How do you get use the new hospital feeling?

NedRN · Nov 29, 2015

It will get better the more hospitals you go to.

Argo · Nov 29, 2015

Eventually they will all become the same. Just learn to introduce yourself to everyone, all the time....

NedRN · Nov 30, 2015

By the way, that feeling is actually a good thing. It keeps you sharp and improving professionally. No chance of falling into a rut or taking shortcuts.

Bluebolt · Nov 30, 2015

The first few days every contract it's like being the new kid at school. Although the good news is after a few times you become good at being the new kid, so to speak. In the ICU you will rely heavily on your orientation nurse and charge nurse your first few days, charting style, protocols, unit rules, etc. After about 5 or 6 shifts though I usually feel right at home and practicing independent. Of course for tiny administration details and such I mostly call on the charge nurse to handle.

As for telephone number and door codes I keep a small paper pad in my pocket with the important ones written down. I use the operator usually to connect me to wherever I need to call and the secretaries know me well for my needs with clerical stuff. Just give them a smile and say thank you and they typically don't mind helping you out. When every three months you change hospitals it's not feasible for you to learn all the phone numbers and small clerical details.

SarahEAW · Nov 30, 2015

Be flexible and focus on the patient care & giving excellent care in the specialty that you work in.. are you certified? are you in your professional organization? Being involved there can help you stay abreast of the latest care standards. Learn where & who your resources are & where to find policies for the hospital you are working in.

I used to do staffing and you have to be ok with not being "involved" in unit politics etc. I liked that part and also the great pay!

Burphel · Dec 2, 2015

Introduce yourself to everyone you see. Ask lots of questions, especially the first day. Always know where the bathroom, med room, and crash cart are. Find out how you know who's on call and how to contact them. Find out how much autonomy they expect/allow (I like to ask my orientation buddy what they do when a pt complains of chest pain - I've had everything from getting an EKG/Troponin and trying SL nitro before calling the doc to calling right away).

Secretaries usually have an abbreviated phone list with who they call the most. Get a copy, take it home, and make your own list, shrink it down and put it on a card that'll fit in one of your scrub pockets or behind your badge.

On the other side of the card, put all the door codes/passwords you need in random order. For important ones like your EMR password, make up one or two dummies that have the same format and include them on the card. Technically, you shouldn't write that stuff down, but when somebody looks at a sheet with 20 different passwords in random order with no login, they're not gonna know which is which. If it's good enough for nuclear launch codes... Just be sure to hide it in your skivvies if Joint Commission comes around.

RunawayN · Dec 3, 2015

By the way, that feeling is actually a good thing. It keeps you sharp and improving professionally. No chance of falling into a rut or taking shortcuts.

I think that is also what's stressing me out! Learning "their" right ways to do things!!!

RunawayN · Dec 3, 2015

(I like to ask my orientation buddy what they do when a pt complains of chest pain - I've had everything from getting an EKG/Troponin and trying SL nitro before calling the doc to calling right away).

That's actually really good advice, Thanks!