M/S 1st year--don't know if I can do this...........

bigmona · Sep 4, 2006

it sounds like we have the same preceptor. i have had days like you described and then all she tells me is "you really need to have all your notes done by this time" and asks me twelve times if I've done chart checks. i've tried to explain that i don't know how i could possibly go any faster and i feel like i'm doing the best i can. it's not like i'll forget to do a note if she doesn't remind me. i feel like she thinks i'm a five year old at times, the way she speaks to me and reminds me to do things i already know i need to do. gee, thanks, as if i already wasn't overwhelmed- your nagging really helps me feel less stressed out!:icon_roll not to mention her frequent coffee breaks- and then the annoyed tone i can hear in her voice when i call her phone to ask a question if i can't find her in person.

at times i think it's okay, when i get off orientation, i will just be that much more resourceful and equipped to handle things on my own. but i also am SUCH a believer in teamwork and it's saddening to realize how alone i feel at times. when i was in school, us students only made it through the day sometimes with each other's help and support.

i can totally relate to all you're going through and see now more than ever why many new grads don't stay in the profession very long. i'm one of those tempted to leave and i am NOT a quitter. right now i'm choosing to stay based on the fact that others say it does get better after six months to a year.

MimismomRN · Sep 9, 2006

I am only a new LVN and I think you guys are all RNs but I'd like to add my two cents. I have been in med surg for five months and it's really hard. I have 12-15 patients on team nursing RN, Tech, LVN and I am overwhelmed and most days want to give up on this profession. I cannot care for my patients the way they deserve as I am so overwhelmed with numbers. The patients on our floor are very ill, some should be in PCU and you just can't monitor them the way you should especially if they give you the run where you are wrapped around three hallways. I am trying to gain experience and move on and working on my RN right now as well. I had to go to part time to see if I can handle that. It's hell is all I can say. Nothing like I thought it would be. Very stressful and not the kind of nursing I want to do. I love my patients. Maybe if I had half as many I could handle it better.

youngatheart · Sep 9, 2006

EDgradrn, I sounds just like my orientation, I have had 5 different preceptors, and most times they have also been charge nurses and to busy doing their charge nurse duties to get to me. So basically I feel that half the time I have been on my own from the get go. Some days I only get a 10 minute lunch and often interrupted in that. As I run around like a chicken with my head cut off my preceoptor will ask did you get everything done? or let's go to lunch now. Sure after I give everyone their meds, check doctor's orders, discharge two patients, admit one yeah I have time to go to lunch right now! In two weeks I go to night shift 7p-7a thank God, Maybe I will have a little time to catch my breath, (at least I am hoping) I am really a day person but nights were only available, so not only do I have to adjust to the floor, getting organized, but also get used to working nights Whew!

FastWater · Sep 11, 2006

Sounds like we are all having similar times starting out - I'm on a busy surgical floor, and there are a few new grads there. It seems like a lot of the time we are given the higher acuity assignments, run all day/night long, and there are other staff sitting around and won't help even when you outright ask them. It has gotten better since, been out of orientation for 4 months (orientation was not very long - a couple of weeks).

Things are getting better, and I hope that for everyone who is new everywhere things improve over time. I don't imagine though that this is going to be a long term employer for me; most likely will try to move on once I get about a year of experience.

RNLisa · Sep 11, 2006

You know, for everything we go through as new grads, it's no wonder why there is a shortage.

grandma10 · Sep 18, 2006

Hi to all on this thread.

I hope I can restore your faith in the nursing profession. I have been a nurse for 32 years and I have to say I am disappointed with nurses who can not remember what it was like when they first entered the clinical arena on their own. I am currently in grad school preparing for my practicum which is the development of a mentorship program for new grads. I have learned a lot by reading your entries. Consistency of a preceptor and length of orientation seem to play a big role in the new grad being comfortable in the new role. Any other factors you can add would be appreciated.

I do know that time management and prioritization come with time. Seasoned nurses should take the time to look at Benner's Novice to Expert and then remember when they were the novice.

