How My Orientation is Going

AJJKRN · Dec 23, 2017

I'm happy your getting a "calm" orientation but I wouldn't knock all med-surg areas. Are your acuity and patient ratios lower compared to other hospitals? I'm at a level I Trauma Center and our med-surg acuity rivals the acuity of many of the smaller hospital ICUs...(which is what I have been told by many nurses that have came to our hospital).

guest52816 · Dec 23, 2017

Yes, it's nice that your orientation has been calm thus far.

But don't get to used to it! One night, at my teeny-tiny, rural hospital, the SAME nurse had TWO codes in one night, about an hour apart. The first was a respiratory distress code, and the patient was airlifted to a larger hospital. The second was a code blue, and the patient died.

I think you will learn that things on a med-surge unit can go from zero to 60 very quickly. Never, never get too comfortable in your routine.

And trust me, codes aren't exciting. Especially when the patient dies, and more often than not, that is exactly what happens.

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2017

And trust me, codes aren't exciting. Especially when the patient dies, and more often than not, that is exactly what happens.

When we are new to the profession, we tend to forget this very basic fact. To the OP, enjoy the slower quiet pace and use this time to hone your craft :nurse:

macawake, MSN · Dec 23, 2017

September 2017

I live in a small town so job opportunities are far & few between. The hospital in my town does hire LVNs occasionally, but I never get interviews.

I don't know if I just needed to vent or need suggestions. I'm also really devastated right now. I get this awesome job, doing what I love to do, getting paid amazingly & then it gets ripped away. Of course we needed it desperately. I just don't know how we're gonna make ends meet after October.
I've already started looking for a new job because I know I'm not gonna get good news next week. But unfortunately, there's not many jobs available out there.

November 2017

After I lost my correctional position I was depressed for awhile and I didn't know what to do.

Any way, after I lost my job I started looking and applying for a few jobs here & there (because of everything I stated above). Every time I would get rejected, no surprise there. I saw there were a bunch of openings for LVNs at the hospital system in my area so I applied to all of them & didn't think much of it after that. Then on Tuesday I got a phone call to set up an interview. I was shocked! I didn't think I'd ever get an interview for a hospital position! So I immediately accepted and set up a time.

I had my interview today and it went so well that I go the call from HR on my way home that I got the job!!! I couldn't be more excited!!!

December 2017

I also feel kind of bored, it seems all monotonous. Go in, get report, pass meds, lunch, pass meds, give report. Blah. Same thing day in & day out. Maybe it will be different when I'm off orientation but man, I feel so bored with it. There aren't any codes or anything exciting that happens.

OC, "the same thing day in and day out" describes 99% of all jobs out there, whether they are in nursing or something in a completely different field. It's called work for a reason, it's seldom all fun and games

You've only had this job for one month. Three short months ago you shared the concerns and anxiety you had regarding your then current job situation with us here on AN. You were worried about finding a new job and your financial situation. You have since then found and started a new job in a hospital and that has got to be a relief. Well done!

OC, if I'm honest the fact that you feel bored after a single month in a specialty that is new for you, concerns me. There is no way that you know everything already, despite having seven years prior experience in other nursing specialties.

I'm an adrenaline junkie and I need my regular fix and when I previously worked in law enforcement, I got it on the job (sometimes a bit too much of it). These days I get it rockclimbing and parachuting. What I'm trying to say is that I understand that if you are a certain type of person, you might thrive on excitement and need it to feel content. Routine and humdrum might not be what makes you feel alive and happy. But I must confess, I don't find codes exciting at all. To me they either signifiy that we (the healthcare team) might potentially have dropped the ball on something or that injuries/trauma/disease processes is kicking our collective butt. Either way, not my idea of fun. Sure, the code situation means that we the team get a chance to utilize some of the skills we have been trained in, but ultimately all it means is that a human being is attempting to die on us. It's simply more sad than it is exciting.

Focus on doing a good job and learning everything you can. Learn all policies that are specific to your new Place of employment. Also, focus on learning the Pyxis so that you stop making the mistakes you've alluded to in your post. Being bored while also making mistakes is not a good combination in my opinion. For now, I bet that deepening your understanding regarding pathophysiology of all the disease processes that you can encounter on a med-surg floor ought to be able to function as a boredom antidote and keep you busy for some time. Then, after a couple of years, I would pursue a lateral transfer to the ER or an ICU if you still feel interested in those specialties.

OC, I started my post with a little timeline of the events that have transpired in the past three months. I wanted to remind you to offer some perspective, that you after feeling dejected after losing one job, seemed very happy about finding the job that you're currently working. Not every job is our ideal job. Most probably aren't. But they do provide a steady income and are a means to pay our bills and hopefully also do something fun during time off.

Another thing I thought about when I read your post. I don't think that the reason that many nurses leave med-surg is because it's boring and the same thing day in and day out. I think the reason that so many leave: is that it's one of the toughest specialties out there.

I started off my nursing career with a brief stint on a med-surg-tele floor. Today, I work as a nurse anesthetist. I find that so much easier than med-surg was. Admittedly, anesthesia and one patient at a time, suits my personality and strengths better, but med-surg is stressful and in my opinion needs nurses who have an incredible breadth of knowledge.

Just like I did in the previous thread I replied to you, I wish you the best in your new job, OC!

Best wishes to you Organized Chaos and a merry christmas/happy holidays to you and all of AN :)

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Dec 23, 2017

Best not let that "boredom" show. Managers frown on that. You have not made it through the probationary period.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 23, 2017

I'm happy your getting a "calm" orientation but I wouldn't knock all med-surg areas. Are your acuity and patient ratios lower compared to other hospitals? I'm at a level I Trauma Center and our med-surg acuity rivals the acuity of many of the smaller hospital ICUs...(which is what I have been told by many nurses that have came to our hospital).

