Med/Surg Experience

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2008

Are you really going to have 10 patients? Or is that an exaggeration. B/c no one can adequately take care of that many patients.

luvtosmile · Apr 4, 2008

Not so much an exaggeration, but something I have heard and I do have a friend that works night shift that has that many sometimes.

Agnus · Apr 4, 2008

All new nurses are slow Students are even slower. We have all been there. Don't expect to perform like a nurse with years of experience when you are an new grad. Do not expect to preform like an experienced RN as a student.

You will get the hang.

anc33 · Apr 4, 2008

If you aren't slow as a new grad then you are probably missing something. While I was always able to complete all my tasks at the scheduled time as a new nurse I was never as quick as some of the vets. It took me a good six months to feel like I owned my position. I never felt like I knew it all (that's a dangerous feeling for anyone to have). And yes, you may have 9-10 patients on a shift. It is not common but it happens (moreso at night). That's when you call on your teammates for help. One of the best pieces of advice I got was to make nice with the vets and always ask for help when you are in over your head. It is tough, no doubt, but it can definitely be done.

MaryAnn_RN · Apr 5, 2008

All new nurses are slow Students are even slower. We have all been there. Don't expect to perform like a nurse with years of experience when you are an new grad. Do not expect to preform like an experienced RN as a student.
You will get the hang.

When we qualified our group was told by the matron to concentrate on getting it right, not doing it quick. Speed builds with experience.

MaryAnn_RN · Apr 5, 2008

When we qualified our group was told by the matron to concentrate on getting it right, not doing it quick. Speed builds with experience.

By the way: I once worked on a ward where we had 21 patients, almost all vascular or major surgery. Very heavy, with very sick patients. I worked on there as the only RN at night with two health care assistants. The night manager used to come and check my IV drugs. It was a nightmare at times but I learned loads.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Apr 5, 2008

crawl before you walk,,

walk before you run....

In other words you pick up facility with experience

imanedrn · Apr 5, 2008

I had 8 weeks of precepting, and I've only been on my own for a few weeks now. I can't believe how much my time management has improved - esp. in the short time I've been on my own. (I learn best when I'm on my own with only a minimal amount of assistance.) I've learned that I can do some things quickly without necessarily cutting corners. I used to think I'd NEVER have time to chart all the miscellaneous things (when a pt leave for a procedure, when s/he returns, details about a family interaction, just making a note about checking on my pts and they're STABLE), but those things are like second nature to me now.

My biggest hurdles remaining are just procedural things. There are some things that I should have learned while precepting that I didn't, so I'm having to learn them the hard way now. I was working with a 2 year RN the other day. When I told her I hadn't learn X things while precepting, she was amazed because her preceptor drilled these things into her. So I'm not just whining when I saw I was short-changed... In any case, my veteran nurses and charges are usually willing to help me -- though I'm convinced I bother them far more than I have to.

There are days when I hate my job because I wish I could do more, and I'm SO hard on myself. (I have these unrealistic expectations of perfection...) Overall, I think I'm doing a pretty damn good job though. And, only a few weeks ago, I NEVER believed I'd be able to think or feel this way!