I hope that you all hang in there. I figure if you take the time to vent on this forum you are going to be the quality professional I want caring for me some day. Ask for help, talk to your managers or clinical specialists. Let your needs be known. And if all else fails and no one listens, find a facility where administration will listen. They are out there. :nurse:

jjjoy, LPN · Sep 18, 2006

I think maybe some older nurses were trained in a different way than many new grads. Many new programs never have the nursing student taking on anywhere near to a full load of patients. At my school, for example, we weren't allowed to draw blood or start IVs. Most other skills we did just once or twice. There just wasn't much opportunity, even though we were all on the look-out for skills we could practice. We never had more than 2 patients and even then we didn't often have responsibility for everything because the instructor, not the floor nurses, were responsible for the students' work and she couldn't take on the full nursing responsibility for 20 patients (10 students) each shift. Plus, the instructor generally wasn't on staff at the hospital and had to refer to the floor nurses on certain things.

However, I've heard of other programs, and especially in the past, where senior nursing students were doing practically everything on the floor. So nurses from these programs expect a level of practical competency from the new nurses that many new nurses don't have. It's not their fault. Many modern nursing programs give a good foundation in the whys and hows of nursing care - but it's just a foundation. The new nurse in this case may not be anywhere ready to work on his/her own after graduation. And I know I didn't have the kind of repeated exposure to conditions that allows one to quickly recognize the many different complications that might develop and know what to do without having to stop and think about it or wanting to double check with someone experienced. We'd study probably 10-20 different conditions a week in class and see 2-4 patients for 2 shifts/week for 8 weeks. The emphasis was on safe practice, not so much on speed and prioritizing between several competing demands - the two main things I think new nurses often have the hardest time with.

I don't think it's an easy problem to solve as I'm sure there are liability issues in addition to staffing issues that restrict student training opportunites in many schools these days.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 18, 2006

To be honest, I can't multi-task. I have to give each thing my full attention.

You're such a guy.

I'm the same way. But, I'm sure the heck a better multi-tasker at work than in my 'real' life. Ask my ex-wife about that.

"Oh, yeah, I'll get to taking the garbage out; it's high on my priority list . . ."

~faith,

Timothy.

RNLisa · Sep 18, 2006

Hi to all on this thread.
I hope I can restore your faith in the nursing profession. I have been a nurse for 32 years and I have to say I am disappointed with nurses who can not remember what it was like when they first entered the clinical arena on their own. I am currently in grad school preparing for my practicum which is the development of a mentorship program for new grads. I have learned a lot by reading your entries. Consistency of a preceptor and length of orientation seem to play a big role in the new grad being comfortable in the new role. Any other factors you can add would be appreciated.
I do know that time management and prioritization come with time. Seasoned nurses should take the time to look at Benner's Novice to Expert and then remember when they were the novice.
I hope that you all hang in there. I figure if you take the time to vent on this forum you are going to be the quality professional I want caring for me some day. Ask for help, talk to your managers or clinical specialists. Let your needs be known. And if all else fails and no one listens, find a facility where administration will listen. They are out there.

I wish every seasoned nurse would think and feel the way you do! Thanks for your post and your kind words of encouragement for us new nurses. Very much appreciated!!

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 18, 2006

I believe that, until things change in the provision of modern healthcare, if you want to work in a hospital environment that you WILL have to learn this. And, you will. Other areas may have less patients, but the time management skills and training you are getting will not be any less needed.

I'm a fan of med/surg the first year BECAUSE I believe that med/surg is the instrumental basis upon which all of hospital nursing is built.

I've posted this before and looks like a good place for it again:

Look at the 'first year in nursing' forum. I think this is, indeed, a common sentiment. It's a reality check, eh? But, it's also a gut check.

Some environments are better then others, but there WILL be a push for you to time manage 5-6 pts instead of just 2. And that IS a learning curve, for all new grads.

Don't freak because you aren't 'in your comfort zone'. You're not supposed to stay within the 'comfort zone' you learned in school. The way to expand that zone is by learning to push and exceed your own limits. Worry more about being in a 'danger' zone. Work on knowing your limitations and balancing against working to expand your comfort zones without being dangerous.

If you feel you're being dangerous, set limits with those pushing you along. But, don't presume that you can set those limits to the same comfort zones you learned in school.

I'm fond of saying that nursing school arms you with the skills and tools to learn to be a nurse. OJT is what actually teaches you how to BE a nurse.

~~~

Until you know your way around practical pharmaceuticals, never give more than two of ANYTHING: vials, pills, etc. without double checking w/ a more experienced nurse.

Some of the biggest med errors in new nurses that I have encountered had something to do with "I didn't know 3 of them were too many". And let's face it, doctor's aren't known for clear handwriting and intent with their orders. . .

(There used to be a chemo med that required 10 pills per dose. After the FDA approved it, the off-label use required a much higher dose. There are times when 4 or 5 or 10 pills IS the right dose. But, you're better off being able to say, "I checked the dose with the charge nurse.")

