My new grad nursing experience... the good, bad, and worst

Trauma Columnist · Dec 5, 2014

Glad you are back!

That's a heavy load. Give yourself some time to develop a routine. I would personally allow a year.

seconddegreebsn · Dec 5, 2014

I have six patients (sometimes seven) and it's a lot - if they're A&O and "independent", they're complaining and on that call bell for the smallest things because they're bored. If they're in very poor health that's when I'm watching them like a hawk - I had two RRTs the other day and it basically threw off the rest of the day, I was caught up and ended up leaving two hours late. The people I work with refer to med-surg as the "easy" floor, but everyone is constantly running around like a chicken with their head cut off, working unpaid overtime - how is this the "easy" one? It gets that much worse?

Kellz321 · Dec 5, 2014

I have six patients (sometimes seven) and it's a lot - if they're A&O and "independent", they're complaining and on that call bell for the smallest things because they're bored. If they're in very poor health that's when I'm watching them like a hawk - I had two RRTs the other day and it basically threw off the rest of the day, I was caught up and ended up leaving two hours late. The people I work with refer to med-surg as the "easy" floor, but everyone is constantly running around like a chicken with their head cut off, working unpaid overtime - how is this the "easy" one? It gets that much worse?

Right my thing is when does it get better because experienced nurses on my floor run around like chickens as well. The other my Co worker said everyone seems so stressed and it's true. It is such a thankless profession. I think if the patients appreciated us a little more out would make a difference but they literally act as if they are the only patient.

Graduatenurse14 · Dec 6, 2014

if they're A&O and "independent", they're complaining and on that call bell for the smallest things because they're bored.

The well-sick are tough!! The sicker, the nicer and their families too! That's what I experienced as an aid on Neuro then Pulmonary unit!!

I'm on orientation as an RN now and only had one guy throw F-bombs at us and directly call another RN who was helping my preceptor and I a "stupid b****" and an "a****le." He was an active heroine user and they weren't giving him anymore IV narcotics and he wasn't too happy. I felt bad for her but she let it roll right off. I also felt bad for him as he was in pain but not how he treated the staff.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 6, 2014

Glad you are back!
That's a heavy load. Give yourself some time to develop a routine. I would personally allow a year.

This.

If you don't have one now, search here on AN and look for Brain sheets and design one for yourself.

I also learned in my years and what I pass onto novices is that the key to handling pt loads and managing patients is using anticipation as a guide to nursing practice...most of your pts have pain management issues, then those are the ones that are going to be considered; and manage prioritizing the sickest to the most acute pain, to the ones who are almost ready to go out the door.

Also understand that what we do isn't thankless, what we do is very unusual work as healing and health managers; we manage the most gutter, skid-row-ish patient who are scared, angry, vulnerable and sometimes feel guilty or even hopeless about their illness along with the choices that may or may not have affected their life, along with their personal lives that may have upheaval; not everyone who is an adult acts like an adult, or even have healthy coping mechanisms-that includes your peers.

The best way to handle those situations are to pull out therapeutic communication skills from Mental Health and apply those to communicating with your pts and your peers.

It gets better. :yes:

ackbar · Dec 7, 2014

I've been on my job for 5 months as well. I like nursing and working with the patients, but I hate my job. It is so stressful. The night before I go to work I start feeling anxious and can feel the stress building. I'm not sure I will be able to make it a year. I am depressed most of the time. Are there any areas of nursing that are less stressful than an acute care hospital setting? Feeling overwhelmed.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 13, 2014

It takes 1-2 years before feeling comfortable and being competent in your job. Brain sheets help enormously . . . Esme has some examples. If the experienced nurses are still running around like headless chickens, you need to evaluate -- are they just folks who have never learned time management, or is the floor really that busy?

I've always said that to learn time management tips, go to a smoker. With their multiple smoke breaks a shift, they probably have it down pat.

For tips on leaving a neat and tidy room, anyone who went to school in The Phillipines has that perfectly mastered.

For tips on critically thinking, check in with a crusty old bat on your unit. Take time to ask the providers why they ordered this instead of that, or what their thinking is about that lab or this physical finding.

I've seen more new grads get into trouble and sometimes lose their jobs over failures in colleague to colleague communication that anything else, so it's worthwhile to cultivate relationships with your colleagues. Even if you don't like them -- they don't need to do that. (Be fake, not real).

Understand that patients and family members who are nasty people outside the hospital are still nasty people once they're inside. Patients and family members who are nice people outside the hospital can become nasty when admitted. They don't have to like you, but don't tolerate blatent disrespect. You teach others how to treat you. Might as well teach them to treat you nicely.

jenjenami · Jan 14, 2015

I once had a patient demand half ice. I asked her if she wanted half a cup of ice, she said she wanted ice that was half cold. She was an alert and oriented. I had no idea what she wanted.