In over my head?

Nurses Safety

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I would just like to run this by a few of you............any advice would be appreciated!

I just took a job last week at a hospital based pain clinic (invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablations, epidural steroid injections, discograms, ect...... most with the use of conscious sedation). I have no previous experience with procedural pain management but with the economy the way that it is I was extremely happy to be offered the job. The interview went fantastic and I was told I would have at least one month of orientation to the clinic. First day on the job I learned that the only nurse (my mentor) that knows how to do the procedures will be leaving this week. That means my orientation will consist of 5 days before that nurse leaves for 3 whole weeks. I am not ACLS certified and I have very little experience with conscious sedation and I am expected to run an entire pain clinic by myself after only 5 days?!?!??! I am extremely overwhelmed and honestly scared out of my mind. I won't even be able to see all of the procedures by the time my mentor leaves and I am expected to know how to run an entire clinic (up to 25 patients a day). I am also concerned about the legal aspects of the clinic. Two physicians operate out of the clinic---one who conservatively does procedures on 4 pts a day, the other who sees 20 pts in a 5 hour block and not only expects the nurse to administer the fentanyl and versed but also expects me to be able to monitor the pt and be his personal scrub nurse at the same time. I just feel in over my head. What do you all think? Should I just try to do my best of bring this up to my manager and the HR department at the hospital?? Thanks

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Sorry, but not knowing anything about the procedures, promised orientation and receiving 1/3 or less...I wouldn't do it, your license could be on the line.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I would just like to run this by a few of you............any advice would be appreciated!

I just took a job last week at a hospital based pain clinic (invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablations, epidural steroid injections, discograms, ect...... most with the use of conscious sedation). I have no previous experience with procedural pain management but with the economy the way that it is I was extremely happy to be offered the job. The interview went fantastic and I was told I would have at least one month of orientation to the clinic. First day on the job I learned that the only nurse (my mentor) that knows how to do the procedures will be leaving this week. That means my orientation will consist of 5 days before that nurse leaves for 3 whole weeks. I am not ACLS certified and I have very little experience with conscious sedation and I am expected to run an entire pain clinic by myself after only 5 days?!?!??! I am extremely overwhelmed and honestly scared out of my mind. I won't even be able to see all of the procedures by the time my mentor leaves and I am expected to know how to run an entire clinic (up to 25 patients a day). I am also concerned about the legal aspects of the clinic. Two physicians operate out of the clinic---one who conservatively does procedures on 4 pts a day, the other who sees 20 pts in a 5 hour block and not only expects the nurse to administer the fentanyl and versed but also expects me to be able to monitor the pt and be his personal scrub nurse at the same time. I just feel in over my head. What do you all think? Should I just try to do my best of bring this up to my manager and the HR department at the hospital?? Thanks

I've never worked in a pain clinic, but this. . . why in God's name would they do this to you?? It makes me very, very angry. No, I wouldn't set foot in there. Your mentor may just have to postpone her vacation. Since it's hospital based, maybe there are more resources available to you. grrrr

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I can always count on coming to AN and reading another story of a nurse being put in ridiculous situations. NO WAY would I do it, ever ever ever ever...... and I'm sorry you are even being asked!!!!

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Specializes in PICU/NICU.

You have little experience with concious sedation and you are not ACLS certified..... and your new employer sees nothing wrong with sending you out on your own to manage all of these patients??? RUN... RUN... RUN... NOW!!

By accepting this situation, you are agreeing that you can, in fact, perform to standards. What if something goes wrong? Your employer will simply say that you agreed to the assignment- you will be hung out to dry!

Remember... YOU are responsible for YOUR licence... YOU need to stand up and say- "hey, you promised me 1 month and you are giving me 5 days. I am not willing to put our patients in this situation."

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

By accepting this situation, you are agreeing that you can, in fact, perform to standards. What if something goes wrong? Your employer will simply say that you agreed to the assignment- you will be hung out to dry!

The bolded is all that needs to be said... so if you believe you can do all of this, 24 or more procedures a day after a 5 day orientation, have fun being a nurse for another 1-2 days before you have to find a new career.:down:

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I just wanted to say thank you for all of the feedback. I know that I am in over my head but I guess I just wanted to hear it from other nurses to validate my concerns. Its hard to eplain to friends and family that mistakes in our careers have potentially fatal conciquences-------non medical people just keep telling me to suck it up and do the job. :banghead: Thanks again-----I will be talking to my manager on Monday to find out what expectaions he had for me in the first place....

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