New Grad Nurse

[NurseSunshine3]

I recently graduated in December and took my boards in February and passed. I was accepted into the Nurse Resident program at the hospital I work at. I started as a CNA about 3 years ago and well now I am a RN. Yesterday was my first day to a totally new unit. I met my preceptor she was surprise to see me and said, "I did not know I was going to have a new Nurse with me". Honestly I don't know if it's normal to feel nervous, scared, kind of happy all at the same time. But if you ask me I am more nervous then anything. A millions things run through my mind did I make the right choice with this career? Will my charting be ok? Is 8 weeks of training before I go on my own enough time for me to understand everything? I don't want to be that nurse that doesn't get it and well the manager has to terminate. That is one of my biggest fears. Well back to my preceptor I know that I just met her yesterday but you can kind of tell she isn't the teaching type of person. She even admitted to me yesterday I am not the teaching type of person but yet they are always giving me nurses so I can train them. Yesterday was kind of a slow day she did try to teach me some things I am not going to lie but she said you chart the best you can not everything is going to be accurate. She would talk so fast and go so fast and expect me to have gotten it. I did ask her questions. I just don't know I felt like I was bothering her like she probably wished I was not there because literally the day before I was there she had a nurse that finished training with her. So she probably wanted a little break and bang here I come the next day. I was talking to my best friend, which she is a nurse and she told me give her a chance for the first week if you feel like you guys are not a good match I would immediately tell your manager because it will be your license on the line if you make a mistake.

Oh I am also going to be working nights. Is that a good start for a brand new nurse? And the thought of getting 6 or 7 max patients at night I am freaking out. I'm sorry I just needed to vent and I am sure there are plenty of people out there that understand.

Another, thing the nurses on my floor each have their own papers to keep them organize though out the day. Do any of y'all have any suggestions? Or know of a website that might have some of papers that can be printed off to keep you organize through out the day? For example some of them use an SBAR while some don't.

[anewsns]

I would maybe ask the preceptor if she needed a break from training and if she could suggest anyone that would be willing to teach .. She sounds pretty reasonable so that way youre including her in the discussion and it doesnt seem personal if you end up with someone else . And umm , 8 weeks is a bit short , but maybe around week 7 you'll be able to determine whether or not you want to ask for more training .. I think the nurse that "doesn't get it " is actually pretty rare. You sound pretty insightful so you'll probably be good :) I think nights is good for a new nurse , a little less chaotic .

ps- help the nurses on duty as much as you can so once you're off training you'll have a bunch of people who will hopefully want to help you out too

[NurseSunshine3]

Thank you so much. I will see how it goes on day two with my preceptor. She did say on the three days we have off if I think of any questions to ask her when we get back together.