New Grad- just can't get it

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Hi, I've been looking at other post that may have something to do with what I am going through but can't find any.

I worked as a cna on a cardiovascular step down unit for 2 1/2 years and when I graduated from school they offered me a full time night position as a nurse. I thought it was going to be great, b/c I already am familiar with everything on the unit and the night nurses told me they would help turn me into a good nurse. Well when I started I thought I was doing well until my 1st eval from my preceptor, things like doesn't know how to put up TPN,(never did it before in school), doesn't delegate enough to cna's, has difficulty talking to the doctors on the phone, then every eval got worse after that, it seemed like they had the highest expectations of me and kept noting to the nurse educator that I am not thinking of the whole picture when it comes to my patients and I have problems anticipating what the doctor's orders will be. I thought critical thinking came with time, I have given 100% but after 14weeks, yes 14 weeks they decided that the step down unit is not for me, and they called a few med surg unit managers and set up for me to talk with them. I am very disappointed in my self and I feel I have disappointed my coworkers and nurse educator, I feel like I have tryed so hard and I really don't know what went wrong. I had a interview with one manager and it sounded promising but I kept thinking during the interview will it be exactly the same thing but on a different unit, and am I really cut out for hospital work, I guess I am feeling inadequate and don't know how to get my confidence back. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Specializes in ICU.

Keep your head up! It takes time to develop these skills, and yes critical thinking comes with time. I am surprised the nurse would say things about the TPN and speaking to docs on the phone. I mean sure, nurses tend to eat their young, but to actually document these things instead of talking to you about them seems a bit over the top in my opinion. Go to the med/surg floor for a year and then head back to tele or ICU if that is what you want to do. You just need a little extra time to get your bearings. Believe me, you are not the first to not feel cut for the job at this time, but you will :)

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if not already, have you thought about working the night shift for a while to be able to work on your skills? Night shift is usually just a busy, but you will not have all the hustle and bustle of doctors and families in the halls.

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On the bright side, you probably learned a lot in those 14 weeks and next time you have to orient you will be more comfortable and do a better job.

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sorry to hear this...i dont think you should feel disappointed in yourself, and i wonder if they expected more out of you b/c you worked there already..(which is a bit unfair) since its a totally different role..difficulty talking to doctors, not delegating enough, doesnt sound like patient care was jeapordized, so i dont fully understand their logic... is it possible to talk with your preceptor or nurse manager. do you still want to stay on the step-down? If you do, then you should talk with them and ask them for more guidance. 14weeks is such a short period of time!!

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this is exactly why people making the transition from cna to rn should never be hired to the same unit with the same staff. you find the transition harder from cna to rn because you think you know more than you do (having been comfortable in the pace for two years) and they think you should be more acculturated to the rn role than any new grad should be expected to be, because they already know and like you.

transfer to another floor with staffers who don't know you. own up to being a new grad-- new grads mean well, but honestly, they often don't know much, and it's grossly unfair to expect them to waltz right into the rn role, and former cnas find this more difficult than most new grads -- and after a year of learning to be a nurse you will feel much better. then reapply to your stepdown unit, if you want to, and you'll be surprised at how much more you have to learn there than you think. and how much more ready you are to do that.

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Hi, I've been looking at other post that may have something to do with what I am going through but can't find any.

I worked as a cna on a cardiovascular step down unit for 2 1/2 years and when I graduated from school they offered me a full time night position as a nurse. I thought it was going to be great, b/c I already am familiar with everything on the unit and the night nurses told me they would help turn me into a good nurse. Well when I started I thought I was doing well until my 1st eval from my preceptor, things like doesn't know how to put up TPN,(never did it before in school), doesn't delegate enough to cna's, has difficulty talking to the doctors on the phone, then every eval got worse after that, it seemed like they had the highest expectations of me and kept noting to the nurse educator that I am not thinking of the whole picture when it comes to my patients and I have problems anticipating what the doctor's orders will be. I thought critical thinking came with time, I have given 100% but after 14weeks, yes 14 weeks they decided that the step down unit is not for me, and they called a few med surg unit managers and set up for me to talk with them. I am very disappointed in my self and I feel I have disappointed my coworkers and nurse educator, I feel like I have tryed so hard and I really don't know what went wrong. I had a interview with one manager and it sounded promising but I kept thinking during the interview will it be exactly the same thing but on a different unit, and am I really cut out for hospital work, I guess I am feeling inadequate and don't know how to get my confidence back. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

same story..started CNA to RN..I have no idea how HUGE responsibility as an RN til become one. After 1yr working full time, decided to go per diem.(once a week)..too much stress+anxiety, cant sleep anymore!!

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You were set up for failure going from CNA to RN on the same unit. The manager should NOT have allowed this.

Of course you will have a problem speaking with doctors. Changing roles from CNA to RN guarantees this!

Make it a point in future interviews that your transitional role will be easier on a new unit. Don't COMPLAIN about it, it will be seen as unprofessional. Just state it matter of factly.

Good luck, you will be fine in a different setting.

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First I want to begin by saying I am so sorry that they made it so difficult for you. I worked as a CNA then RN on the same unit (mother/baby), and it can be difficult but co-workers were great at helping me with transition. They kept reminding me that I am not a CNA anymore but I felt like they treated me with kid gloves because they wanted me to succeed badly. I always had help and my preceptor was great, I picked her out before I even graduated nursing school. It is because of them that I now work on a cardiac unit, they gave me courage to move on to a more challenging unit. I do agree with the other posters, some nurses will expect a bit more from you because you are familiar with the unit, nurses do eat their young, a fresh start will be good for you. Chin up and good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It sounds like the preceptor was being quite nit-picky. So you didn't know how to hang TPN. I'm sure after you did it once that now you know how. Sounds like you are stuck with coworkers who have it out for you. We've had a couple preceptors like that where I work. Usually young, inexperienced themselves, but overconfident, arrogant and very judgemental of everyone else. Either they like you or forget it!

Another unit will give you a chance with new coworkers and hopefully things will go smoother. Plus you've already learned alot from the time on the other unit.

The preceptor you have has succeeded in poisoning the manager against you. I'm sure she made her feelings known to the rest of your coworkers. She's probably a bully who gets off on making others look bad. That way she can feel better about herself. Probably your other coworkers aren't going to step up on your behalf because they don't want to become her next target.

Good Luck and I wish you the best at your next job!

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My dear,THANK GOD and move on,. be thankful, because there's something special around that corner for you. Trust GOD>

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

Your preceptor sounds like a jerk. (((hugs))) Those are not even "real" complaints!

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