Need some thoughts

[canavywife]

I am returning to nursing for the first time in 5 yrs after having my kids. Prior to this I only had 3 yrs of practice (in various units like med/surg, oncology etc). I found a private duty nursing agency and was hired right away with great pay and I got my first client assignment. It is a pediatric client which makes me really excited, I am fine doing all of the care required (g tube, colostomy, wheelchair bound, deaf, CP etc) EXCEPT trachs. I technically have never had a patient w/a trach and was in nursing school like 9 years ago and even then how much practice do you really get on those dummies in lab? Anyhow, I feel like I could 'learn' it but ultimately I don't know how comfortable I am in doing private care with just the child and myself with no other help should I need it on. I suppose I'm thinking mainly CPR if I should need to do it. I am nervous getting back into nursing as it is. This was the first thing I asked in the interview (how we would be placed since I don't have trach experience) and the supervisor told me the would work it. Of course--first patient--trach LOL.

Would you take the patient and learn or just request a new patient? As far as I know there is no shadowing. You go and meet w/ the family but you're not 'oriented' to the patient like you could be in a hospital setting if this makes sense.

Thanks for any inputs.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

There should be an in-home orientation of at least one shift with an experienced nurse. They (the agency) are responsible for orienting you to the equipment AND to any care that they haven't seen you do.