New Grad Med/surg Adjustment

U.S.A. California

Published

HELLO,

I AM CURRENTLY A NEW GRAD IN THE MED/SURG DEPARTMENT. WHEN I FIRST STARTED I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF 5 PATIENTS AND STILL THINK THAT. I AM CURRENTLY UP TO 3 PATIENTS AND FEEL THAT I AM DOING OK. MY PRECEPTOR IS AWSOME, HOWEVER SHE IS NOW ON VACATION. THE LAST 2 DAYS I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT NURSES PRECEPT ME AND THOSE DAYS HAVE BEEN HELL FOR ME. IT GOT BAD TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST WANTED TO CRY. :cry: I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS D/T THE TYPES OF PATIENT I HAD OR THEIR STYLE OF TEACHING. ONE NURSE JUST BOMBARDED ME WITH NEW ORDERS WHICH THREW ME OFF AND TOTALLY MESSED UP MY ROUTINE. THE ONE TODAY WOULDN'T LET ME GIVE MEDS WITHOUT HER IN THE ROOM AND MAINLY USED ME AS HELP FOR HER.

THESE 2 DAYS LIKE I SAID WERE HELL AND HAS MADE ME QUESTION IF MED/SURG IS FOR ME. :angryfire

I DON'T THINK THAT HAVING THE RATIO OF 1:5 WOULD PROVIDE THE PATIENT WITH THE CARE AND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. IT IS KIND OF SCARY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE PATIENTS EXPERIENCING VTACH AND ETC... SOMETIMES I AM SO BUSY WITH ONE PT AND FEEL THAT MY OTHER PATIENTS ARE NEGLECTED.

JUST FEEL SO OVERWHELMED AND OUT OF ENERGY.:banghead: :smackingf

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Hey there.

First off, Please don't type in all caps. Its hard to read and in computer language means you are screaming. You might have been screaming since you seem frustrated but still don't write you entire post in all capitalized letters.

Ok now about your experience. Talk to your manager. Tell him/her which preceptors are or aren't working. The problem with having alternate preceptors is that they are unfamiliar with your skill level and might be afraid to leave you alone. Maybe having a chat with your preceptor at the beginning of the day and saying that you feel comfortable doing x,y and z.

New orders are a part of your responsibility so you should be checking your new orders even if you are new and have 3 patients.

5 patients sounds like alot but it is manageable most of the time. Believe it or not you will get there, I did.

I have been a nurse only 6 months now and have 5 patients on a tele floor (which thank goodness will go to 4 patients in January)

Good luck:balloons:

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Such a pity that you are encountering preceptors that wants to make your skills questionable.i'm about starting off with my own med-surg.i pray it doesnt get to that.Relax!take it a day as it comes.Dont let what they do pull you down.i know very soon,you'll get to the stage you want to get to.Goodluck.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I will be starting on a med-surg floor and the ratio is 1:7. I am starting to get cold feet myself.

Good luck and hopefully your other preceptor will be back from vacation soon!

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