New to critical care. Not new graduate. Need advice?

brownbook · Jun 9, 2018

Ok.....take a deep breath..... keep holding it untill you pass out. Wake up in the ER and realize you got a great excuse for missing work for a few days.

Really... humor helps a lot. You're going to be a nervous wreck until Thursday if you keep this up.

Hold your head high, remind yourself that you are new to this hospital so learning a lot of new stuff. But dammit you're a good nurse.

Can't wait to see if dammit is acceptable.

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 9, 2018

These meetings are just to check in on you! They're meant to help guide your orientation, not scrutinize you.

AceOfHearts<3 · Jun 9, 2018

This is totally normal! It helps to make sure everyone is on the same page and that you have the support you need. This is a good thing! Please relax :)

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 9, 2018

Hello,
so I very recently look a position in a critical care step- down at a different hospital. I have a few years of med-surg under my belt from a small community hospital. My new job is a larger hospital.
Im a little spooked because I passed by my manager on my way out and she told me that my preceptor her and I would meet next week to touch base, see how things are going from both ends, how I feel on the floor. I'm nervous because I write this on Friday and I literally started at the hospital Monday. I did orientation classes Monday and Tuesday, shadowed my unit Wednesday, and worked with a preceptor yesterday and today (Friday). This coming week I will have orientation classes at the hospital Monday- Wednesday. While I'll be in orientation at the hospital, I won't be on the unit. I will be on the unit again Thursday. She said she wants the meeting with her, myself, and preceptor this coming Thursday when I arrive.
Im worried because that's very soon after starting. My preceptor talked to my boss a while this afternoon, but I know the manager is meeting with people for different reasons. I wouldn't know about meeting if I didn't pass by manager. Should I be worried? This meeting isn't until Thursday and I will be at hospital orientation Monday- Wednesday. The manager said it's routone, I have made some errors, but more so reminders when it comes to learning. No major errors or events. My preceptor yesterday day 1 said I was doing fine. I'm worried because is it routine to have a meeting about how things are going with preceptor and myself.

Your manager needs to know how you're progressing, what kind of experiences you need more of and where you have opportunities for growth. For example, do you need an extra day to apply what you've learned about computer charting to taking off doctor's orders? Maybe she'll schedule you to spend a day with the unit secretary. Have no idea what a heart cath is all about? Maybe she'll assign you a patient who is going to the cath lab so you can go along and watch. Maybe she'll arrange for you to spend all day in the cath lab. Are you already a pro at starting IVs? Maybe you don't need to spend that day with the IV team that she had planned. Etc.

It is the preceptor's job to keep the manager informed about your progress, so they will be meeting to talk about you, sometimes without you present. It's just part of the process. Try not to worry about it! We all make mistakes. What matters more is what you do AFTER you make a mistake. If there is negative feedback (and since no one is perfect, there is bound to be SOME), try to take it constructively. Your preceptor and manager will respect you because so few people take negative feedback well.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 10, 2018

I wouldn't worry too much. A good manager would want to meet with you and your preceptor before you've even done patient care with your preceptor just to set a plan for how you will transition from initial learning to observed independent practice and how your progress will be assessed and how the plan will be adjusted based on that to ensure you have a successful transition, I think there's more reason to see this as comforting rather than concerning.

Medic_Murse, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 10, 2018

You're not alone. I went from six years of ED experience (as a medic) and decided to try critical care, once I graduated nursing school. Day four on the floor, I got a heavy dose of what it was all about and I felt like a fish out of water. I was over whelmed and grateful, I had my preceptor there to guide me and by the end of it, I just felt deflated. I started questioning myself if I could do it and she saw me there just staring at my keyboard and asked what my malfunction was? I explained that I knew I was going to get my butt handed to me at some point, but I wasn't prepared for how bad it was going to be. She laughed and said, "You're further along than a lot new grads. I didn't expect you to handle that, but was impressed you dove in and did what you could." Felt a little better, but I'm that person that is always hard on myself because I always expect the best out of me.

DowntheRiver · Jun 10, 2018

This is quite typical, a good manager checks in with you and your preceptor at the end of week 1 or week 2. My manager does it all the time.

LibraNurse27, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2018

Sounds like a great training program! It can feel weird to be more closely managed if you're coming from an environment without much formal training, supervision, etc but from my experience it's great to have a manger who cares about your progress and makes sure you are ready before you work by yourself. Good luck in the new position!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 11, 2018

Take it as a positive, and it will be. Best of luck!