New Grad catch up

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I just wanted to check in with my fellow new grads that are still orienting and stuff, wanted to see how things are going.

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I have my last week of orientation next week and then I'm on my own and I've never been so ready. I know I wont know everything and I'll still need some assistance and of course have questions but I feel like working with another nurse any longer is just a hindrance to my learning. I know the basics so therefore I'll take the patients but most of the time my preceptors will still call the Dr and review the charts while I handle the Med pass and patient/family concerns. Don't get me wrong I know its the preceptors way of staying busy as well as leaving on time but it doesn't help me learn time management or how to handle situations that require doctor intervention.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I just wanted to check in with my fellow new grads that are still orienting and stuff, wanted to see how things are going.

After 6 long days of powerpoints, policies, and computer charting training, I had my very first day on the (Med Surg) floor.

It was great. I was nervous, but very surprised to learn that I did remember a lot of stuff from clinicals. I did a clinical rotation and a preceptorship in my facility during school so I was familiar with a lot of things.

I also realized that I have been thinking and acting like an RN for a long time during my job as a CNA. Instead of thinking, "Here's what I would do"...I just got to do it. Even though there is a ton I don't know, I slid into my new role fairly easily and my preceptor was very impressed. It looks like many of the RNs have been there a while and they are pretty good about helping each other out and fairly tight knit. I made sure to keep my mouth shut and ears open while displaying a good attitude and helping answer call lights and they seemed to appreciate that.

We only had one low acuity patient the first day (also had do to a huge scavenger hunt) so the care part was fairly easy and my preceptor was great about showing me how to do all the computer stuff (paging MDs, handling orders). She did a good job of assessing my experience and comfort level and was visibly relieved to learn I had 3 years experience as a CNA in various environments. She also did great helping me out on any unfamiliar cares or assessments (HD fistula).

Her evaluation of me at the end of the day was, "You're in. You are fine. You're gonna be great."

That felt pretty good. Monday: 2 patients!

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

Just finished my 20th week. Been on my own for a while. Still overwhelmed at times and often wondering what I've got myself into. Celebrating every shift my patients and I survive...

How are you doing?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Sounds like you have had a great experience. That's pretty much how mine was going. My first preceptor after day 2 was like "well I feel jipped out of my baby nurse" lol when I asked her why, she was like "you already got things down and running around like you have been a nurse for years" I had taken on all 4 patients by day 3 I think it was. The only thing I feel not ready on is patients I haven't have before which there is nothing I can do about that. That will just have to come in time as we get more of a variety of patients. So far my adult patients have been post op hysterectomy's, laproscopic appendectomy's. Few observational patients. We only take lower acuity adults though on my unit. Well if we know. We have taken a few that when they get on the floor and we go to admit them we find out they had a lot more going on then we were told.

Most of my kiddos have been OK. Post T&A's (hate saying that because of my perverted mind) a few burns that were mild and couple observational for OD's. Like young toddler age.

I just switched to a new preceptor and that has been more rough going. She is nice and stuff and hasn't been mean or anything, but it seems like she would mesh better with a student that is more needy. I think I am a little to independent for her and it gets frustrating. She also wants me to just do, rather then want to know why I am doing it.

Like not something emergent. I wouldn't be like during a patient having Resp. Distress "Why do you feel O2 would be best".

But there has been a few times she wants something done one way and it doesn't make sense to me. It's stuff being charted under my name, my license and it doesn't make sense. So I will ask and I can tell she gets mad. So I do it her way and when we go to give report to the oncoming nurse the nurse will ask about the charting and want to know why it was done the way it was. She will say it's confusing looking at it and for the docs. WHICH IS THE SAME THING I SAID! Then also we were taught things through hospital orientation and our new grad residency and when I go to do it she will tell me it's wrong, I will show her whatever that says to do it that way and she gets mad.

Stuff like that. I think as co-workers it will be fine, it's just the student/teacher relationship that is frustrating. I shouldn't be precepting much longer though. I meet for my 30 day eval after this upcoming week where we will talk about that. I have been on the floor officially for 3 weeks now. My previous preceptor allowed me to be much more independent, she would make sure the end result was the same and that I did what I was supposed too. She trusted me to be independent because I came to her with any questions or concerns, but with her I felt like the actual Nurse and like she was my safety net. As it should be. With my new preceptor I feel more like a student again.

