New Grad Nurse worrying

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 27, 2015

The transition from student to registered nurse can be difficult for many just beginning their nursing career. There are many things not taught in school, as well as the fact that school teaches an ideal world that doesn't exist in reality. However, if report is one of your weaknesses, what are you doing to organize yourself and your thoughts? There are many examples of "brain sheets" used by other nurses when giving report- these can make sure you have all of the information needed right at your fingertips without having to remember it off the top of your head. Do a search here and you should find quite a few examples- just pick one that works or tailor it to your specific needs.

LabyrinthRn · Apr 27, 2015

I agree with rose_queen a brain sheet is a must! I also, use a multi color pen. I write the things I need to be sure and report to the nurse/chart on in red. That way it sticks out! I have a sheet for each one of my patients. I'm only 3 weeks out of orientation and I totally get the worrying! When I reported off to the other nurse last night I gave her my cell phone number because I was scared I forgot something. I told her I would probably be up late anyway worrying. She had a chuckle and said "I remember those days" "they are a lot fewer now, go home and sleep and stop being silly" I'm glad she said that to me. It gave me a little hope that one day roles will be reversed and I will be the one to chuckle about the "new nurse" days. Meanwhile I return to allnurses so I don't feel alone in my struggles! Thanks for your post strawberry111 :-)

INN_777, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2015

Hi Strawberry. Another new grad here. Yes you are paranoid and so am I, haha. I, pretty much, reconciled with the fact that I will likely live in paranoia-land for at least a year:)

I am OK with report, but I worry about my technical skills. We did not have a capstone in my program (1 year accelerated), so, in a way, I feel like I am a little behind in the technical department (e.g. in our new hire cohort most everyone had experience with trache care in school and I didn't). I have to think about all the meds and skills and double check things which makes me slow. I ask a bunch of questions, which makes me feel incompetent. I couldn't get any meaningful experience with IVs during my orientation because on our floor most patients have central access. So this makes me feel like I am not a real nurse. The list goes on...

But when I shared all these worries with my educator and assistant manager, they assured me this is what every new nurse goes through and that my colleagues think I am doing well. They also gave me a great advice to think a LOT more about what I AM doing right. (Coincidentally, a friend posted a quote on FB that same day with the same advice, so I figured I really needed to pay attention that that). So, whenever I find myself beating myself up (often), I try to shift into the "let's think about what went right today" mode. It helps.

As as far as report goes, what kind of things do you forget? Do you guys use a standard SBAR template for reports in your facility? We do and it makes it easier - we all know what we need to deliver. I fill it out when I get report, then add to it in a different color (as Labyrinth also suggested) anything that was different or additional throughout the shift. And then again, we document everything (assessment, etc) electronically and write a note at the end - that is another chance to review all that has happened with the patient during the shift and helps me with report. Do you, guys, do that?

mvm2 · Apr 28, 2015

Also I wouldn't be afraid to ask other nurses what tips they may have for you that might help you give better reports. Maybe they see a pattern in how you give your report that they can help you with so it feels more organized and confident in your report giving.