My first clinical job as a new grad...the horror!!!!!!

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I am a new grad and I just recently got my first job as an rn at a community home. I had a brief 2 week orientation and was put by myself to work a busy floor my first day alone. I was told to focus on passing medications only because this particular floor gets really chaotic. With the med passing alone it is chaotic. Unfortunately everyone is getting sick around this time of the year with cold, sore throats and fever. I had 20+ patients to give meds to, about 10 accuchecks for 2 different times of the shift, scheduled meds plus pain medications which at least 10 patients asked for. Im new so obviously I was late on all my meds, I was under alot of pressure, feeling very overwhelmed. I finally finished my medications, temperatures had to be rechecked. Now im late for report for the next shift, the oncoming nurse had a cocky attitude from the beginning when I gave report. I asked a few questions which he didnt seem like he wanted to answer. I went to the charge nurse and spoke with her to go over my check list on my tasks. I come to find out that wound treatment also had to be done on my shift and it hadnt been done. However the charge nurse told me she had asked someone to help and no one had. I felt even worse at this point and I told the oncoming nurse about that not getting done and he got soooo mad at me!!!!! I was speechless and infuriated at how he treated me. Ive been thinking over and over what I have gotten myself into. I had been enjoying my job up until this point that now I'm alone and still trying to figure out my routine and being all over the place is not helping. Im feeling very incompetent, feeling like maybe this was all a mistake. I need some advice! Everyone at this place has been supportive with me being new, but this particular nurse was beyond mean.

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I know right now that you are feeling used and abused but you are in the real world.

My orientation to LTC was THREE day shifts and two evenings. Like you I was responsible for meds, tube feeds for three patients, and wound care. I was also responsible for getting five people up before breakfast and then the NAs expected I would toilet the patients during the med rounds!

The thing with orientation is, it is designed by the facility to introduce you to their routine and documentation. It's not designed to let you build your skills and time management is a skill. You will also learn shortcuts as you go along. LTC isn't text book nursing, it's survival mode for nurses.

I have nothing but respect for nurses who made the choice to work in care of the aged.

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I am a new grad and I just recently got my first job as an rn at a community home. I had a brief 2 week orientation and was put by myself to work a busy floor my first day alone. I was told to focus on passing medications only because this particular floor gets really chaotic. With the med passing alone it is chaotic. Unfortunately everyone is getting sick around this time of the year with cold, sore throats and fever. I had 20+ patients to give meds to, about 10 accuchecks for 2 different times of the shift, scheduled meds plus pain medications which at least 10 patients asked for. Im new so obviously I was late on all my meds, I was under alot of pressure, feeling very overwhelmed. I finally finished my medications, temperatures had to be rechecked. Now im late for report for the next shift, the oncoming nurse had a cocky attitude from the beginning when I gave report. I asked a few questions which he didnt seem like he wanted to answer. I went to the charge nurse and spoke with her to go over my check list on my tasks. I come to find out that wound treatment also had to be done on my shift and it hadnt been done. However the charge nurse told me she had asked someone to help and no one had. I felt even worse at this point and I told the oncoming nurse about that not getting done and he got soooo mad at me!!!!! I was speechless and infuriated at how he treated me. Ive been thinking over and over what I have gotten myself into. I had been enjoying my job up until this point that now I'm alone and still trying to figure out my routine and being all over the place is not helping. Im feeling very incompetent, feeling like maybe this was all a mistake. I need some advice! Everyone at this place has been supportive with me being new, but this particular nurse was beyond mean.

You sound just like me...............28 years ago come next week ! It does get better.It seems like in a flash I went from the new young nurse to the most experienced one on the floor. I did have someone who took me under her wing back then and showed me how to do things without making me feel stupid. The nurses that I reported off to were a bunch of mean old ladies. LOL (They were at least ten years younger than I am now.)

You will find ways to prioritize and become more efficient.You will learn what they expect from you in report and you will bring that (because you will want to avoid being abused.) Everybody starts out "new". The kind of nursing that you are doing is not easy.It sounds like that is a tough floor that you are on but that kind of place has its ups and downs.Flu season is NEVER easy ! Keep your chin up.Keep doing the best that you can and hopefully you will get a little help while you are developing your routine.

I expect that a month from now you will be saying "Things have sure calmed down on this floor and that nurse that I report off to isn't such a bad guy after all."

Good luck and keep at it.I hope this helps you feel a little better.

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