New medsurg Grad

[Abeautiful01]

So I'm a new Grad and started on medsurg floor. I was told I would get 3 months orientation because hospital setting is new but come to find out they are cutting my orientation to only 3 weeks. I will be working on Monday with 5 pts by myself.i just cannot believe this. My preceptor isn't the best either. Every time I'm on the floor I want to die. at first I was scared of the pumps because every time I turn one is beeping at me but now I'm better at it lol. I have no idea what to say to the darn doctors or family members because a doctor could see one pt while I'm with another but they do not communicate their plan to the nurses. Then the patients want to know what's going on. Omg, this is a nightmare! Everyone keep saying it will get better but I am scared to death. I need all the advise I can get right now. Help!

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Why are they cutting your orientation so much? Not doing you any favors. Or your patients. Have you talked about your concerns with the manger?

[ChipNurse]

Request more time on orientation. Also, plans for the patient are usually available in the physician progress note.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

it is a stressful job regardless of how long you are on orientation, but you really should have a longer period. I would talk to the manager or even HR about extending orientation. The next best thing is to have a mentor - someone willing to answer your questions and guide you to prioritizing. Right now everything has equal stress value (HIGH) but in time, some things will become rote and their stress values will drop. I hope you find peace soon.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

3 months to 3 weeks?

Inquiring minds want to know. What is the reasoning behind this? Were you told why? My guess is a.) you are doing very well, and b.) they're short-staffed.

This reminds me of being a new grad nurse in a large ICU. They gave me two and a half weeks with a preceptor, and then I was on my own. I thought those draconian practices were a thing of the past.

Apparently not.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Wow, three weeks for a new grad in med-surg? Wow.

If you can, follow the MD's into the rooms when they round. It helps to listen in if you can. Otherwise, like PP said look at their progress notes for the plan.

[Abeautiful01]

Well I asked my nurse manager for extension she said some crap about budget. I worked alone on Monday with 5 pt assigned and did great. I'm thankful that my coworkers are very helpful. I will take this one pt and day at a time. Thanks for the response.

[renardeau, BSN, RN]

I've had the doctor-tells-patient-but-not-me thing happen to me quite a bit too! (I've only been off orientation about a month.)

"Oh, you're going for a cardiac cath? Today?! Okay. Um. You should stop eating your lunch now probably if you're going later. So... when did the doctor tell you this? Just now, while you were eating lunch? ...okay." 10 minutes later, orders for pre-op procedures/stopping heparin drip/NPO go up ... then I run around in a mild panic for a little while. Cath lab calls me to ask if the patient has been kept NPO and if the heparin was stopped 4 hours ago. "Um... no... nooottt quitteee..." Doctor gets mad at me because now cath lab won't let him do the cath for another two hours at least. Le sigh.

Anyway, I'm told "these things happen" and it's not always the nurse's fault. Progress notes and rounding with the doctors definitely helps (though if something happens in the beginning of the shift, it's hard to catch up, stay on top of tasks, AND find the time to read all the notes. I'm told we'll get more efficient and learn to roll with the punches better in time.) I'm glad that it sounds like you had an okay first day though. Best of luck going forward!