New Grads: How was your day today???

tiggerdagibit · Jul 22, 2009

I'm a new grad and have done 4 shifts so far (on a stepdown ICU.) The first 3, I basically followed my preceptor around. I was trying to learn the equipment, the specific routines they have, the paperwork, etc. The 4th shift, my preceptor "gave" me one of our patients, but was there with me for most things. I did the assessments, FSBS, IVF changes, charting on the flowsheet.. stuff like that. I still kind of feel like a student because I'm so dependent on her, but I'm working on trying to do some things on my own when I can. It's very overwhelming because this unit is so much different than the ones I had done clinical on, but I'm enjoying it. Several nurses have told me that this is a tough unit, but everyone I've worked with has been very nice, which helps a LOT. I know it's only been a little over a week, but so far I'm very happy. I'm working nights, which I feel I'm better suited for (I HATE getting up early and would rather stay up late) and I think that helps too. I hope the rest of you are having good experiences!

Student2Registered · Jul 27, 2009

I'm glad you asked this question! I am starting my fourth week of a new grad program. The first week was all classroom orientation. The second week was on the floor shadowing and then I had one day of one patient and then spent the next week back in the classroom. Today was my first day back on the floor and I felt like I took 10 steps backwards. I felt awkward, I felt like a student all over again. I felt like I was fumbling every thing. I tried to do some things on my own but mostly felt like I was following my preceptor. I graduated feeling like I would be a real good nurse. Now I feel like I will never get the hang of this. Maybe its because I am in a hospital that is brand new to me so I'm adjusting to the charting, the floor, the culture and every thing else that goes along with it.

I really need to know that I'm not alone because I'm starting to feel like I'll never be good at this.

gogatsby · Jul 27, 2009

I had an eight week orientation, and now I just finished my second week on my own. I was doing fine until yesterday, and I spent the first three hours of my shift today pulling myself together enough to not cry while in a patient's room. The only thing that got me through today were the other nurses on my shift who practically took on half of my responsibilities. They all keep telling me to give it time and that they all went through this too. I feel like an idiot and I can't do anything right or efficiently.

Most importantly, I have no clue how I'm going to go back tomorrow.

star77, MSN, RN · Jul 27, 2009

I was the rockstar of my nursing school, and now I'm totally and utterly retarded. Apparently, between school and now, I've become the anti-IV starter.

I come home feeling defeated, although I'm learning. I miss my friends, my support system, and any sense of confidence I used to have.

Keepin' my head up.

One day at a time.

JVRB4 · Jul 27, 2009

I know how you feel. In school I thought I had it all together. In 2 years I only failed one test and that was by one question. I never had a bad clinical evaluation and my instructors liked and trusted me. I even did great with IV's I got everyone I tried on the first try. Then I graduated and hit the floor. They sent us to the out pt surgery for 3 days to start IV's and I missed everyone I tried the first day. I did finally get 3 before the 3 days was up which was the requirement. When I returned to the floor more often than not I was unable to even find a vein I was comfortable trying. It seemed that all the pts were babies or elderly with paper thin skin and almost non existent veins. The other nurses just kept telling me to go start them that I had to learn sometime. True, but I hated putting a pt in pain or having to be stuck more than once do to the newbie when another nurse could get it on the first try. It felt like I graduated and then all the stuff I learned just left. I didn't like or feel comfortable doing anything with the children and especially babies. I guess partly because we didn't have any hands on experiences with them in school. Anyway, just wanted to let you know you are not alone. I am still trying to get the courage to try again since I quit just after my orientation finished. Good luck to you!

86toronado, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2009

Just finished my fourth day on the floor with my preceptor after a week and a half of classroom orientation. Maybe I'm a little too excited about it, but I can't wait to be a nurse on my own! I just love it! I've worked on my floor before, and already had a good relationship with my preceptor, so that eliminated any anxiety over asking questions, or looking stupid. And the rest of the staff on the floor already knows and trusts me, so I can give report to the oncoming nurse without her looking at my preceptor like "is that really what's going on?"

