New grad RN and mad at myself

[poopylala, BSN, RN]

I'm so frustrated!! I'm a new grad RN in a burn ICU and I love it but I'm having such difficulty with managing time and reading this charting system. It's only my 5th shift on and I have definitely learned a lot already but the 2.5 days we spent learning the charting system was a waste because it didn't specify what needs to be charged for ICU patients. Basically, I am struggling to keep up with charting or even knowing what to chart. I have my one patient to care for and my preceptor is awesome but I'm getting so frustrated I could cry. I also haven't eaten lunch until just now so that doesn't help.

Basically, I've forgotten to flush my art line 3 times last week and I dreamed about it over the weekend. I made the same freaking mistake today! I didn't realize TPN and tube feed could be given simultaneously but it makes sense now that I think about it- I learned this because I saw the orders for tube feed so I tossed the TPN and started the tube feed. In my experience in school and as a tech, that wasn't done but I also wasn't at this hospital with this acuity or in a burn unit.

i know I shouldn't expect to be at a certain level yet and I'm supposed to focus on learning the patterns of the shift and charting but I've had to learn so many new skills also that I am enjoying but it's taking up time for me. What's different here is the hours we spend in dressing changes so I know time management isn't quite the same as what I learned in school but still.

Hfejxikwndfjodkwbalabdbd. Sigh.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to First Year after Nursing Licensure

[DTWriter]

I feel you, OP.

I am a new nurse, too, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but here is what I suggest you do:

In regards to charting/documenting:

-Make a list of the daily tasks that you know you need to chart, and when

-Next, take that list to your preceptor and ask if you are missing something, or if a particular task should, or can, be done at a different time

- Then, make a time table for the daily tasks: a general time table that you can use for any shift, and one that you can write on (for instance, if you give a pain med, make note on the time table for when you need to do the reassessment)

In regards to skills:

-Make a list of the skills that you are learning (or will need to do at one point).

-Star, highlight, etc. the skills that you feel weak on

Now, for the next step:

-If you feel that your preceptor is not the type who would use your weaknesses against you, then, by all means, review the list with the preceptor so he/she is aware of which skills you would like more practice on

and/or

-Take that list to a clinical educator (if one is available), and ask if there are classes available for those skills

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

It's all on the job learning experience. Also, don't forget to ask for help. Teamwork will definitely save you time, and remember, you DO have a team. I learned that the hard way

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

It's difficult to learn everything at once. I usually have an orientee do the charting and nothing but the charting on their first day. If at the end of the first day they're not a whiz at charting (and know more of the tricks than I do) we spend a second day doing the same thing. Once you have the charting down pat, it's easier to learn and remember the other stuff.