Help!

[ORSmurf]

I just got a job at an outpatient cancer center. I have only worked 2 days so far, but my second day on the job was a complete nightmare. There seemed to be too many people scheduled to begin with (more people than infusion chairs), and so I was told that they couldn't really take time to orient me that day, but just to help with vitals and such. I thought that would be fine, but it turned out to be a very stressful and overwhelming experience. Since I'm not chemo certified yet, I obviously couldn't help with that, but they had me doing injections, IV starts and then they showed me ONCE how to do a port-a-cath access/flush and then thought I'd be okay to do more on my own (after having someone watch me one time). I felt so lost all day - I didn't know where things were, didn't really know the paperwork part of it all or the computer stuff either. I'm afraid that if it's like that on my second day that I've got much worse to look forward to. I didn't have a chance to look up policy and procedure information before doing things. I came from the OR and so this is such a different type of nursing that I feel I need better orientation. I wanted to make this change for some time now and am so disheartened that it's not what I'd hoped. I honestly feel like calling tomorrow and telling them that I'm never coming back. I felt so "thrown to the wolves" and unsafe. I don't know what to do. If I quit so soon, I'm sure I'll burn my bridge to ever going back there... then again, why would I ever want to go back there?

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you had such a hectic start. I hope you are treated better during orientation because the patients need you.

[ORSmurf]

I'm sorry you had such a hectic start. I hope you are treated better during orientation because the patients need you.

Thanks! I ended up calling with the intention of quiting, but after speaking to the director, I felt much better. It was never meant for me to do as much as I did that day - just a communication breakdown. I just decided I wouldn't give up so quickly and just needed them to be very clear about what is expected of me in the future. I'm really glad I gave it another chance. This week was so much better. It's still very scary, but I think it's a good change for me.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

Good for you!

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

Good for you for talking to your manager about how everwhelmed you feel! Hopefully this will result in you getting proper training before having to be on you own again!!