our internship strories

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2011

Okay, I'll go first. I've been a nurse for nearly six years and have never had an internship or gone through a formal new grad training program. I've spent the vast majority of those six years in LTC, where it is common to receive a few days of orientation before being cut loose to work on one's own.

I secured employment at a rehabilitation hospital last year after having received my RN license and received about two months of training. However, it was very disorganized and I had four or five different people training me. It seemed like I was being stuck with a new person every other day. However, I still work there. :)

Cuddleswithpuddles · Dec 1, 2011

Okay, I'll go first. I've been a nurse for nearly six years and have never had an internship or gone through a formal new grad training program. I've spent the vast majority of those six years in LTC, where it is common to receive a few days of orientation before being cut loose to work on one's own.
I secured employment at a rehabilitation hospital last year after having received my RN license and received about two months of training. However, it was very disorganized and I had four or five different people training me. It seemed like I was being stuck with a new person every other day. However, I still work there. :)

When I hear stories like yours, I wonder if I am a weak softie nursey who needs her 3 months training and baa baa. :lol2:

I kid.

But, seriously, kudos to you. I do not think I could hack it without the abundance of support I have received.

Jenni811, RN · Dec 2, 2011

Hm...when i was in intern a couple years ago, i was doing a heparin SQ injection. This facility used the heparin carpujets (spelling??). You get the idea. Anyway, i was pushing the air out of the heparin syringe, buti didn't take off the green top, so when i pushing the air i met a little resistance but i still continued to push. then BAAAM!!!! the green top goes flying in the air and sticks strait into the ceiling. (it was one of those soft top ceilings) so the green top to the heparin syringe was stuck in the ceiling. we had to call maintenance to get a ladder and get it down :)

Oops!!! haha. It was good that no one saw except my preceptor.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2011

At clinicals, another student asked me to shave her patient, since I am a male I should know how to shave.... She leaves me alone and goes to breakfast with the group, she says that I will be late because I am behind....

It does not fail! The same student is assisting a doctor with a thoracentesis, and she decides to tell the doctor that he should be able to carry it from now, since she has to go to lunch ( she leaves the needle on the patient unattended).... That was her last day in nursing school...