How to deal with day shift and having been out of med-surg for a year?

[ksuSN12]

Hi everyone. I landed a hospital job on a med-tele unit, the same type of unit that I began my nursing career in. However, in this past year, I have worked Allergy/Immunology, labor and delivery, and home care/hospice. I am still working at Allergy and plan to until I cannot anymore.

However, Im worried that my med-surg skills have weakened, and that I wont remember most of what I used to be good at. I'm being oriented on days, until I begin my night shift orientation and eventual placement on the night shift. I am a night person; So having to train on Days is going to be very difficult. Ive tried to switch my sleep pattern to days, but so far, Im still staying up until 4am. I begin day shift training in a week.

Im worried that my coworkers will think I am better than I am; that I will show up and seem like a new grad. I know they hired me based on past med-tele experience and have been a nurse for over a year. Does anyone have any recommendations on things to read up about important med-surg skills or how to survive day shifts? My brain is so fuzzy in the morning and Im not used to 12s anymore. I want to show them that I am capable and am actually a decent nurse. Im just afraid that working day shift combined with my lack of recent med-tele experience will leave a bad impression. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I think you should be up front and honest with your preceptor about your concerns. Tell her what you need extra exposure to. However, I think with practice you will find that it will all come back to you. Regarding day shift, I think a good cup of coffee may solve your fuzzy brain in the morning. Just make sure to get up consistently early so that you will be so exhausted that you will be able to get to bed before 4 am. Start doing this now, so you will be on a somewhat normal schedule.

[icontainmultitudes]

I used to be a night person too and am currently working straight days med-surg. I initially had difficulty getting myself to sleep early when I didn't feel tired, but my revelation was...sublingual melatonin is great. It's sleep candy, and I don't feel groggy in the AM. Best of luck to you.

[Pam68]

Hi I was in a similar situation. I hadn't worked on med surg for about a year also but I do have 7 yrs rn cardiac Tele/ med surg experience. Freshen up on more common surgeries your floor deals with then when you get report from the Pacu nurse you can ask them questions and they are great and usually helpful. It's all basically the same. Monitor for internal bleeding, bleeding from incisional sites, pain, infection, electrolyte imbalances, heart irregularities, respiratory status, urine output, it is still about homeostasis, and pt comfort. Just so you know even nurses with years of experience still ask other nurses questions. I did on my floor and when your charge nurse tells you your getting a fresh post op and tell u the surgery they had you can look up info you need to freshen up on. You'll do great!