I'm a fairly new nurse--I've been working on a med-surg floor since last June and I LOVE it (in the way that means there are still things that make me crazy and plenty of things I don't love doing, but overall, I love my job). But while I learn new things every day and I'm sure I've made a lot of progress that I can't necessarily see... at the same time sometimes I'm afraid I'm stagnating. There are plenty of experienced nurses around who are generous about helping me and answering questions, but I don't always know the right questions to ask and there's no one really evaluating my work anymore, so if nothing "bad" happens, I don't know how I'm really doing.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me about how to make sure I'm growing as a nurse? I especially wonder if my assessment skills are all that they should be, if I'm charting the right things and calling the doctors at the right times. It feels sometimes like I'm doing the bare minimum for my patients (not that I have time to do more!). Sometimes I feel like I should be making more "catches"--noticing changes in condition or patient needs that have fallen through the cracks.
No one at work seems to have a problem with my work and I think I'm meeting expectations, but I'm really motivated to be the best nurse I can be... I just don't know how to do that!
All help and suggestions most welcome!
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I'm a fairly new nurse--I've been working on a med-surg floor since last June and I LOVE it (in the way that means there are still things that make me crazy and plenty of things I don't love doing, but overall, I love my job). But while I learn new things every day and I'm sure I've made a lot of progress that I can't necessarily see... at the same time sometimes I'm afraid I'm stagnating. There are plenty of experienced nurses around who are generous about helping me and answering questions, but I don't always know the right questions to ask and there's no one really evaluating my work anymore, so if nothing "bad" happens, I don't know how I'm really doing.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me about how to make sure I'm growing as a nurse? I especially wonder if my assessment skills are all that they should be, if I'm charting the right things and calling the doctors at the right times. It feels sometimes like I'm doing the bare minimum for my patients (not that I have time to do more!). Sometimes I feel like I should be making more "catches"--noticing changes in condition or patient needs that have fallen through the cracks.
No one at work seems to have a problem with my work and I think I'm meeting expectations, but I'm really motivated to be the best nurse I can be... I just don't know how to do that!
All help and suggestions most welcome!