How did you feel when you came off orientation?

[wonderbee]

In some ways I'm looking forward to coming off orientation, and others, I'm petrified. I still don't know where to find everything and the speed with which I perform patient is still pretty slow. On the other hand, I think I might benefit by not having someone looking over everything I do. It can be time consuming to chart to someone else's liking and nerve wracking to know you're being watched. Most importantly, will the patient benefit? Do I know enough to recognize the subtle signs of a patient going down the tubes before they become not too subtle? I feel like I'm relying too much on my preceptor to think for me.

Everyone here is pretty much new to nursing and this might be a fresh experience. Can you share with me how coming off orientation affected your ability to deliver patient care? Did things get better or worse? Did you find your groove? Did you feel more comfortable?

[soulfullady]

I just came off orientation last week in LTC. I had five days of training on a 19 bed floor. So far, I have had 4 days of being on my own. Sunday and Monday were rough,( by the way, does anyone else have crazy mondays?) I had to do a single cath UA on a resident yesterday, and I just couldn't get it. I tried three times, the last time it was with an RN, and both the second and the third times the cath went into the urethra, but no urine return whatsoever. I have been feeling so incompetent, not only with that, which by the way, I have only done one single cath last summer in clinicals, but the fact that I had to stay for one and a half, close to two hours after my shift was over to document. I just was so incredibly busy. No breaks, no lunch. Kept getting new orders, labs, reporting to the doctor, answering phone calls, which were either orders, family members, etc., etc. It was stressful, but I got the most important things accomplished before shift change(except for that darned cath!!) But, I seroiusly love my job. I analyze my work when I get home at night, and on my days off(not all day) what couldI have done better or more efficiently, but I am also learning from that and asking questions for sure. I think it's a great experience to work on the weekend coming off orientation, because there are less phone calls, faxes, doctors, etc. that are pulling you in all directions. You can really learn to manage your time that way(until Monday comes:uhoh3: ) and concentrate and spend time with your patients/ residents. Plus there are other nurses on other floors that can help me if need be. Best of luck to you and post back when you have time...:doh:

[jonear2, RN]

Retarded, developmentally challenged, slow, should I go on????

Actually I survived my first 2 days "alone" but I am really not alone because every single one of the nurses on my floor want me to succeed and offer me help, and I am not afraid to ask for it. They all say that the minute that a nurse stops asking questions, he/she becomes dangerous, and I believe that. My manager has an open door policy..well i guess that is a figure of speech because she is mostly out on the floor with us. Maybe I am lucky with my floor, but it seems to me that the more humble you are and willing to ask for help, the more help you will get. MAybe this isnt true everywhere, but where I work its cool because I can ask an experienced nurse something and she will tell me, and then 10 minutes later, the same nurse will ask me a question back because I just got out of school and she is interested in the "new" techniques/theories we are taught. Its a very give and take environment and that made me feel like part of the team. It is never shameful to admit you dont know.

[justjenny]

I wasn't confident, felt I didn't have the knowledge to be practice safely, felt inferior to the other nurses there, felt I would never get it, longed for the days when I was "just a tech" (no slam to techs there, but new grads will know what I'm saying)

Quite normal feelings actually.

You have been reading my mind! LOL!

I certainly had moments where I have had no confidence...my mind started drifting and thinking....being a housewife really would be okay, I could be a secretary again....the housekeeper has a pretty nice job.

These are in NO WAY slams to anyone else...just feeling like too much has been thrown at me too fast, you know?

Here is how I fixed it (or it fixed itself....) TALK TO YOUR MANAGER! I was very vocal when I felt that an assignment was unsafe or "over my head" - yes, the other nurses didn't appreciate having to switch with me but my manager DID appreciate that I was able to speak up for myself and act appropriately (instead of whining/complaining to others, etc)

It does get better...well...because it just HAS TOO, right?!?!?

Jenny