Made it off orientation

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Some of you may remember my previous post (WOW, only day 2) or something like that. A fairly seasoned LPN in LTC, turned RN, new to a cardiac floor in acute care.  I am officialy done with orientation...a bit early (4 weeks early in fact). Im not entirely sure if its because I was doing well, or if due to staffing, nevertheless here I am.  

I still have no idea what I am doing, or at least that's the narrative that plays in my head as I run around attempting to appear confident.  

Will this darn thing never stop beeping, truly, how do I make it stop? The endless questions from the family member that has web MD pulled up on their phone, talking about diagnosis and tests I have never heard of?

Or "wait, he's getting antibiotics?, for what?" from the family member of the patient that has been on the unit for weeks, and on the same antibiotic since they admitted...no one ever told you this, in the 3 weeks this family member of yours has been here, and you have been here every day?? No please, let me go through his chart that is thousands of pages to find the exact reason they were started on this ?. 

And my all time favorite, wait say that again? I know you are trying to tell me something, but I have no idea what you are saying...that last part, what was that? (me attempting to understand the tele tech on the other end of my volcera).?

Why for all things that are good, is the one thing you need, always on the other-side of the building?

I am trudging along friends, it isn't easy. I've only thought of quitting 47 times in the past few hours, so that's something to be proud of I suppose. I did enroll in a cardiac class that I found online so that I could get more familiar with all the terms. In general, I feel like a bobble head toy on the dash of a jeep...not really getting anywhere, but I keep moving.  

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
2 hours ago, autism4life said:

In general, I feel like a bobble head toy on the dash of a jeep...not really getting anywhere, but I keep moving. 

Sounds about accurate for fresh off orientation. Don't beat yourself up, you're in good company. Like along with every other nurse transitioning into a new role. 

Good for you for finding some cardiac resources to boost your confidence. That along with the day to day learning opportunities will have to up and running 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
2 hours ago, autism4life said:

I still have no idea what I am doing, or at least that's the narrative that plays in my head as I run around attempting to appear confident.   

Autism4life, some us do that for our entire nursing career.

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Fours weeks of orientation is not enough to go into acute care cardiac. Can you interpret telemetry... or are you dependent on the techs?

When I went from med-surg to a cardiac floor, I was taught a 6 week critical care/ tele course before they would let me on my own.

Taking classes on your own is fine... but you don't know what you don't know. Approach nursing ED and see what they can do for you.

Sounds rough... good luck.

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Read this. It will help you. Despite its title, it's not just about being in a pandemic; it applies to any nurse working in new or unfamiliar territory.

https://ajnoffthecharts.com/learning-on-the-fly-thoughts-on-birding-and-nursing-during-a-pandemic/

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
On 3/25/2021 at 3:43 PM, Davey Do said:

Autism4life, some us do that for our entire nursing career.

A4L:  "I still have no idea what I am doing, or at least that's the narrative that plays in my head as I run around attempting to appear confident."

And some of us get pretty darn good at it, don't we Davey? ?

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

Congratulations on getting off orientation! Even though you feel like you don’t know what you are doing, you must actually be doing quite well for them to let you off orientation so early (I’d say 4 weeks early is actually quite a bit early).  Yes, they need the staff, but cardiac patients can become unstable quite quickly, so I doubt they’d let you off orientation if they didn’t think you could handle it.  As with any job, it takes time to get used to, and cardiac nursing can be tough.  However, it seems like you’re on the right track. Good luck and best wishes to you! 

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