~~~

At the end of a shift, decompress the shift before you leave. Spend 10 minutes going over everything you did and didn't do. Critique how you 'time managed' with the goal of learning from what you did right - and what you did wrong.

Then, give a follow-up report if needed (so you don't have to call back) and THEN, let it go.

Nursing can be so stressful you HAVE TO LEARN when to leave work at work.

~~~

More than anything else you learn, learn to chart as you go along. Consider having to 'stay and chart' to be a time management failure that you have to work on improving.

Too many times, you have 10 things to do at any given time, and that will completely take over your shift. Charting must be a higher priority item in that list.

Besides, I find that, by taking 'time outs' to chart, I can get a better handle on the chaos. Humans work better when they can take a few minutes and decompress and reanalyze their situations. A few minutes here and there charting does JUST THAT FOR YOU.

If you want to learn to 'work smarter, not harder', then learn to chart as you go. DECIDE that 10 minutes of every hour is 'charting' time and ONLY pain meds and emergencies can invade in that sacred time slot.

Remember: you don't HAVE to chart EVERY assessment in one sitting. Break it out, take it one bite at a time.

~~~

Find an older nurse or two you trust and enlist them to be a 'mentor'. Not a 'preceptor', but someone you can turn to to help you analyze a situation. Someone you trust there is no 'stupid' question you can't ask.

~~~

Respect your contribution. You can only work so hard. Work diligently and learn and be proud of what you are doing.

All of us have situations that overwhelm us. Just don't let those situations overwhelm the value YOU place on your efforts.

~~~

Don't get so caught up in your own routine that you can't find the way to observe the 'learning' stuff that happens on your unit. Get in to see the codes, the central line placements, etc. Watch not just in awe, but with an eye as to the nursing roles you see going on about you.

~~~

Start every IV you can. Make sure everybody knows that YOU will try their IV first. My first job, I was REQUIRED to try twice on every IV on my unit before anybody else could look: no matter how busy I was.

Stressful to be sure, but 500 IVs my first year as a nurse, and hey, I'm fairly good at it.

~~~

Ask nurses from other job types (OB, ER, OR, med/surg, etc.) about their jobs. Learn not only what they do, but get to know THEM. Network. It'll make you a better known nurse around the hospital, and it will give you insights about where you might like to end up.

~~~

Grab all the certs (ACLS, PALS, TNCC) and CEUs you can. Your hospital will probably even pay for most of them.

~~~

Volunteer for committees, especially P&P (policy and procedure) committees. Being a voice there will not only help you make a real difference in YOUR job, it'll give you insight into WHY things are the way they are. Besides, your manager is always looking for such volunteers: the brownie points are just a bonus.

~~~

Smile and never seem hurried in front of pts. I won't go so far as the goofy "how can I help you, I have the time" campaigns, but nursing is as much acting as it is caring.

Spend 2 minutes 'acting' the calm unhurried part (even though you're frazzled and falling apart) and the reassurance you give your pts is worth hours of your time.

I can't tell you how many times I hear in report, "so and so was on the call bell ALL DAY". When I get out of report, sure enough, call bell. I'm johnny on the spot. Five minutes later, call bell - johnny on the spot again. Now, once that pt knows I'll materialize when called, they don't feel the need to hit the button NOW JUST IN CASE they need something in twenty minutes.

It never ceases to amaze me how the pts that are 'always on the call bell' never bother me again after that 2nd or 3rd call that I promptly answer.

~~~

Nursing as acting: never admit you don't know something to a pt. Their confidence in YOU is based on your competence. Always front that competence. If a pt asks me a question I don't know, I'll say something like "give me a sec to take care of xxxxx, and I'll come back and explain it to you." Then, I go look it up.

~~~

ON the same topic: never give a med if you don't know what it does. Always look it up again until you learn it. Nothing is more deflating then a pt asking you what x pill does and then getting a blank stare from you.

After all, if YOU don't know what it does, why are you giving it to ME?!

Exactly.

~~~

When I first started out, on a medical unit with 10 pts, I organized myself into 3 first rounds. The first time through, I just introduced myself and stated I would be back soon.

That way, I could make sure that everyone was where they're supposed to be (not on the floor) and nobody was in acute distress (my first priority on everyone).

Then, 2nd rounds: I'd go back through and do my assessments (and vitals if that is your job).

