. do a lot of them fit some of those roles, yes.

your preceptor will help you to feel comfortable in your role as an rn, and will help you to perform your skills/duties that need to get done.

it'll take time, but eventually you'll feel comfortable.