New grad RN working in Corrections

[Drowninginbooks]

Hi everybody,

I am a new graduate nurse who spent close to 10 months searching for employment. I was recently hired at a correctional facility in California and just started orientation. I really need some encouragement/advice please.

I have been mostly passing meds, charting and doing wound dressing changes which has been a good experience. It's basically all coming back to me because I did this so much during school. Now IVs are a different story. I almost always miss. I had an RN who kindly helped me and now I realize I wasn't going it at the correct angle but I'm still super slow and am not proficient. Same with IV priming. I can work the pumps, hook up the IV to the pt and identify to pt correctly but priming IV tubing is something I suck at for some reason. I know we used different IV tubing during clinical.

I am horrible with critical thinking skills and ask stupid questions continuously. I am NO good at emergency response. Where I work, RNs are considered leads during medical emergencies (such as during events of chest pain, inmate unresponsive, stabbings and such). Well during practice today I couldn't get the hang of it. I had a hard time leading and I couldn't prioritize. Yes I know my ABCs but I couldn't use my knowledge today. My mind was blank. I had no clue what to do. The other nurses there have had ER experience for the most part and as a new grad I've had no ER experience.

I feel so incompetent and unskilled. I can't seem to critical think. I leave work feeling discouraged and stressed. I dread work each day. Part of me regrets taking this job. I went into nursing to become an OR nurse but those jobs are hard to get as a new grad.

Alright, my pitty party is over. Any advice? Help?

[Stacilator]

I'm not a nurse yet, so I don't have this kind of experience, but have you considered taking the Certified Emergency Nurse class?

It might help you develop an emergency response mindset, and then you have an additional resume builder for the future if you decide corrections isn't for you.

[DavidDudley]

Being proficient with IV's and having good critical thinking skills takes time and a lot of experience. You can't expect to be proficient shortly after starting a new job. Part of developing your skill comes down to having a good preceptor/mentor, and if you don't have one then get some good critical care/ER nursing books and study.

Don't be afraid to make little mistakes, it's part of the learning process. It took me a year in the ER to truly be comfortable and very efficient with IV's.

[trutuyu]

Hello, I am a corrections nurse. You can pm me if you like. But just so you know it does get better with time. Keep your head up. Before you know it you will have a year under your belt and you will look back and laugh.

[Drowninginbooks]

Thanks. I always thought you had to have experience before becoming certified but I'll look into it. I did order an emergency nursing textbook off Ebay.

[Drowninginbooks]

It's good hearing from others about feeling unsure in your skills at first. Thank you all.