I need this question answered...please help!

MikeyBSN · Sep 17, 2009

You should look at the "first year in nursing" topic.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Sep 17, 2009

hard

it will hit you that YOU are responsible for several patients and have no instructor to fall back on.

Just remember to be flexible. The first year is hardest.

kelcat · Sep 18, 2009

I remember feeling like a "fraud" for the first year...like, how can these people actually let me care for them, inject them, etc.? One day it will hit you - you'll realize that you've stopped thinking things through and second guessing yourself. You'll do something on instinct - your new nursing instinct - and then you'll know that you are truly a nurse.

Seek help from your peers - that is something that never ends, even for an experienced nurse. We ALL need help sometimes!

Finally, be kind to yourself...it's a hard job. :mad:

Crux1024 · Sep 18, 2009

I remember feeling like a "fraud" for the first year...like, how can these people actually let me care for them, inject them, etc.? One day it will hit you - you'll realize that you've stopped thinking things through and second guessing yourself. You'll do something on instinct - your new nursing instinct - and then you'll know that you are truly a nurse.
Seek help from your peers - that is something that never ends, even for an experienced nurse. We ALL need help sometimes!
Finally, be kind to yourself...it's a hard job.

Nicely said. Youve given me some hope. I come off orientation in a WEEK and I am admittedly nervous. :stone

kelcat · Sep 18, 2009

Just take it slow. Concentrate on one patient at a time, stay with the task in front of you - if you try to do more than one thing at a time (like you'll see some veteran nurses do) you will open yourself up for error.

Also, speak up if you have too many patients or too heavy an assignment. Silence is the same thing as consent in this case. Each nurse needs to learn at her own pace and if you are overwhelmed you cannot learn. Your charge nurse will not know where you stand unless you tell him/her.

We've all been there - I promise you will be okay.

Hugs.

neonatal_nurse · Sep 18, 2009

Congratulations in advance!

It will hit you hard when YOU are the one whose going to make those big decisions. But of course, you will still undergo training in the hospital wherein you're still under the wing of the staff nurses in the unit. But if you do get hired as a Staff Nurse in the area, when you're no longer answerable to anybody but yourself, it's kinda scary.

I didn't mean to make you more nervous, it's just reality. But don't worry, you're supervisor and colleagues know that you're new so (hopefully) they'll be easy on you. But I have to warn you, not all of them will be so always be alert and willing to learn from others. Ask questions, even the most mundane. Remember, mistakes can be made and that will definitely not look good on your evaluation. Or worse, an Incident Report.

Be careful, always check orders- double, triple, quadruple. And of course, get to know your colleagues personally so that you can relate to each other even after work. Maintain a harmonious relationship with them because you're stuck with them.

Good Luck and always smile! :)