Acuity, I've seen most of the patients are up as lib & A&Ox4. There are a few that are in bed & require max assist but they are rare. On our floor it is 6:1, I have rarely seen it go above that. I have also experienced it go below that but never above.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 23, 2017

Yes, it's nice that your orientation has been calm thus far.
But don't get to used to it! One night, at my teeny-tiny, rural hospital, the SAME nurse had TWO codes in one night, about an hour apart. The first was a respiratory distress code, and the patient was airlifted to a larger hospital. The second was a code blue, and the patient died.
I think you will learn that things on a med-surge unit can go from zero to 60 very quickly. Never, never get too comfortable in your routine.
And trust me, codes aren't exciting. Especially when the patient dies, and more often than not, that is exactly what happens.

They have told me time & time again that it's rare we have a code blue & most of the time it's a code white, if we have any codes. Obviously I haven't been there long enough to witness anything but that's what I was told in my interview & since being on the floor.

I like codes & high action situations that make me think on my feet.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 23, 2017

When we are new to the profession, we tend to forget this very basic fact. To the OP, enjoy the slower quiet pace and use this time to hone your craft

Oh of course. But my preceptor also wants me to join in on a code to get the experience of it.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 23, 2017

September 2017
November 2017
December 2017
OC, "the same thing day in and day out" describes 99% of all jobs out there, whether they are in nursing or something in a completely different field. It's called work for a reason, it's seldom all fun and games
You've only had this job for one month. Three short months ago you shared the concerns and anxiety you had regarding your then current job situation with us here on AN. You were worried about finding a new job and your financial situation. You have since then found and started a new job in a hospital and that has got to be a relief. Well done!
OC, if I'm honest the fact that you feel bored after a single month in a specialty that is new for you, concerns me. There is no way that you know everything already, despite having seven years prior experience in other nursing specialties.
I'm an adrenaline junkie and I need my regular fix and when I previously worked in law enforcement, I got it on the job (sometimes a bit too much of it). These days I get it rockclimbing and parachuting. What I'm trying to say is that I understand that if you are a certain type of person, you might thrive on excitement and need it to feel content. Routine and humdrum might not be what makes you feel alive and happy. But I must confess, I don't find codes exciting at all. To me they either signifiy that we (the healthcare team) might potentially have dropped the ball on something or that injuries/trauma/disease processes is kicking our collective butt. Either way, not my idea of fun. Sure, the code situation means that we the team get a chance to utilize some of the skills we have been trained in, but ultimately all it means is that a human being is attempting to die on us. It's simply more sad than it is exciting.
Focus on doing a good job and learning everything you can. Learn all policies that are specific to your new Place of employment. Also, focus on learning the Pyxis so that you stop making the mistakes you've alluded to in your post. Being bored while also making mistakes is not a good combination in my opinion. For now, I bet that deepening your understanding regarding pathophysiology of all the disease processes that you can encounter on a med-surg floor ought to be able to function as a boredom antidote and keep you busy for some time. Then, after a couple of years, I would pursue a lateral transfer to the ER or an ICU if you still feel interested in those specialties.
OC, I started my post with a little timeline of the events that have transpired in the past three months. I wanted to remind you to offer some perspective, that you after feeling dejected after losing one job, seemed very happy about finding the job that you're currently working. Not every job is our ideal job. Most probably aren't. But they do provide a steady income and are a means to pay our bills and hopefully also do something fun during time off.
Another thing I thought about when I read your post. I don't think that the reason that many nurses leave med-surg is because it's boring and the same thing day in and day out. I think the reason that so many leave: is that it's one of the toughest specialties out there.
I started off my nursing career with a brief stint on a med-surg-tele floor. Today, I work as a nurse anesthetist. I find that so much easier than med-surg was. Admittedly, anesthesia and one patient at a time, suits my personality and strengths better, but med-surg is stressful and in my opinion needs nurses who have an incredible breadth of knowledge.
Just like I did in the previous thread I replied to you, I wish you the best in your new job, OC!
Best wishes to you Organized Chaos and a merry christmas/happy holidays to you and all of AN :)

I'm in no way trying to allude to the fact that I know everything at work, I don't. But the routine I'm in when I get to work is monotonous.

I don't plan on leaving my job for any reason & I plan on going back to school so I CAN trasfer either to ICU or ER, since I'm only an LVN right now.

It's a completely different environment than I'm use to. In corrections, I was never bored, there was something new every day. Maybe it's because I'm on orientation, but it just seems like the same day on repeat every time I go to work.

I do plan to keep learning & fixing my mistakes. I don't want to keep making them. I want to be the best nurse I can be & be an asset to the floor. I just want some excitement in my day.

If I could've stayed & worked for the prison, I would've. I LOVE corrections but I can't. I know this is a great opportunity for me because I'm getting to do so many skills that I haven't before. I'm not saying codes are a great thing for the patient, I just like high energy situations. I don't know how else to put it without sounding like a witch.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 23, 2017

Best not let that "boredom" show. Managers frown on that. You have not made it through the probationary period.

Oh I know! Every time I make a slight mistake, my stomach drops to my ass. Lol.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2017

Sometimes nurses who are orientating (and therefore their orientees) get the more stable assignments so there is time available for the orientee to get a good routine down and also time for available education (policies, procedures, equipment etc). Typically the goal is for the assignment to get more complex, but well, it just doesn't always work out like that.

Right now, it sounds like you have identified the things that you haven't mastered yet. I know the Pyxis was my nemesis the first couple weeks at my new job... I'm finally competent at it!

Good luck!