My first week off orientation

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I was just reading a few other threads around here about orientation, being off orientation, etc. I just wanted to say that I'm one week off orientation now and my first week by myself went so surprisingly good. The only real hang-up I had was waiting around for pharmacy to send my meds (from new orders); everytime that happens, I get all off-schedule and stuff ends up being late. When I first started out, I would freak out if I was giving meds late, but now I'm more relaxed about it because I know its totally out of my hands and I just have to move on to other things that need to be done while I wait for pharmacy.

I am so incredibly lucky that I work with a group of nurses that are willing to lend a pair of experienced eyes when I think something isn't right, or an extra hand when I can't turn a patient by myself. I work with other new grads who share my excitement for nursing and I also know we can vent to each other when our night gets crazy. I work with some amazing experienced nurses who know their stuff and luckily have chosen to stay in telemetry for years and years, because we need those nurses to share their brains with us!!!

I'm still struggling with prioritization, time-management and charting, but who isn't? I guess my biggest hang up with charting is knowing when to say something and when not to. I've been told some conflicting things about when to write a nurses note, and I guess knowing what and when to write a note about comes with time.

Mainly I just wanted to say that I heard so many horror stories about the first year that I was scared out of my mind. Now that I'm actually off of orientation, I can see how hectic and frustrating things can be, but I also see that I can handle it. I want to encourage other new grads that it's not all that bad being on your own. *I will also note that my day in work hell has yet to come and I know everyone has really really bad days, I will get mine too LOL.* I know its not all peaches and cream, but I would also like to stay positive and hope I feel this way about my job forever :)

[iToniai]

Thank you for sharing. I'll be off of orientation in 2 weeks after just 19 physical days being with a preceptor. I'm starting to become a bit nervous about it because I just feel like I'm not sure what it is I should be doing for my patients, but I've been re-assured that at nights I'll have the time to look through the charts and fill in the blank. Good luck to all of us new nurses!!

[SoundofMusic]

I have been able to relax about my meds, due to some talks with some very experienced nurses. The schedule that is put out is put out pharmacy, and not the doc. Half the time the doc has no idea when the med is being scheduled. Of course, you want to give them on time, but usually, it's not a tragedy if you don't get to them right on the hour UNLESS it's insulin or something that needs to be given in a timely manner.

Many days I'm an hour or TWO behind on meds and it's not a big deal. You do what you can, stick to your plan, and just keep moving!