New job. nervous!

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2013

I haven't worked rehab, so I can't suggest what to brush up on per se, but I offer this advice: Don't be afraid to ask a lot questions during your orientation. It's perfectly understandable that you need refreshers and practice on skills you haven't used since nursing school, so don't be embarrassed to ask questions that address what you know are your short-comings. I know exactly how you're feeling. I've worked in LTC and skilled nursing for the past 2 years and have been fortunate enough to be able to maintain skills like wound care, foleys, PEGs/NGTs, etc. But just recently I started a new job on a med-surg unit in an LTAC where more than half of the patients are trached and on ventilators, and doing IV starts and blood draws are regularly done by LVNs, which are things that I have not had to deal with since school/getting IV certified. During my orientation (which I just finished yesterday btw ) I made sure to volunteer myself for EVERY procedure that needed to be done for all the nurses, not just my preceptor's, even though it was still my preceptor who watched me as I performed the skill. I've gotten quite a bit of practice as a result (even though I still think I suck at finding veins ). Also, I would tag along with the respiratory therapist to learn more about vents. He would explain all the settings, numbers, etc, which I found to be way over my head. I told him this, so he instead emphasized what the most common reasons the alarms go off and what to do at the bedside when what alarms go off, which is really the most practical thing to know, right? Anyway, I guess my point is to not be afraid to ask questions and make the most you can out of your orientation.

kwest99 · Jan 29, 2013

thanks for the advice! i appreciate it... I start orientation tomorrow :/ hope all goes well!