as a brand new nurse i agree with the last post. No i haven't experienced alot of the problems with nursing that many of you have pointed out and i think as a new nurse that my pay is reasonable ( I make 19.50 /hr fresh out of school) but we all need to remember why we went into nursing in the first place. If any of you went into this profession for the money, your problems are your own fault, you should have known what you were getting into. If you went into nursing to help people i hope that is what you are doing. I know nursedude has said that we as a profession should demand more, and i agree with that. We do deserve more $$ and respect. I don't know if we will ever get it but look where we have come from in the time of Florence Nightengale.
I have been working 12 hours nights for a couple of months now. I don't see the exhustion for the last few hours that some have mentioned in the past, but i really think the whole discussion is a prefrence. I am young, just out of school and love my job but don't want to give up being young for the sake of my career. 12 hour shifts give me the opportunity to have a life outside of work. Fortunatly my body has taken well to nights, i get home eat and go to bed, get up eat and go back to work. I prefer to do my three days in a row with nights because i can have a normal "Day" life on my days off.
I just graduated from nursing school in May. I just finished a New grad program and tomarrow is my first shift on my own. Nursing school was definatly one of the most challenging things that i have everdone. But it is also one of the most rewarding. I love my job. There is so much i have yet to learn. Nursing school couldn't have prepared me for half the things i have already encountered. Not that it was a bad school but so much of the learning only comes with experience. School only teaches you about the diseases, and the nursing care and the meds, it doesn't teach you about the patients. During your clinicals, take every opportunity to talk to your patients,learn how to really listen to them, learn how to advocate for them, these skills come only through experience not through books and classes.
Good luck to all of you and if anyone wants to talk email me at meggabucks@hotmail.com
The hospital i work at has had computer charting for many years now. I just started in a new grad program there. I am extremly computer literate and took to the charting easily, while others who have had very little computer charting have found it the most difficult part of the job. Our charting is by exception there are lists of things for each area and you pick and chose and make statements. It is quite easy once you get to know the system. We have several computers in the nursing station and each room has a computer. We still use paper charts for I/O and VS. At times it can be time consuming because all the meds need to be charted in the computer as well as on the paper MAR. On the occasions when we lose the computers the nurses would rather come back in and chart after the computers come back on, even if they are off. Paper charting is so foreign (and time consuming) for our nurse. We have had the system so long that nurses can chart on the computer quicker than on paper.
i actually just finished a 6 week new grad program. I feel that i am ready to maintain a full load of patients (As i have been doing that for over a week with minimal or no assistance from my preceptor) I know that i still have lots of questions and know that i am not prepared for everything that can go wrong. But who really is. I know that i have a great staff of nurses who are willing to offer assistance if i have any questions of concerns. I'm very happy that i got a new grad position because i got a more extensive orientation then if not in a program. I think that the 6 weeks were enough for me, to learn the hospital policies, to become comfortable with the patient load, and to begin to master some of my nursing skills. I do know some nurses that are taking extra time in the program which is allowed, but for me i feel comfortable being on my own. there is always someone that i can ask for assisstance.
Meghan
I just recently graduated in May and am just starting my first job as a Registered Nurse. I never once during school questioned my decision to go into nursing. I'm not working in the specialty i want to but have my foot in the door and am enjoying every moment of it.
As for nursedude- no one ever questioned your ability to be a nurse. I think most people could do the actions that we do as nurses. Most of the procedures that we do could be learned by most. I'm not saying anyone can do what we do, but most could perform the actions, not necessarily critically act on all we see and do. I think many were questioning your ability to be compassionate and caring for your patients. If you don't love ( or at least like alot) what you are doing i think it would be hard to be compassionate and truly be a good nurse. All your anger about your chosen profession can come across in your care and believe me your patients can tell. I wouldn't want an unhappy nurse taking care of me.
as a brand new nurse i agree with the last post. No i haven't experienced alot of the problems with nursing that many of you have pointed out and i think as a new nurse that my pay is reasonable ( I make 19.50 /hr fresh out of school) but we all need to remember why we went into nursing in the first place. If any of you went into this profession for the money, your problems are your own fault, you should have known what you were getting into. If you went into nursing to help people i hope that is what you are doing. I know nursedude has said that we as a profession should demand more, and i agree with that. We do deserve more $$ and respect. I don't know if we will ever get it but look where we have come from in the time of Florence Nightengale.
I have been working 12 hours nights for a couple of months now. I don't see the exhustion for the last few hours that some have mentioned in the past, but i really think the whole discussion is a prefrence. I am young, just out of school and love my job but don't want to give up being young for the sake of my career. 12 hour shifts give me the opportunity to have a life outside of work. Fortunatly my body has taken well to nights, i get home eat and go to bed, get up eat and go back to work. I prefer to do my three days in a row with nights because i can have a normal "Day" life on my days off.
Hi all-
I just graduated from nursing school in May. I just finished a New grad program and tomarrow is my first shift on my own. Nursing school was definatly one of the most challenging things that i have everdone. But it is also one of the most rewarding. I love my job. There is so much i have yet to learn. Nursing school couldn't have prepared me for half the things i have already encountered. Not that it was a bad school but so much of the learning only comes with experience. School only teaches you about the diseases, and the nursing care and the meds, it doesn't teach you about the patients. During your clinicals, take every opportunity to talk to your patients,learn how to really listen to them, learn how to advocate for them, these skills come only through experience not through books and classes.
Good luck to all of you and if anyone wants to talk email me at meggabucks@hotmail.com
The hospital i work at has had computer charting for many years now. I just started in a new grad program there. I am extremly computer literate and took to the charting easily, while others who have had very little computer charting have found it the most difficult part of the job. Our charting is by exception there are lists of things for each area and you pick and chose and make statements. It is quite easy once you get to know the system. We have several computers in the nursing station and each room has a computer. We still use paper charts for I/O and VS. At times it can be time consuming because all the meds need to be charted in the computer as well as on the paper MAR. On the occasions when we lose the computers the nurses would rather come back in and chart after the computers come back on, even if they are off. Paper charting is so foreign (and time consuming) for our nurse. We have had the system so long that nurses can chart on the computer quicker than on paper.
i actually just finished a 6 week new grad program. I feel that i am ready to maintain a full load of patients (As i have been doing that for over a week with minimal or no assistance from my preceptor) I know that i still have lots of questions and know that i am not prepared for everything that can go wrong. But who really is. I know that i have a great staff of nurses who are willing to offer assistance if i have any questions of concerns. I'm very happy that i got a new grad position because i got a more extensive orientation then if not in a program. I think that the 6 weeks were enough for me, to learn the hospital policies, to become comfortable with the patient load, and to begin to master some of my nursing skills. I do know some nurses that are taking extra time in the program which is allowed, but for me i feel comfortable being on my own. there is always someone that i can ask for assisstance.
Meghan
I just recently graduated in May and am just starting my first job as a Registered Nurse. I never once during school questioned my decision to go into nursing. I'm not working in the specialty i want to but have my foot in the door and am enjoying every moment of it.
As for nursedude- no one ever questioned your ability to be a nurse. I think most people could do the actions that we do as nurses. Most of the procedures that we do could be learned by most. I'm not saying anyone can do what we do, but most could perform the actions, not necessarily critically act on all we see and do. I think many were questioning your ability to be compassionate and caring for your patients. If you don't love ( or at least like alot) what you are doing i think it would be hard to be compassionate and truly be a good nurse. All your anger about your chosen profession can come across in your care and believe me your patients can tell. I wouldn't want an unhappy nurse taking care of me.