Newly Hired IEN as GN needs advice

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 21, 2011

What kind of advice are you looking for? Your query is rather vague.

As with any new practice environment the following will be useful information:

1. Arrive a few minutes early for your shifts so you can mentally prepare yourself for your day.

2. Introduce yourself to people and tell them about where you've worked before so they have an idea what to expect from you.

3. Ask questions. If you're not sure about something, ASK! You will be buddied with a preceptor for at least a few shifts, and the preceptor's role is to help you learn where things are, how things are done and who to go to for specific assistance. If there are nursing interventions that you've never performed before, this is the time to become familiar with them. So seek out opportunities to perform skills you're unfamiliar with.

4. Take your breaks when you're expected to, and only be gone as long as is customary on your unit.

5. If you feel you need more orientation, ask for it.

Good luck!

nursemich · Aug 22, 2011

Janfrn, what you have written above are those what I really need. Thank you janfrn. :)

How about working with people from different cultures. Are there any specific details that I need to know. What to avoid? Dos and Dont's thats not in the manual but frequently observed by many.

I heard others say don't be so friendly, don't talk about your life as gossiping is one of the problems coworkers deal with, is that true? Another one had told me, "be assertive". and just followed up with "you'll know when you get there".

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 22, 2011

I think I'd be a little quiet for the first few days to see how other people behave, what they talk about and how they treat each other before I shared a lot of detail about personal things. There's being friendly and then there's being friendly. There is a lot of gossip in any workplace. Some people say that women are the worst (and most health care workplaces are heavily female) but studies have shown that men are at least as guilty, perhaps more.

There are many aspects to working with different cultures that you'll really only figure out by working with them. Aboriginals are generally very quiet people who don't like to make eye contact with people they deem to be in authority. they don't make idle chitchat. Their concept of time and the passage of time is unique; they don't focus too much on it so they sometimes are "late". Obtaining histories from them is sometimes a challenge for that reason. People from Middle Eastern cultures have beliefs about health care that may be confusing to those not of their world. They may expect to receive medication for even the most simple ailment and they value promptness. They typically prefer male doctors except for "female issues". Family members will determine what, when and how the patient is told about their condition. Many of them don't eat pork or drink alcohol and a large number of women follow their cultural practices in dress. There are many more cultural influences that you can read more about here: http://www.culturediversity.org/index.html

Being assertive means not saying "yes" when you know that "no" is the correct response. It means saying, "Please listen to me," when you're telling the charge nurse or the physician about changes in your patient's condition and they're not. It means asking for help when you need it and not being apologetic. And you really will know when you get there!

Fiona59 · Aug 22, 2011

Well, people like to know if you have a "certain someone" in your life but they don't want blow by blow accounts.

Do you mean patients or coworkers from different cultures? Two separate topics. Basically as long as you speak either English or French (depends on your workplace) nobody has issues.

If it's potluck, bring a dish. If you are invited to a unit function go or give a good excuse. Don't basically socialize only with others from your same ethnic background.

There is a very fine line between being assertive and being rude/bossy. You need to tread carefully with that advice.

Just be yourself. Co-workers can always spot a phony.

nursemich · Aug 22, 2011

Thank you so much Janfrn and Fiona. :up:

All the questions I have in my mind were answered by your explanations. I am really nervous to start my shift, but upon reading your views it gave me a sense of confidence how to handle those bothering issues. Good thing you clarified what is being assertive because I do consider myself apologetic many times. Janfrn, I appreciate the link. Fiona, about the invitations, I heard that "when you are not invited, they don't like you". As long as they remain professional, I won't have a problem with them as I am not really a sociable one.

Its always good to receive advice from experienced people. :nurse: