Hi everyone! I just finished up orientation on a 26 bed general adult inpatient unit, working 12 hour nights (7p-7a). I graduated in May and I know there must be some other new grads on here in a similar boat too.
How are you doing?
Are you almost finished orientation?
Is your job what you thoughts it would be?
I'll start! I'm doing great! My NM actually called me on Friday to ask how I'd feel about coming off of orientation a week early (12 weeks of total orientation completed), which I know was mainly a device of getting appropriate coverage for the unit, and she said my co-workers have nothing but good things to say about me.
I finished my last shift of orientation yesterday. I've been itching to get off of orientation for the past few weeks or so, because the unit census has been low and I've been only getting 3-4 patients for med passes. I feel very well supported by my colleagues. I'm not afraid to ask questions and I know things like getting used to calling docs and clinical judgment r/t putting someone in LDS or restraints will come with time and experience. I'm also still getting used to patients refusing meds or being resistant to treatment. I hate the revolving door experience!
My job is exactly what I expected and then some. I was a little nervous about going straight into psych right after school not because I was afraid I wouldn't like it but because I was afraid I'd never get out of the specialty if I wanted to, but I'm realizing that I really do love psych nursing. I have picked up a per diem position at a local psych hospital on the adolescent male psych unit and since peds is my other love, I'm excited about combining the two.
It's good to hear you like psych. I'm starting Inpatient adult PRN after starting out (7 mos) as a new grad in med-tele & am hopeful, psych seems a better fit for me. I'm curious, do you work 8 or 12-hr shifts?
It's good to hear you like psych. I'm starting Inpatient adult PRN after starting out (7 mos) as a new grad in med-tele & am hopeful, psych seems a better fit for me. I'm curious, do you work 8 or 12-hr shifts?
Standard shift length where I am is 8 hours, however I could pull 12s or even 16s if I wanted to...but I don't want to
I also work 8 hour shifts, but could work 12's if I found someone that wanted to work opposite me. I've already been asked once to pull a double, but I declined because I had plans for the next day. I've been told that I will have no problems picking up extra hours if I want them.
I am a new grad who also went straight into psych, and so far, I am absolutely loving it.
I had a week of classroom orientation to the facility and then a week of job shadowing, and then BAM, I was the charge nurse. I've been on my own for three weeks now and things seem to be going well. I'm charge for up to 14 patients, and an LPN gives all the meds for my unit. I always have another charge nurse just a few steps away if I have any questions. I do admissions and discharges, investigate patients' medical complaints, and lots of paperwork.
When I first accepted this job, I was worried about losing skills and wondering if I should hold out for med/surg, even though I hated it in school. But now I love my job and can see myself staying with it a long, long time. I haven't seen any poop, I get to take my breaks, I have supportive co-workers, and I haven't left crying (yet). I feel so lucky.
Wow, your orientation sounds similar to mine (and I'm definitely nervous because it will be so short - first day is tomorrow). Hopefully it works out for me as smoothly as it did for you.
Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
It's good to hear you like psych. I'm starting Inpatient adult PRN after starting out (7 mos) as a new grad in med-tele & am hopeful, psych seems a better fit for me. I'm curious, do you work 8 or 12-hr shifts?
My unit is switching over from 8's to 12's and it's not something that's going over easily. I think it's hard to be off for a stretch of time and come in to a unit full of new patients, but I do like working 12's.
I found 12s way too draining in the medical setting--are you able to work in a break now & then in psych? So far, I've been on the unit a few days watching orientation videos & it's so quiet and unfrenzied!
Also, I'm told I can have as much orientation as it takes, but only a couple of weeks on the floor are planned at this time--how long would be acceptable?
Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I found 12s way too draining in the medical setting--are you able to work in a break now & then in psych? So far, I've been on the unit a few days watching orientation videos & it's so quiet and unfrenzied!
Also, I'm told I can have as much orientation as it takes, but only a couple of weeks on the floor are planned at this time--how long would be acceptable?
I was given 12 weeks of orientation with a preceptor but after the first month I felt like I was ready for the most part, mainly using my preceptor as a sounding board for questions about clinical judgement or things I wasn't sure of. I work 7P-7A, so there's definitely time for breaks. After 11P, most of the patients tend to settle into bed. Sure some patients never sleep and we get admissions overnight, but the pace slows to manageable. I think if I'd have started on days, there would have been a much steeper learning curve. I would honestly ask for at least 6 weeks as a new grad, but it depends on your comfort level. There's much less hands on skills to check off in psych, but there are skills to be had of the psychosocial kind. :)
Hi I am a new RN with 6 1/2 experience in the psy field I really like it.I was on orientation for about 3 weeks and BAM I was charge nurse,but there is very suppoertive staff so so far so good.I also used to worry about losing skills,but I do not see myself losing skills,so far I have become comfortable calling doctors dispencing meds and genneral running mu unit.The hosp has adult child adol and cd pt.I have worked all overltely have come to have come to work in cd a lot.i like the pt.If I ever go to med surg.I am sure I could get the hang of IV therapy again or such procdures really quick after all we are nurses.I really like psy nursing it is very intersting.We gt quite busy at night as we tend to admit alot at night and there are pt who stay up all night we also do audits lots of paperwork.ther are also nights were it is slow (thank god).so far I like it.
- first day is tomorrow). Hopefully it works out for me as smoothly as it did for you.
GraceNotes
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It's good to hear you like psych. I'm starting Inpatient adult PRN after starting out (7 mos) as a new grad in med-tele & am hopeful, psych seems a better fit for me. I'm curious, do you work 8 or 12-hr shifts?