We spent the first day on the med-surg portion of our floor, and had three patients... I didn't get to do much that day, mostly because I had to leave in the middle of the day for a computer class. But then the last three days have been on the ICU side of the floor, which oddly I'm more comfortable with. I think I like that you really get to know your patients, and their families, because you're spending all of your time in one or two rooms. I did a full discharge yesterday, and then really felt like I helped when I was able to do the admission assessment on one of the other nurse's patients. She hadn't had a chance to get to her new patient's assessment for her entire shift, since her other patient had multiple vent changes and she was constantly drawing ABG's, suctioning, all while trying to wean her off of Diprivan and Fentanyl drips... so I just asked her if I could do it, and she said "go ahead".

One thing that does sort of bother me is that I always feel like I'm following my preceptor around. Unless I have a specific intervention that I know needs to be done, such as vital signs every hour, I let her decide what we're doing next. I asked her the other day if it bothers her to always have me tagging along. She laughed...

Well, I have my first "conference" with my preceptor, NM, and the floor educator on Tuesday, so we'll see if they think I'm doing well enough to have a patient or two on my own... I'd love to, but I don't want to move too fast.

Anyway, I hope I'm not the only one having a good experience so far, and for those of you who feel overwhelmed, talk to your preceptor, and to the other nurses on the floor. I'll bet they have tips and advice to share, and maybe it will help them to remember what it's like to be new. We were all new once! :mad:

Mezcalero · Jul 27, 2009

Wow, these are great replies. I'm starting my orientation in September, and I'm a scared cookie.

shinyblackcar · Jul 28, 2009

My day today was great. I interviewed on another unit at the hospital because I was not happy in the unit I started on. I have two more interviews this week, so I'm pretty happy. :-)

starletRN · Jul 28, 2009

I've been out of orientation for 5 weeks and the other day I had 5 patients. All 5 needed pain meds. 1 of them needed her's q2-3 hours. And 4 of my patients needed Accucheks. With only one PCT on the floor, I did all the Accucheks. One of my patients had to get his q 4 hours. The rest were AC & HS.

2 of my patients also needed their food trays set up and once again, no tech or anyone else available to do that. Or to help much with changing briefs and bedding.

I pretty much felt like all I did all day was pass meds and take Accucheks. Now that I'm on my days off I look back and think about all those things I forgot. Like my patient who needed to TCDB q 2 hours.

She was A/O and could do it without having to be told, but now that I recall, I don't think she did much of that. This was 2 days after a surgery, so now I'm just praying she doesn't develop pneumonia.

I know we can't remember everything and we're not perfect but I feel like I'm going to harm my patients more than help them. Sorry for being a downer. Some days are better than others.

NurseMarla · Jul 29, 2009

Kinda weird.

I'm in home hospice, and today I did a supervisory visit on a CNA, then I went to see about a skin tear on one of my pts, visited another new patient who is acitively dying, then went to a staff meeting where we were told that the big boss lady was no longer with us and another had resigned. I worked very closely with these people and the office will be very different now. I don't know what happened. Plus, I missed a funeral for one of my patients that I wanted to go to.

I'm still on call, and expect to go out to pronounce another patient sometime tonight, so no relaxing with a glass of cheap wine & a bad movie for me.

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · Jul 29, 2009

I've finished 6 weeks of orientation, and I picked up an extra medication training shift yesterday.

I only have two more weeks left of orientation (thought I had three..... woops!), so things are starting to pick up fast. I feel like I could be ready to be on my own, since I'm on the surgical section of the Med-Surg unit, cause afterall, 8-10 weeks isnt enough to see nearly everything anyway. I work with nurses who even after 1-2 years STILL ask questions on how certain procedures go. I'm not even worried about the patient care aspect! I'm worried about the hand off to surgery reports, the protocols, writing verbal orders, implementing protocols and orders, signing off charts.... all that stuff. =\

Good thing the nurses I work with on the weekends are super helpful, and the weekend charge nurse is amazing. She's hardly at the desk, shes usually writing up the discharges, starting IVs, putting in orders, signing off your charts, its awesome. It's that one day during M-F that i'll work that'll kick my ass

Im hoping everything goes smoothly for everyone here!