New and Nervous

[NewbieLPN2011]

I have spent the past 8 years working in a factory when I finally decided I wanted to get into nursing. We are required to get our STNA (that what ohio calls us) before nursing school. So here I am, new and inexperienced.

I just finished up the training last fridayl I work 3rd and last night was my first night on the floor. I was so NERVOUS. I watched my trainer do her normal routine and helped out where I could and asked ALOT of questions. The biggest thing that has me really nervous is turning people. Of course none of the beds have bedrails and some are not up against a wall. This probably sounds so dumb, but i have this big fear of accidently rolling someone out of bed. My trainer told me that I'm not the first to feel that way. I hope the routines will become more natural to me as time goes by. I keep telling myself, "It was only your first day"!

[casi, ASN, RN]

When turning someone towards me I always keep my thigh/knee/body firmly inplace in front of the patient. That way if they are too close to the edge they'll be laying tightly up against me instead of the floor.

[NewbieLPN2011]

I understand that. Its the ones that are not against a wall and they turn them away from themselves and are usually by themselves when checking these residents. Just watching it made me nervous.