Are there any Nurses out there that started fresh from Nursing school with absolutly no Medical experience (CNA or LPN) or even worked in the medical field at all. While in school, I worked as a bartender, waitress.. anything that I could work few hours and make good money so I could afford school and time to study.
I wanted to get a job as CNA to get experience and foot in the door but Was so bent on getting great grades that I used the time to study. Yeah, I got great grades but feel like I missed out on a great opportunity.
I started a job in LTC and Iam Soooo overwhelmed. Never mind the paperwork, meds.... just knowing the basic stuff is all new to me. I wonder if I'll ever learn it all and become a confident more importantly competant (sp?)
Nurse. Has anyone out there started like this, and what did you do to learn everything you needed to learn? how long did it take? Any advice/words of wisdom?
I was a waitress for 13 years. Time management and multitasking were automatic, as was interaction with the public and meal passing lol....... No previous medical experience required.
The schooling was very doable. I am always learning, and my mind is not stagnant.
I had no health background.. I have had 3 nursing jobs so far. The 3rd is the first and only to give me more than 1 day of orientation. yes i was scared and i had anxiety but I have lots of books that I keep with me at all times(drug, signs and symptoms and procedure manual) I have learned as I go and I do have lots of reading material when I run across something new. I am alone going from home to home but I am confident in myself and my ability to get the job done. my teachers told 85 percent of what you learn will be in the field and can not be taught. so read when your off and really jump in when you find someone doing something you have not had the chance to do or experience :)
I knew nothing about nursing or hospitals when I entered nursing in 1982 at age 29.
Every time an instructor mentioned that some cultural groups thought a hospital was where people went to die I would think, Yikes, that is what I think! I thought I could do serious harm or cause death by my slightest mistake or doing a procedure (like checking a pulse or taking a blood pressure) the wrong way!
Me, me! How about making an occupied bed or putting on an "Attends" (adult diaper for anyone who doesn't know)...Even beyond that, OMG the PCT's at my job know so much! I wish I had that experience!!!!! It's really hard to be a new nurse with no medical experience.
Being a brand new nurse was scary enough with the 3 years of experience as a CNA. I was at least comfortable in the setting and working with patients. But I know great nurses who never did anything in healthcare before, so just letting youknow it gets easier. And LTC can be very overwhelming, so many people to take care of. It will get more managable!
I worked as a medical claims adjuster before going to nursing school. I had no clue about nursing and like others have said, my years of waitressing and being a single mom certainly helped in my time management skills.
My first year of nursing was spent in LTC...OMG...how on earth do I put on that diaper? L0L I also had little experience with the elderly so that was something new to learn too.
I've been at my new job in medical rehab for 5 months. I finally feel like I'm settling in and feel more confident about my skills. I'm learning more in this job than I ever did in LTC without being overrun with stress.
I am in a similar boat to you. I graduated in May, took the NCLEX in July and started working a SNF/LTC about a month ago with only years of deli experience to back me up.
The most important thing is to be honest with yourself. Know if you don't know something and DO NOT BE AFRAID to ask. Sometimes coworkers are not always patient or nice, but there will always be SOMEONE in the facility who has time to answer your questions. Do not risk making a mistake and losing your license (God knows we worked hard for them) because you are too afraid to ask questions. Everyday there is something to learn.
I work 11p-7a and I float. Floating has its ups and downs- I get a huge variety of residents so I am always learning new things. On the downside, I don't know the residents behaviors as well as their normal floor nurse might, so it's always helpful to utilize the CNAs. Also- sometimes the floor nurses bend the rules for certain residents (ie- giving cough syrup or tylenol with no order, giving extra breathing treatments or oxygen to get them off the call light, whatever). I strictly follow the orders. We have a lot of psych patients and it's impossible to tell who is being manipulative. I tell the resident that I can only control what I do, and I stay firm with staying in line with the orders. Sure- cough syrup isnt a big deal- but it's also a stupid thing to lose your job or license over if something goes wrong. "The other nurses do it" will not save your license.
I keep a paper with me all the time. It has the number to the pharmacy and the number to the facility (the pharmacy always wants to know it.) It has a check list of everything that needs to be done every night. I also have a spot to write who needs to be charted on and for what, a spot for things I want to look up and learn about when I get home (VERY important!!) and a spot for what I want to tell the next nurse in report. It's easy to lose your brain when you have 28 residents- it's a lot less easy when it's written down on paper :)
Most importantly- do the right thing. I know at the facility I work at there is A LOT of complacency. Think about how hard you worked for your license and do not lose it (or your job) for something stupid. You can only be responsible for what you do or dont do. I personally check everything- it takes extra time but if I'm responsible for having 35 cards of narcotics and I trust the last nurse who trusted the last nurse ect, and the next nurse wants to actually check and theres only 34- guess who is in trouble?
Thats my rant- this was not my first choice of a nursing job (gotta start somewhere) but I really do love it. I love the residents (even the ones that are always on their call light). I love that I learn something new everyday. The best thing about being a new nurse is that there is ALWAYS something to learn.
That being said, know it DOES get easier. I promise. Just be patient and know that you are learning.
ADP RN Thank you so much for your input... I feel alot better knowing that I am not the only one who feels this way. And thanks for the tips... it helps :)
Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....
I went straight from high school into nursing school, then straight to the hospital on 11-7 as team leader/charge RN for pediatrics and med surg. I was as green as grass and as immature as could be. I learned hard and fast.
My advice: Listen, write things down, look things up, ask questions, and always look for opportunities to learn.
seeIseeyou
3 Posts
I was a waitress for 13 years. Time management and multitasking were automatic, as was interaction with the public and meal passing lol....... No previous medical experience required.
The schooling was very doable. I am always learning, and my mind is not stagnant.