New nurse blues

Rita Marie · Jul 23, 2005

I am nearing the end of my "orientation" program in my first RN job. The first two weeks were spent observing various departments and then we went to the floors to orient. A month later and all the preceptors are tired of having new grads ask questions. "Didn't you people learn ANYTHING in nursing school?"

Wow...that is so kind and considerate of them. They must not be excited at seeing the next group of people coming in as new grads and growing into competent nurses!

I have a friend who is so neat to work with. She became one of the nurses that would do psychiatric evaluations on patients in the ER or on the medical floors when we found patients needed more specialized care. I greatly value her wisdom and knowledge. SHE told me that when she decided to go work on the psych ward (she was experienced in some other area) that it took her a full year to feel comfortable and competent in psych nursing.

You have a ways to go, just ignore the unkind statements and learn from the things you see being done (both good and bad) and do the best that you can. You can also ask your DON to sit down with you and set out goals for you to work towards that will help you feel more comfortable and competent.

I recall a young grad who was just so awful with the patients we had on our floor. It was a med/surg floor and we had many who were dying from cancer. He was snide and cocky and a general pain in the butt. He got transfered to the NICU (which was a fairly new area in hospital nursing at the time--I guess this ages me a bit) and he flourished! He was amazing! Just that one change made all the difference in the world in how he looked at the world and it helped me too because I could see that he would be an excellant nurse given the time to grow and mature.

When you see that you are able to do well, you can be a leader in mentoring new grads because you will be able to recall how tough these first few months are for a new grad--and you can help lead them in a more gentle and kindly manner.

mari31666 · Jul 23, 2005

I am nearing the end of my "orientation" program in my first RN job. The first two weeks were spent observing various departments and then we went to the floors to orient. A month later and all the preceptors are tired of having new grads ask questions. "Didn't you people learn ANYTHING in nursing school?" Sure we did, we spent a gazillion hours on care plans, which are not used much here. Right now I am absolutely hating this hospital job. After a six week orientation we are supposed to be full-fledged RN's, ready to do anything! My feeling right now is that I am on a sinking ship. Never in my life have I felt or been made to feel incompetent, but I sure do now. I know I should say **I CAN do this** and so every day I say that mantra over and over on my way to work. But when I get there, and try to do everything for 4-5 patients as well as new admits and computer charting on a very user-unfriendly system, I am not sure if I really will be able to do this. Is being nervous and having a constant feeling of cold fear and dread normal for a new RN or have I made a wrong turn in life by going to nursing school?

i have been in l&d for 10 months now. i had 6 wk orientation and after day 2 i hated it. it got worse and worse. each day i cried. i was always missing some dot over an i or my face wasnt smiling like barbie. and i thought i'd never figure out all the damn policies and paperwork and personalities. i still haven't. the work gets easier but the negative feelings haven't gone yet. i have some wonderful nurses who are very supportive and some just eat their young. it's tough knowing that your every move and breath is up for scrutinization everyone tells me it will get better. some days it is and some days it isnt. just do your best and know in your heart that you are doing the best you can. don't measure yourself or your nursing by others standard. sometimes i wish i could take my own advice. i'll pray for you.

atlanta · Jul 24, 2005

Hon,
Relax on the need for full competency. My orientation was about 6 MONTHS and I still feel queasy at times (see my "crudmonkies" post). 6 weeks IS a little short for preceptors to be so expectant.

Your orientation is so long... What unit you are in? Why do they require that length of orientation?

jgreenlady · Jul 26, 2005

HI,

I've completed about 5 weeks of clinical orientation, so I'm about half way through. I work at a large teaching hospital in Memphis, TN in a solid organ transplant stepdown unit (7a -7p) 3days weekly. I always made A's in nursing school, but clinicals was somewhat my weak area so I realized it would be a hard road to competence and confidence for me. I feel I have a lot of knowledge in my head, but when trying to think and respond fast I sometimes have a problem. I find myself second guessing. I chose my particular unit because I knew the ratio is usually 4 to 1(and 1 to 1 when you have a "new" kidney) I hoped this would give me a chance to get my feet wet without drowning. I am up to taking 3 patients now. We also get enough med-surg patients, such as past transplant patients with say, pneumonia etc. so you get a good mix of experiences. I too have days when I feel like my stomach is just knotted up when I am going to (or leaving) work. But there are also good days. I have been blessed to have a good preceptor and mostly positive co-workers that are willing to answer any questions and admittedly I ask some dumb ones sometimes. But I would rather ask than risk hurting a patient. To my fellow new nurses, hang in there! I hope we can all look back on this time and laugh a few years from now.