3rd rounds, med pass and taking care of 'creature comforts'.

I found that those 3 'first' rounds organized my shift better, highlighted the priorities more soundly, and gave me time to 'impress' my pts. Nursing is at least part an acting gig. You can't 'take the time' with x pt when you don't know anything yet about 'y patient'.

I never stopped until my 'first rounds' were complete. But, at that point, my shift was well organized.

~~~

When a new med comes out, ask the pharmacist to send you a package insert and read up on it. You can learn all kinds of things that way.

For example, did you know the molecular wt of Viagra is 666. Don't believe me? Look it up!

Also, I used to drive my co-workers crazy by sing-songing about the drug, integrillin, "eptifibitide, the cyclic heptapeptide!"

~~~

When you are doing assessments and giving report think in the following terms in the following order:

1. Overall appearance: Stand back and take in the scene - in distress? talking on the tele? Annoyed (means a little emotional massaging from you)? etc.

2. Neuro - most important specific assessment, yes? Whether chronic or not, a pt 'not with it' is in a high order of distress. Act on that.

3. Cardiac - even if not 'on tele', you can make quick assessments about circulation, cap refill, pulse, etc. Look at the skin color of extremities as a CARDIAC assessment. A mottled pt should either be on 'comfort measures' or, your highest priority. (or have a severe and long hx of uncontrolled DM or Raynaud's DX - NCLEX hint: look it up.)

3. Pulmonary - look at 'work of breathing' not just 'lung sounds'. Working hard at breathing will tip you off to all kinds of problems, not just pulmonary ones. When YOU'RE STRESSED, what happens to your breathing? (I'll tell you: your metabolism kicks into overdrive, dramatically raising your lactic acid production which has to be blown off by the lungs in order to maintain metabolic balance. Breathing hard is a tip off to a pt that is stressed or in distress, whether the root cause is pulmonary - or not.)

4. GI - bowel sounds, dietary intake, mental note of NPO status/restrictions, etc.

5. GU. Eyeball the foley bag NOW so later you can compare to see how much is 'flowing'. Start thinking in these terms: the kidneys are often the first hint YOU can observe to impending general organ failure. If the kidneys aren't working, your thoughts should be: what ELSE isn't working? (But don't call a doc to tell them that their anuric dialysis pt isn't peeing. Please. I've seen that happen before. It's never a pretty sight to behold.)

6. Integumentary - skin, et. al.

7. IVs and 'lines'. - patency, fluid, rate. Your first few times w/ things like chest tubes - ASK. Those are not 'stupid' questions and you'd be surprised at the discomfort level even EXPERIENCED nurses have with uncommon 'accessories'.

This not only organizes your assessments by priority, but your reports. This assessment order is very specific, and by priority of system: neuro, cardiac, pulmonary, gi, gu, etc. Start THINKING in that order.

During report:

1. name

2. dx (why are they HERE)

3. allegies

4. docs

5. general info (nursing home pt, PIA, etc.)

6. Assessment in the above priority. (this will include things like diet, IVs and O2 status)

7. Upcoming tx and procedures next shift needs to know about

8. A summary of what happened on your shift.

Quick and to the point. Leave out trivia and cut to the chase. Each pt should take less than 2 minutes. If not, work on honing in on what's important. I consider 'reading the doc orders' to be a useless report. I CAN DO THAT.

Start to think like this. If you build a 'mental template' of what you are doing and in what order, it is a foundation to build upon.

~~~

Never apologize for or diss co-workers EVEN IF YOU AGREE WITH THE PT'S ASSESSMENT OF THEM. 1. Nothing will cause you more interpersonal co-worker grief. 2. Some pts just love to manipulate and play off the 'changing of the guard'. It's pretty flattering to hear 'what a great nurse you are', but if that is in the context of 'as compared to the last nurse', then, however true that might be, you're being played.

~~~

The pts and families that most loudly complain "I'm going to report you", are, in my opinion the least to worry about - at least as far as being reported. The ones that report YOU for your honest efforts, have already reported 4 more for real concerns and yet again, another 3 that worked as hard as you did. That lends to discredit them.

