New grad on Med-Surg floor

tokmom, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

Did you work med/surg on your rotation?

Working on a med/surg floor makes you learn how to prioritize care. Make sure you have a good way to keep organized with your notes and not trying to remember it all. If you can, try to chart during the shift as you go. You then don't have to recall specifics and makes charting a lot less painful.

Prioritize your patients. Which one is going to be the least heaviest and the most heaviest. Some nurses start with the least heaviest and safe the most sick for last so they can assess the others quickly and leave the room. That is what I have done and for ME, it worked.

Delegate. Don't feel like you need to do everything by yourself. Ask questions. Try to figure it out yourself, but don't waste a lot of time. If you need help, the get it. I have seen so many new grads be too embarrassed to ask questions (OMG, they might think I'm dumb!) and spend tons of time trying to find something, figure out a question, etc..

I don't know what else to add. Good luck.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 20, 2012

It will be overwhelming at first, like any new job. It could take you between 6-12 months before you feel confident..

That being said, don't be afraid to ask questions. I have heard many seasoned nurses state that they are AFRAID of new nurses who don't ask questions...

Congrats on your position. I'm sure you'll be great!! :nurse:

nerdynurse00 · Feb 20, 2012

I am a new grad- graduated in May 2011 and started work on a Medical/Tele floor the first week of June.

My best bits of advice: 1) If you don't know, say you don't know. Yes, some doctors and nurses will get snarly at you because you don't know every little detail for every patient or situation- but it's better to say you don't know then to make something up or to make excuses/blame something or someone. (I think physicians will respect you more this way as well)

2) Ask for help and ask questions! As others have said, many experienced nurses have told me (as I am apologizing for asking them so many questions) that they feel much better about a new nurse who asks tons of questions, rather than one who wastes time trying to figure every little thing out on their own or does something that they have no clue about. If they get their panties in a knot, find somebody else! Use your resources- clinical resource, nurse manager, team leader.. it's their job!

3) Find 1 or 2 seasoned nurses and learn everything you can from them! ask them to "mentor" you- meet for coffee on days off, go out for breakfast after a particularly crappy night shift.. your co-workers are a wealth of information- use their knowledge! Pick their brains, ask them what they would do in a certain situation and take notes!

Congrats on your new job- all the best! You'll do great :) You have a ton of support here -- I don't know what I would have done without it!

Laura

Shotguns and Syringes