new nurse, agency nurse, wanting to learn

[megan0321]

I am a relatively new nurse. I've worked for 10 months now and have nursing home experience. I recently took a position through an agency where I will mostly be working 3rd shift in nursing homes.

My medpass skills are wonderful. Treatments are no problem for me. The only anxiety I have is about emergency situations. I have never had to deal with an emergency before, and working 3rd shift I will be the only nurse on my unit.

What I'm basically asking is for advice and maybe some reading material so that I am prepared for emergencies. For example, common emergent situations, when and if to call doctors and family members. When to get 911 involved, and what things can be notified to the next shift only. Things like that. Obviously if someone can't breathe or is bleeding to death then both 911 and the doc need to be called. That's a no-brainer. But there are so many other situations that can happen that aren't so obvious to a new nurse.

I realize that some things, such as a foley falling out, can be looked up in the policies and procedure manual. But any advice and reading material that you all can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.

I realize that a lot of agency nurses already know all the answers. But this company hires new nurses, and I do have almost a year under my belt. I'm not a monkey. I learn quite easily. I got my LPN at age 17- I consider myself to be pretty smart. I'm just looking for some advice.

Thanks to everyone that offers their help. :redpinkhe