Answer their concerns, but don't be put off by, "I'm going to report you". I always respond, "My name is Tim and I'm the only Tim that works on this unit. My manager will know to whom you are referring to." And then I smile and say, "But, I'd be happy to do whatever is WITHIN MY POWER to resolve your concerns, NOW." Key phrase: within my power. That does not mean I'll kiss your booty, but that I will deal with you professionally and courteously.

~~~

Trust your gut and be assertive about it. If 'something is wrong', then 99% of the time, SOMETHING IS WRONG. Every experienced nurse out there can tell you about the 'steep' learning curve of not 'trusting your gut instincts". You KNOW more than you think you know, and lots more than you consciously know. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten this far. ACT ON THAT.

~faith,

Timothy.

krisssy · Sep 21, 2006

Hi there,
I'm a relatively new grad and have a target date of Sept 18 to be off orientation on a busy medical/tele floor in a big city hospital.
I've had a few different preceptors due to scheduling--no big deal. Lately, I've been with one that can sometimes be really supportive (you're fantastic!) and sometimes really harsh (you really need to multitask. you're distracted. you have to be able to keep more than one thing in your head).
Basically, I try to stick to a routine (check on patients in am, do assessments, get meds out starting at 8:30am). Well, sometimes that plan gets all out of whack! Yesterday, I had 5 patients and all 5 of them had to go for procedures in the AM and none of them had consent for anything! The OR called for someone to go at 8:30am and the pre-op checklist wasn't done and consent wasn't obtained. Plus, the patient is screaming for pain meds (starting the calls to OR,"can I give the meds or can't I?). It's a teaching facility so it always takes a while to figure out which intern/resident to call for what and you have to wait until he/she gets back to you.
Anyway, I ran around the whole day (5 minute lunch at 2pm) trying to manage interruptions, track down missing lunch trays, get consents, hang blood (had to do own vitals-techs nowhere to be found), fetch ice water, put people on the potty, medicate for pain q2 hours etc. Plus, I had a transfer and an admission in the afternoon. I didn't get my assessments charted until 2pm and didn't start my notes until 6pm before night shift came in.
So, here comes the comment about multitasking, etc. from the preceptor. I'm a bit sensitive as I've always worked very hard and have never been told that I can't multitask. She mentioned at end of shift that I didn't do some things she told me to (like hook someone up to IV). I did need help w/the blood and I didn't get to a dressing change. and my charting was late. She said that these 5 patients were easy.........how is it going to be when I have 6 hard ones? As for being distracted..maybe so. I was exhausted by 6pm and couldn't remember a blood pressure I took and, yes, I did forget a few tasks as other things seemed to be a priority.............I felt like saying, "If I cannot multitask, how did I get all the meds into people at the right time and remember to do those assessments and not stay after an hour for charting, etc.". I just said, "uh, huh".
Anyway, I'm really discouraged at this point and really don't know what is going on. On other days, I've had 5 patients and things have been fine. Other preceptors didn't really have any complaints and mentioned that I'm pretty independent.
I CHOSE this preceptor because I thought she was supportive. I guess she's looking out for me in a way and making sure I'm ready to be on my own but I sort of feel like I'm being whipped. I have a feeling she wants to extend my orientation and I feel that there are some good days and some bad days.
This is the first day following a shift that I'm thinking and worrying about work and nearly in tears.
Perhaps M/S isn't for me?
Any suggestions?

After 25 years of teaching and being teacher of the year, I still found multitasking hard. Even when I became really good at it, I found it hard-very hard!! It was doable but hard. A new nurse or teacher cannot be good at multitasking straightoff, and any preceptor who expects this does not remember or want to remember what it was like at the beginning. You just do your best, and someday when you precept, remember what it was like to multitask as a new nurse. It seems as though we have amnesia when it comes to remembering how it was at the beginning of any career! If you all want to have a serious nursing shortage, keep it up guys! Krisssy

racefan_24 · Sep 28, 2006

Wow..it sounds like I just wrote this thread about me and having the same negative feelings. I'm a new grad as well and yesterday's shift (3-11) was so trying on me. I work on a med surg/step down telemetry unit as well and am extremely sensitive and hard on myself. After last night, I'm totally second guessing myself wondering if I will ever, ever be up to snuff. I'm not at all looking forward to going in to work today...kinda scared about what will lie ahead and not feeling good about myself at all. Awful feeling!

ditto. I work 3-11, but don't get out of there until after midnight or 0100. it's the same amount of work (pt load), but less time to complete it. it's very frustrating. i feel like it's a game of beat the clock, and i lose every time. i wonder if i'm cut out for nursing or if it is the unit. the people who work there either love it or hate it. i feel sick every time i'm scheduled to work (which is part time). i can relate to your feeling awful. hope it gets better for us both.