Judy

Happydoggie · Jul 27, 2005

Ya, can relate to all the blues as a new kid on the block. l was lucky too to be assigned a responsible preceptor. But as they start to wean off the preseptoship, l started to feel the overwhelming expectations and responsibilities to stand on my own feet. And some of my colleagues even pick on me in front of my Nursing Manager on my mistakes, eg forgot to sign the IMR, missed out to chart or document certain details, slow in doing the admission etc.. But the biggest blow comes one of the patient reported to my NM that l gave her wrong dosage of Metformin (oral anti-DM); instead of 1.5 tablet, l gave 0.5... And, the patient works in the hospital OT... Sign.... THink due to that, my NM has mentioned 2 times that my probation may have to be extended.... l find that's so disheartening and discouraging as l think l've been doing my best, just that l find it too overwhelmed and stressed out with all the interruptions... :crying2:

MedSurgeMess · Jul 27, 2005

I can relate too. I was assured that I would receive 8 weeks of orientation and only got 3-everyone else in our section gets a minimum of 5 weeks. I am soooo lucky that I have other great staff around me or I would have run out the first night off orientation. The people who work with me say they can't believe I got so ripped off, when they've got 2 other girls who have been orienting for about 3-6 months. They tell me that I should be flattered, the NM apparently thinks I can handle it. I think that should I lose my license, I will be very upset. Unfortunately, when I told NM I felt I needed more time, it fell on deaf ears. She told me she would check into it, and get back with me. She just left the schedule as is and left me a note that co-workers felt like I would be fine. None of my co-workers recall being asked! I feel a little shook up when something major happens during shift

justmanda · Jul 27, 2005

I am nearing the end of my "orientation" program in my first RN job. The first two weeks were spent observing various departments and then we went to the floors to orient. A month later and all the preceptors are tired of having new grads ask questions. "Didn't you people learn ANYTHING in nursing school?" Sure we did, we spent a gazillion hours on care plans, which are not used much here. Right now I am absolutely hating this hospital job. After a six week orientation we are supposed to be full-fledged RN's, ready to do anything! My feeling right now is that I am on a sinking ship. Never in my life have I felt or been made to feel incompetent, but I sure do now. I know I should say **I CAN do this** and so every day I say that mantra over and over on my way to work. But when I get there, and try to do everything for 4-5 patients as well as new admits and computer charting on a very user-unfriendly system, I am not sure if I really will be able to do this. Is being nervous and having a constant feeling of cold fear and dread normal for a new RN or have I made a wrong turn in life by going to nursing school?

If a nurse makes you feel like an idiot just because you ask questions and need help, then she's an idiot. Find another nurse to help you. There are nurses out there who still remember what it was like to be a new nurse who is scared they are going to kill someone. Find a smiling face (there are some out there) and latch on. Don't let some pompous RN (who felt the SAME WAY you feel now when she was a new nurse) make you doubt your competency. This is one of my pet peeves about the nursing profession, and I hope you remember how you feel right now in ten years when a scared face comes up to you and asks you for help.

doxieraiser · Jul 28, 2005

Fear is the devil's way of trying to get us out of our destiny and whatever blessings that God has for us that day. God has a plan for you. If you remember that you are working for God and all He expects is for you to to your best. The rest will fall into place. When you start to feel fearful tell the devil to get behind you and ask God for his guidence.

