How to keep growing and improving?

[BonnieSc]

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!

[guest64485]

Have you gotten your ACLS done? That's a great way to improve yourself.

[Sunnysidegirl]

I'm a new grad and have been working on a medical floor for 3 months on my own. I know how you feel.I wonder how I am doing all the time.I have not had any complaints so I guess that is good.The patients seem to appreciate me and thank me.But To ease my mind I have been doing some studying at home when I have a challenging patient and when I wonder if I made the right calls and did all that i could have done. I look up the disease or condition in my text book from nursing school and have bought some other books too. My floor has also implemented a mentor program where you are assigned to a more experienced R.N.on your unit that you can go out to lunch with and bring all your questions and concerns to.I have not met with her yet but I think It will help.You should ask if your facility has ever thought about a mentor program.There was a study done to evaluate how effective it is and the results were very positive. I also think it is essential that you don't constantly doubt yourself if you have a feeling about something don't ignore it even if it is nothing it is better to have investigated than not and have all hell break loose.I am also never afraid to ask a question even if I think its stupid and to question the answer if it doesn't seem right.I'm amazed at how many different answers I get sometimes for one question.Lastly,if you haven't already subscribe to a magazine like AJN it keeps you up to date with the lastest research and nursing trends.

Good luck and read read read!