Just Venting!!!!

Hi - just want to extend some reassurance. It's not at all unusual to feel overwhelmed on your first assignment - especially if you are coming from a background where you had worked at the same hospital for a long time. Coming in as a traveler is different since you don't get the extensive orientation. Remember, as a traveler you are dealing with a new hospital, new town, new home all at the same time. Sometimes you also run into one of those units that are just really hard on travelers - really a tough break if that happens on your first assignment.

Hang in there, if necessary get a calendar and mark off the shifts to the end of your contract. As time goes on, you will form your own list of things you need to know as soon as you get to a new contract - essential charting (and what isn't essential), location of supplies, what the CNA's do for you and what they don't, etc.

I can say it gets easier as I have been traveling for 10 years now and wouldn't want to go back to being staff! Starting a new contract Monday.

Just started my first assignment as well, feel exactly the same way. Nice to hear I am not alone.

I have been traveling for 8 years and have noticed a trend. In general for the first month of my assignment I rant and rave to whatever non hospital people I know that will listen about how disorganized and crazy my new hospital is. Then slowly you pick up all the time savers people use at that place. Then after 3 months I can't imagine how anything could have ever been done any way other than the way it's done at that hospital.

I reckon it's normal to get out late as a traveler - after all you aren't familiar with the hospital policies, facility organization, or the doctors - you don't even know how to find the toilet, not to mention a 3 way valve or a phone number - so every single thing that you do takes you a little bit longer than the average staff nurse.

Remember that at the end of your shift you shouldn't really be doing anything else but charting, any patient problems that crop up during report are really the responsility of the oncoming nurse. That's what they are there for - to take over from you so you can go home. Some nurses may give you a hard time because you didn't get a chance to restart that IV line or whatever - but you are now off the clock so it's their job and if they choose to have a bad attitude it's not your fault. I know sometimes it's hard to let go - I am working on it myself but when our shift is over it's time to finish up writing and get out of there!

Just remember to ask lots of questions - don't beat yourself up over small mistakes - I mean I bet there are plenty of other nurses who forgot to fill in this form or that - but most of the time forms don't really affect the patient's care anyway - just a bunch of legal crap! It didn't make any difference in that patient's life that you didn't fill out the restraint form - but your caring attention did.

Thanks for the support on this post. I was offered to stay another 3 months after this contract is over, but I don't know. Any one know of great ICU positions (CVICU/MICU/ICU) maybe up north? Thanks. Oh yeah, things are a little smoother now, still a task at times, but I am working on it.

Hi,

If I weren't such a new grad myself I might have some advice to give you, sorry. The reason I felt compelled to answer your post was because I couldn't believe I was reading the words you wrote; you sound so much like me. I have said and felt everything you have written! I've been working in a surgical ICU since June and am so overwhelmed I have decided to look into something different. Like you, I feel there are a million things to remember, I don't think I've EVER left on time, I know I am slow but don't know where the shortcuts are. One time my 12-hour shift turned into a 16 hour shift because I was so far behind and was having a hard time figuring out how to properly chart all the happenings of the day. I didn't even take a break that day. All the advice I have been given is to give myself time, not to be so hard on myself, things will get better as I work out the things that slow me down, like not being sure if I know all the steps of a procedure I've done before or thinking with my feet instead of my head. I know with time things do get better. Good luck, I hope traveling works out for you.

Ali