Thank you so much! Your message got to the heart of my issue! Fear is from Satan and he really wants me to fail at this because he knows God will use it for His good! I know nursing is a divine calling for me, not just a career, Thanks for reminding me of that!....doxieraiser (Trish)

chewe · Aug 1, 2005

I know that it is overwheliming...but keep faith...but mostly, keep good documentation. Before you start something you are not sure of, stop, take time find the protocol and ask another nurse for assistance, it's the best way to do it the way the hospital wants it done (your past the teacher telling you to do it their way). AND REMEMBER THINGS CHANGE FROM WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT.

GOD is the only truth put your faith in God everyday.

doxieraiser · Aug 2, 2005

I know that it is overwheliming...but keep faith...but mostly, keep good documentation. Before you start something you are not sure of, stop, take time find the protocol and ask another nurse for assistance, it's the best way to do it the way the hospital wants it done (your past the teacher telling you to do it their way). AND REMEMBER THINGS CHANGE FROM WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT.
GOD is the only truth put your faith in God everyday.

Great Advice if I ever heard it! I've found that documentation is something that I REALLY wasn't taught very much about in school. I'm learning it fast though! I must for my own protection as well as my patients! Thank you so much for your input!

military girl · Aug 7, 2005

I know exactly how you feel. Even though I have been a nurse for 4 years, I have recently completed my orientation in med/surg. I came from a rehab unit and med/surg was a totally different world. I have had many days of feeling overwhelmed, and during the early phase of my orientation, my preceptor wanted to orient me to charge. When I told her "not to overwhelm me" she backed off.

Med/Surg is hard work and you will be busy. But in the four months that I have been working on this floor, I have learned alot. And yes, you have to deal with doctors who think that you need to think for them, docs who don't want to woke in the middle of the night(even though they write orders to notify if patient's vital signs are outside of their written parameters, etc), and there are the actual good doctors who you can feel like they will listen to you.

It will get better. I am having more good days than bad ones, but when I have a bad day, I tell myself that I will be better the next time.

I have gone through alot of anxiety over this job. But just remember, God is always with us, even when we feel that He isn't. I am reading Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life" and it has been an eye opener.

Hang in there. Send out another SOS if you need help.

Love and Peace.

I am nearing the end of my "orientation" program in my first RN job. The first two weeks were spent observing various departments and then we went to the floors to orient. A month later and all the preceptors are tired of having new grads ask questions. "Didn't you people learn ANYTHING in nursing school?" Sure we did, we spent a gazillion hours on care plans, which are not used much here. Right now I am absolutely hating this hospital job. After a six week orientation we are supposed to be full-fledged RN's, ready to do anything! My feeling right now is that I am on a sinking ship. Never in my life have I felt or been made to feel incompetent, but I sure do now. I know I should say **I CAN do this** and so every day I say that mantra over and over on my way to work. But when I get there, and try to do everything for 4-5 patients as well as new admits and computer charting on a very user-unfriendly system, I am not sure if I really will be able to do this. Is being nervous and having a constant feeling of cold fear and dread normal for a new RN or have I made a wrong turn in life by going to nursing school?

kimmcgill · Aug 7, 2005

I had to stop and think if I had written any of the replies in this thread because so many of them are almost identical to what I am going through right now. I am fortunate that I have not had the displeasure of a fellow nurse smart off to me about not knowing anything or being hesitant to answer my questions. My beef is more with management. I have the benefit of having a husband who has been an RN for 8 years. However, he has only ever worked in pediatrics and is no help at all with adult Med/Surg. He was also a nurse manager for 2 years and knows what it is like from the other end....dealing with new grads, old hags, and an endless variety of personalities crammed into one unit. One thing he has told me is that it takes a while to get your "nursing legs". You have to learn to walk before you can expect yourself to run. And remember this...just as you have the right to ask a patient not to be disrespectful to you, you also have the right to ask the same from your co-workers. You are first, and foremost a person....and then a nurse! You might want to ask nurses that demean you if they don't remember what it was like being a new nurse right out of school. Hang in there. We will all make it. Surrender is NOT an option!!!!!!

Kim