Anyway, overall it's all still going good and I am loving my job. The nice big paychecks are an added bonus!!!

I am creating a few like quick tip sheets to keep in my clipboard. Like a check off of all forms that have to be completed on each patient each shift. All the steps that need to be done for an admission and a discharge (we don't DC a lot on night shift) but some stuff like that I have easy access too, to make sure I don't forget anything. Little tips and tricks.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Just finished my 20th week. Been on my own for a while. Still overwhelmed at times and often wondering what I've got myself into. Celebrating every shift my patients and I survive...

How are you doing?

I was posting same time as you. I ended up answering your question though anyway. LOL Patients surviving is always a good thing :p

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Hey guys, I'm in orientation as well. Right now I'm taking pts by myself and my preceptor is there as a safety net (well appreciated of course). It's been quite an experience, I've had some good days and some difficult days but I feel I've learned something everyday and this has been whats kept me going.

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I just switched to a new preceptor and that has been more rough going. She is nice and stuff and hasn't been mean or anything, but it seems like she would mesh better with a student that is more needy. I think I am a little to independent for her and it gets frustrating. She also wants me to just do, rather then want to know why I am doing it.

Like not something emergent. I wouldn't be like during a patient having Resp. Distress "Why do you feel O2 would be best".

But there has been a few times she wants something done one way and it doesn't make sense to me. It's stuff being charted under my name, my license and it doesn't make sense. So I will ask and I can tell she gets mad. So I do it her way and when we go to give report to the oncoming nurse the nurse will ask about the charting and want to know why it was done the way it was. She will say it's confusing looking at it and for the docs. WHICH IS THE SAME THING I SAID! Then also we were taught things through hospital orientation and our new grad residency and when I go to do it she will tell me it's wrong, I will show her whatever that says to do it that way and she gets mad.

Stuff like that. I think as co-workers it will be fine, it's just the student/teacher relationship that is frustrating. I shouldn't be precepting much longer though. I meet for my 30 day eval after this upcoming week where we will talk about that. I have been on the floor officially for 3 weeks now. My previous preceptor allowed me to be much more independent, she would make sure the end result was the same and that I did what I was supposed too. She trusted me to be independent because I came to her with any questions or concerns, but with her I felt like the actual Nurse and like she was my safety net. As it should be. With my new preceptor I feel more like a student again.

THIS EXACTLY!! I have had quite a few preceptors - my dept has hired a lot of people so we're all floating to several preceptors. Most have been great and let me do things independently. I've done well with those preceptors and felt I was learning so much! But this last one... as nice as she was, we just did not mesh well at all. We got report which took 45 minutes because there was a lot of gossiping going on. After report, we were in a rush so she would say, "oh, just let me do it. You can do it the next time because we really need to hurry". I felt she would have meshed better with someone who was more needy, like you said. Someone who would rather follow and watch - which is fine. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely need help and appreciate all of the pointers and constructive criticism I can get! I just learn a lot better when I can do things and ask for help when I need it. She will be a fine co-worker just not the best preceptor fit for me! Anyway, looks like we're all plugging along nicely! I've loved my job so far and really look forward to feeling more and more confident. My patients/patient families have been wonderful and I love interacting with them! I hope the love for nursing stays with us all! Best of luck :redbeathe

