How long until you found your "groove"?

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Specializes in Emergency/ Critical Care.

Hi all,

I'm a new grad who got my first job in the ER. I have been there for almost 2 months now and am SLOWLY gaining confidence. Last weekend though, I took a big blow to my confidence... I was taking care of the admitted pts in the unit. Two of them had lists and lists of orders from the previous day, not all of which were completed, med sheets were incorrect, etc. Then each pt had 2 new docs come in, write orders and were canceling out each others orders, the list goes on. Anyway, I found I had a lot more difficulty keeping these admitted pts organized than I do with the normal pts in the unit. I thought admitted's would be easier to care for? Honestly, it was like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep up with these pts. Just wondering how long it took you guys to get comfortable in the dept? Also what is people's experience with admitted pts?

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.

It took me about 6 months to find my groove. Personally, I don't think it's abnormal that you got a little out of sorts, that would have been challenging for anyone.(especially if you're already tired).

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Specializes in ER and Home Health.

I took about 4 to 6 months also. But I have always adapted to new things quickly. But everyone has their own pace for themselves. Good Luck to you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg ICU, NICU.

About 6 months to feel like I was actually getting it. 8 months before I stopped being apprehensive prior to my shift. Hang in there you will get it. I remember at about 2-3 months into my new career as a nurse I had decided that I made a really big mistake thinking that I could actually be a nurse and it was sheer determination not to fail is what got me throught. Take one shift at a time.

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Hang in there, you'll do fine. You just need more time. Bless you, Friend.

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Specializes in Emergency/ Critical Care.

Thanks for the replies:) I will definitely stick it out, I'm not a quitter! Besides, ER is my happy place :)

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Specializes in ICU,IV Team, Endoscopy, CM, LTC, Homecar.

I was going to say about 6 months for me too. Again I think it's probably different for everyone, and remember everyone of us was new at one time or another-including the docs. Hang in there I'm sure you'll be fine.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Comfort levels may start coming up at 6 months, but you need at least a year for everything to really start clicking.

Admitted patients aren't easier or harder, they're just different. This isn't the flow you've been working on developing. Not to mention conflicting orders are a pain for everyone.

You don't say one day "I have no groove" and the next day "I've got it!". Developing a groove (or falling into a rut, lol) is a gradual thing until you realize hey! it's all been going pretty well, and this would have bothered me 3 or 4 months ago, and now it's just routine.

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Specializes in OR, HH.

Hang in there...be confident in yourself.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Definitely take it one shift at a time ... some shifts will always be better than others! I don't know if it's a little different for me because I've been working in the same ER since 2005, but only since late July 2008 as an RN ... I was very familiar with the way things are done, but making the transition to RN still took time and effort. I didn't come off orientation overnight, that's for sure! :) SecondGenRN, are you still orienting, or are you on your own?

I'd agree that it took about 6 months to find my groove. I'm on month 8 right now, and feeling more capable with each shift, each patient. But I'm still not afraid to ask questions or ask for help if I need it.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

Admitted patients are always a pain because we just aren't set up for starting those kind of orders. Are we going to put SCD's on, turn q/2hrs, up ad lib, start therapy, give chronic meds (or even stock them)...? We just aren't programed to house inpatients...this is why we are called the "Emergency" dept...lol

Don't feel bad about the awkwardness of inpatient care in the ED...same for all of us. And I agree with the others 6months or so you should gain confidence but probably 1-2 years before you feel you have the tools to take care of whatever comes in the door.

Welcome to our crazy world,

Larry

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Specializes in Emergency/ Critical Care.

Hey Lunah

Yes Im still in orientation for a couple more weeks. I pretty much do my own thing at this point and use my mentor when I need help with certain judgement calls or prodecures I haven't done yet...

Definitely good to know that I have a few months left before I should start being hard on myself lol. And Larry, they try to get in float nurses to come in and care for as many of the admitted's as possible but there's never enough floats to care for all of them (admitted pts are a big prob here).

Thanks again to everyone for your replies :) Think I was just feeling a little down about the day, today was a great day though!

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