New LPN looking for advice and tips from the experienced

[larien37]

Hi everyone, I recently graduated in August and have finally been hired with a local hospital with the possibility of being placed at one of their family practice doctor's offices. I'm so excited to get started but nervous at the same time. The office set is made up of 1 doctor, 2 lpns and 1 medical secretary. My question is for the experienced nurses out there, are there any tips you can give a new nurse starting off in this area, important things to know and what not to do. I want so badly to make a good impression and also set myself up for success on the job. I know only experience will take away my butterflies completely but I also thought that having some tips and info going into this might calm my anxiety also lol.

[Margme]

Congratulations to you and it's great to hear your positive energy in your post! Coming from a patient ...just be yourself...smile, look at the patient and be relaxed and fake it till you make it!

[nursel56]

It sounds like a fun job! I would also say there's no reason to be jittery but I understand why you are. I have a lot of tips here! Be warned! :)

In the beginning you'll be in sponge mode. Learn everything you can about how the office operates and about the diagnoses they see frequently. Be pleasant, charming, look interested and be nice to everyone. Be thrifty, help old ladies cross the street and (kidding).

I think overall the best advice I can give you is to get to know your doctor's habits, likes, dislikes etc and anticipate what he/she wil need so they can operate in their most efficient manner and get out on time. Keep rooms filled first and foremost.

After a while you learn what they need for each thing they do and get it before they ask for it.

So when they tell you what they need for a particular procedure, commit it to memory or write it down. They will be thrilled not to have to come out into the hall and ask for something or repeat what they already told you. If the patient is coming in for a follow-up make sure whatever labwork was ordered is in the medical record.

Another important thing is to find out what type of thing is worth interrupting them for or asking them to talk to a patient right away or take a message. They generally hate being put on the phone to tell someone their throat culture was negative.

On the other hand they may be furious if you don't tap the exam room door and tell them Dr. Husenflagl of the big deal research hospital they've been trying to reach for 3 weeks is on the line.

Learn where stuff is (drawers, shelves etc) and where to get it when you run out of it. Do your best not to run out of it.

Sometimes they will forget to do something or call someone back. If this should happen I would call the patient back or call in a refill and do what I can to mollify their feelings. Even if they are upset they really appreciate not hanging in the wind until the next day.

[larien37]

Thank you so much for the tips. I can't wait for the nervousness to go away, only experience can do that. I remember this same nervousness when I first started in law enforcement and it did go away eventually but man is it nerve racking sometimes in the beginning. Can't wait to get started!!