This might be lengthy but here goes: So my second day of orientation as a new grad RN, I was asked to take a group of patients on a neuro rehabilitation unit because of several call offs. I was sent to the unit with my preceptor, but he had 8 patients of his own and I was given four total care. Aside from that he seemed to be very angry for the first half of our 12-hr shift. Granted, he was probably angry at being floated and at the situation at large, but it meant that he was just not available to help me for several hours. He would answer questions but was visibly irritated and short. My first night with him, he was nothing but nice and helpful, so again I just figured he was angry more at the situation.
Having several years of experience as an LPN I quickly identified the tasks I was immediately comfortable with (VS, head-to-toe assessments, safety, etc) and got to it. I was told at the early part of the shift that another nurse was coming to take over my patients--then several hours later told that nurse wasn't coming after all. Of course, my biggest anxiety was maneuvering through the EMR because I'd barely started being trained on it the day before. I quadruple checked meds and made absolutely sure that I was following the 5 rights each time. Beyond that, I made frequent rounding to ensure patient safety. When I got home to decompress and dissect what happened, I felt mostly very good about the care I gave and how I handled the situation.
However now I'm super anxious because I don't feel I documented or charted appropriately--at least to the standard that I'm used to, and I don't feel like I covered my butt in my documentation, mainly because of not being familiar with the electronic charting system used. I'm just in a blur about what I wrote honestly. I feel like when it was time to chart I went blank. I did get some help from my preceptor toward the later end of the shift, but again, he was also needing to chart on his 8 people. Meanwhile, the tech sat watching movies on her cellphone and while she did some things without being asked, she needed a lot of prompting. At the end of my shift, my preceptor told me to make sure I did things like take trash from the room--really?! I normally do that and have zero problem with it, but how about asking the tech to get off her butt because she's not being paid to watch movies .
It's almost time for me to go back for my next shift again and I just don't want to go. Granted the nurses there seem, in general, to be very friendly and willing to help. I know there are good and bad staff everywhere. I'm supposed to go back to being on orientation but who knows now? I'm the kind of person who doesn't have a problem speaking up usually. I also don't like to "rock the boat" so to speak as a newbie. Had I been there for some time, I would've been all over the tech to get off her butt and if that didn't work I'd report her. But I'm new, and I'm not wanting to make enemies out of the gate.
I still think that overall this hospital is not a bad place to work. I want to hang in there and at least capture that golden year of RN experience, if at all possible. I will speak up though, if I'm asked to take patients again due to being short-staffed. It's only fair that I be given proper orientation so that I can be a safe nurse and do what's expected. Right now my anxiety is through the roof. I'm worried about having missed something/not documented something and having it come back to bite me. I'm worried about future attempts to pull me as a staff nurse and not orientee when they're short again. And all this is in addition to the usual newbie worries of getting the hang of things, time management, etc. I appreciate anyone who reads this novel lol. I just needed a safe place to vent and air my feelings.
I think you should talk to whomever directs your orientation whether it be the unit manager or educator. Let them know what happened. Maybe they were not aware and it will be a non-issue. If they were aware make it clear (with a smile) that you were promised x amount of training and while you were an LPN before the job is different and it is a patient safety issue taking your own assignment prior to completing orientation. Be apologetic, let them know you are a team player, whatever but make it clear that as an orientee you are not part of the nursing census and at this point in tour training you do not feel comfortable taking your own assignment. They cant fire you for this and wont take the blame for you if something goes wrong.
Thanks for responding Loo17. I have been put back on status as an orientee. The charge nurse did come by and apologize, and offered any assistance she could...which in the scheme of things, she should've taken the patients herself. Sadly I think this is an "employer's market." Things are very different, even from the time I started out as an LPN. Employers are doing things to staff now just because they think they can, and because they are aware of the difficult job market in most places.
As an example, my former job was once an amazing place to work. Last year they laid off at least a couple hundred employees, including nurses, and now the morale is awful. A CNA complained about a situation to mgmt there and was told to deal with it and be thankful she still has a job. I'm only orienting for about 3 more weeks, and I intend to stand my ground and do just that, get oriented to the unit.
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MostlysunnyRN
70 Posts
Thanks for responding Loo17. I have been put back on status as an orientee. The charge nurse did come by and apologize, and offered any assistance she could...which in the scheme of things, she should've taken the patients herself. Sadly I think this is an "employer's market." Things are very different, even from the time I started out as an LPN. Employers are doing things to staff now just because they think they can, and because they are aware of the difficult job market in most places.
As an example, my former job was once an amazing place to work. Last year they laid off at least a couple hundred employees, including nurses, and now the morale is awful. A CNA complained about a situation to mgmt there and was told to deal with it and be thankful she still has a job. I'm only orienting for about 3 more weeks, and I intend to stand my ground and do just that, get oriented to the unit.