I Did It!

I am only 1 1/2 weeks away from the end of my 8 week orientation. I am now taking all of my preceptor's patients and doing all nursing care. Yesterday was the first time that I had 7 patients, which has been my goal since day one, because I will be expected to "run with the big dogs" and take 7 once I am off orientation.

So, I knew as I started the day that it would be a bit more challenging to get everything done on time-I had been taking 6 patients for a couple of weeks or more and had just gotten to where I could keep up with that.

Then during report I found out that 3 of my patients already had discharge orders. And the computer system that we use for discharges was down, which meant learning how to do it the old fashioned (long) way.

I assessed all 7 patients, got a few of those charted, then started med pass. Once meds were done, I charted the rest of my assessments and opening notes and moved on to start discharge paperwork. By this time, I had several charts with new orders and, guess what? Another patient was to be discharged. Then another patient was visited by their doctor and told that they could go home too. And another.

After it was all said and done, I had 6 patients to discharge. My preceptor picked up one of them for me, but I did the remaining 5 by myself, including all of the paperwork, discharge teaching, dressing changes, IVs DC'd, tubes/drains pulled, everything!

I kept expecting to get slammed with new admits, but only picked up one, which was a small miracle, though the pt was fairly complex.

There were a few times when I felt a rising urge to panic, but I just made myself breathe, ate a snack, took a drink of water, and went on.

At the end of shift my charting was complete and I was ready and waiting to give report on my patients. And I was out of the door on time. Miracle!

I did it. I think I can do it again. I really think I can do this after all.