new grad on medical floor

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

Just finishing week 2 of orientation and I feel so lost- the floor is so busy and I know that my skills are tuned but my preceptor has me worried. I come in early to read charts and she told me not to get used to this or else I won't be able to adapt if the assignment changes.....In school. they pretty much taught by indimidation and I ask her to check everything I do and I can tell that she is annoyed. I don't recognize most of the meds I am giving so I stop to look them up ....is this wrong? Anyone else have this experience?

Congratulations in graduation nursing school. I am not a nurse so can't advice you, but I do want to wish you the best of luck :)

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2005

You absolutely need to look up EVERY medication you give if you arent very clear about what, why, how, when it is being given. After you see them for a while you will be more comfortable in what information you know about them. Some you may always have to look up and refresh. Thats just safety.

2 weeks of orientation isnt enough to decide if you can handle it or not. Now at the end of your 8-9 weeks or whatever, you may still be a bit uncomfortable, but that is also normal. Use your resources (those scheduled with you) to ask questions and run things by, thats what they are for too. Sooner or later you will be the one someone is coming to. Give yourself TIME!~!!!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Aug 4, 2005

Just finishing week 2 of orientation and I feel so lost- the floor is so busy and I know that my skills are tuned but my preceptor has me worried. I come in early to read charts and she told me not to get used to this or else I won't be able to adapt if the assignment changes.....In school. they pretty much taught by indimidation and I ask her to check everything I do and I can tell that she is annoyed. I don't recognize most of the meds I am giving so I stop to look them up ....is this wrong? Anyone else have this experience?

Hi! I'm a new RN too & am in my second week into orientation at my job on a med/surg/tele floor. I always look up meds I'm unfamiliar with before giving them. I think it is important to do that with meds you've never given before (or heard of) so you know what they are for, which common side/adverse effects to look for, what to assess in the patient before you give it (example-you would not give most cardiac meds if the blood pressure or heart rate was too high/low or whatever). I hope your preceptor is not telling you to not look up meds! I learn a lot by looking them up-please don't stop looking them up. :) P.S I get overwhelmed too at times-that's normal because we are so brand new.

-Christine

grasshopper1972 · Sep 19, 2005

Although I have been a nurse for 10 years now, I certainly remember what it was like starting out on the med/surg unit- my stomach was sick for months! Dont stress yourself out about going in early to read charts. If you feel this is helpful for now, thats ok, but as you build your confidence, you will be able to handle it all just fine. And YES, you should be looking up meds! You are a great, safe nurse for doing so. Ive seen pleanty of seasoned nurses not look up meds and then make mistakes. I still do my "3 checks" with meds, all these years later! If your preceptor and you dont see eye to eye, talk to your nursing supervisor about it. She may be understanding enough to place you with a kinder person. After all , nursing supervisors HATE errors on behalf of their staff and want new nurses to learn the right way. You will learn after a certain amout of time that there are just "those" nurses out there that feel like they know everything and dont want to bother teaching others. Ive had my run in with PLENTY. I still have my fellow nurses check my math sometimes, just to be safe. Stick to your guns and dont let anyone walk over you! Good Luck, but it doesnt sound like you will need it! (:

Just finishing week 2 of orientation and I feel so lost- the floor is so busy and I know that my skills are tuned but my preceptor has me worried. I come in early to read charts and she told me not to get used to this or else I won't be able to adapt if the assignment changes.....In school. they pretty much taught by indimidation and I ask her to check everything I do and I can tell that she is annoyed. I don't recognize most of the meds I am giving so I stop to look them up ....is this wrong? Anyone else have this experience?