NEW GRADUATE NURSE!

VANurse2010 · Aug 12, 2014

I would get a PCCN or CCRN book and do some outside reading. Your orientation seems too short to me given that this is PCU and not strictly a medical or surgical floor. What kind of ratios are we talking about here?

Review basic procedures like PIV cannulation, Foleys, and wound care. Nobody expects you to be an expert but gross errors like disregard for sterile technique are a big red flag. Admit what you don't know. Never, never, ever fake your way through a procedure or something you're not familiar with to avoid embarrassment. Don't verbally compare your orientation to nursing school. Nursing school clinicals in general aren't the greatest of preparation for the real world and not particularly relevant. They only give the barest of bones to function as a new grad orientee.

Some nurses just don't like teaching and don't like new grads. Yes, they're being ogres but there's not much you can do about it. As long as it's not everyone - just deal with it. The exception to this is your preceptor. Your preceptor should not be sighing, rolling her eyes, or being disdainful. Request a new one stat if that's happening. They can really set you up for failure if they're not doing their job. Keep your enthusiasm in check. It's OK to be excited and happy about your new job, but it can really be irritating to those who've been there and know it's not all roses. Be friendly and smile, but don't act in awe.

save you questions for the end of report - especially since you're new and not adept at intelligent interjecting.

If you're able, start looking at your H&Ps and lab values on your patients before report.

When you go home at night, look up any procedures and pathophysiology that you saw on your shift that you're not familiar with. You won't get it all at once (there's always something to learn in nursing) but it will help.

Communicating with providers is an acquired skill for most. You'll have some embarrassing moments in the beginning - just learn from them and do better in the future. Pay close attention to how your preceptor communicates.

cmoore6799 · Aug 12, 2014

THANK YOU SO MUCH!:) the ratios on the PCU side are 4-5 patients and when on the CIMU side it is 2-3 patients. I had many of my nursing school clinicals on the floor so that gives me a little boost of confidence...but i will have three different preceptors, from what i have heard. one main one and then two others. I think the hardest thing for me will containing my excitement.

sawice · Aug 28, 2014

Interested to hear how things are going in your first few weeks. I start on what sounds like a very similar floor on Sept 8th as a new grad and while I had a clinical on a Telemetry floor, it was really more a med/surg floor so this is my first cardiac rodeo....

NightBloomCereus · Oct 13, 2014

Thank you; I'm starting in Tele soon and your advice helped me too!