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Yeah, I've also been with more than one preceptor due to census but mainly I'm with the same one. I also agree with the shift report problem of gossiping, I get so aggravated because there is this one preceptor that interrupts my report to gossip and it drives me crazy. I mean I'm trying to make sure to update the on coming nurse on my pt's and it's annoying and rude. Another problem I'm running into is getting this particular preceptor to come in and help me turn my pts because she's too busy on her cell phone at the nurses station or gossiping with whoever, so annoying. It doesn't help me with time management because it throws off my turn schedule amongst other things. Some people are down right lazy.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
THIS EXACTLY!! I have had quite a few preceptors - my dept has hired a lot of people so we're all floating to several preceptors. Most have been great and let me do things independently. I've done well with those preceptors and felt I was learning so much! But this last one... as nice as she was, we just did not mesh well at all. We got report which took 45 minutes because there was a lot of gossiping going on. After report, we were in a rush so she would say, "oh, just let me do it. You can do it the next time because we really need to hurry". I felt she would have meshed better with someone who was more needy, like you said. Someone who would rather follow and watch - which is fine. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely need help and appreciate all of the pointers and constructive criticism I can get! I just learn a lot better when I can do things and ask for help when I need it. She will be a fine co-worker just not the best preceptor fit for me! Anyway, looks like we're all plugging along nicely! I've loved my job so far and really look forward to feeling more and more confident. My patients/patient families have been wonderful and I love interacting with them! I hope the love for nursing stays with us all! Best of luck :redbeathe

Yep exactly, it's just all about the type of learner and teacher you are and some people mesh better then others. It sucks when you don't match up right, but all we can do is try and make the best of it. I got called off tonight because our unit closed, so I am going to try and pick up a shift to make up for it on Sat. and if I do I will be with my first preceptor which would be nice.

Yeah, I've also been with more than one preceptor due to census but mainly I'm with the same one. I also agree with the shift report problem of gossiping, I get so aggravated because there is this one preceptor that interrupts my report to gossip and it drives me crazy. I mean I'm trying to make sure to update the on coming nurse on my pt's and it's annoying and rude. Another problem I'm running into is getting this particular preceptor to come in and help me turn my pts because she's too busy on her cell phone at the nurses station or gossiping with whoever, so annoying. It doesn't help me with time management because it throws off my turn schedule amongst other things. Some people are down right lazy.

The report thing can get frustrating sometimes. The gossiping isn't to bad on my unit at least from what I have seen so far but some other factors can cause report to drag out. Haven't had an issue with getting help thankfully. Most are patients if adults can walk fine, and I work with kids. I am sure we will get some kids that are rather large that might need help turning, but so far it's been fine. It's nice to just be able to scoot them up with no effort. LOL

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Things are better. I'm still on orientation, but I feel like I have been off for awhile. I am paired with another RN, but I'm practically by myself doing my own thing and the RN with me just checks up on my charting and ensures that all of my orders have been initiated, etc. I still have a lot of questions, and I realize that once I am flying solo I will still have a lot of questions and I can still ask them lol...just because I will be off orientation doesn't mean that I won't be able to ask any questions! It's information overload! I love my job, though. Everyone I have worked with have all been VERY helpful and always ask if I am doing okay...one of my coworkers asked if I feel like I have been getting the support that I need. It helps when your coworkers care. To be honest, that was one of my biggest concerns - having unsupportive coworkers who want NOTHING to do with a new grad like myself, but it has been the opposite! I am cross-training in ICU this week and I also have my first performance evaluation, along with everyone else on our team. I'm nervous! Next week I'll be flying solo!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.
I have my last week of orientation next week and then I'm on my own and I've never been so ready. I know I wont know everything and I'll still need some assistance and of course have questions but I feel like working with another nurse any longer is just a hindrance to my learning. I know the basics so therefore I'll take the patients but most of the time my preceptors will still call the Dr and review the charts while I handle the Med pass and patient/family concerns. Don't get me wrong I know its the preceptors way of staying busy as well as leaving on time but it doesn't help me learn time management or how to handle situations that require doctor intervention.

Lol, I have had preceptors do that...some gave me the choice...and I told them in no way did I feel comfortable calling the doctor, but it is something I have to learn to become comfortable with, so I would suck it up and call :lol2: It's getting a lot easier. I know my first few times calling the doc were terrible...I was so nervous, and then I had to call him back one night after he ordered some pain medication because I failed the tell him the patient had a codeine allergy! He wasn't happy...but my preceptor told me to not even worry about it because it is the doc's job to be on call and they get paid a heck of a lot of money to do it. Another time I had to call three times because I got flustered and overlooked some things...a few of my coworkers were sitting next to me helping me find the answers to the doc's questions which helped but of course I still missed some stuff! She wasn't happy either...but you know, it's so easy to overlook things when you're NEW and flustered...I just consider it a learning experience.

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