New nurse, just want to walk out

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2016

I thought so.
LTC is much different in the hospital setting; They do NOT do orientation like a hospital.
Certain facilities only give a well rounded orientation; some give only three days as the bare minimum post facility orientation.
One of the things that helped me become organized in LTC was to make a "brain" sheet with pts who need BPs, Glucose Checks, Feeding tube times, rounding checks, etc; tailor it to what you need and it will help with managing your pts needs.
Check out the LTC forum; you will find many threads similar to your and lots of tips from posters and specialized nurses who enjoy this specialty and found a way to thrive.
Best wishes.

Pretty dang good advice here too!

heronurse · Feb 29, 2016

my anxiety is off the roof! didn't sleep in the past 4 days.

nomadicnurse · Feb 29, 2016

I felt the same way when I first started. I only had five days of orientation. I worked 7-3, but often left hours later to complete my work. I was so overwhelmed and stressed. I felt like quitting everyday. I had dreams about making mistakes at work, when a patient died (on my weekend off) I blamed myself and thought of things that I may have overlooked that could have helped her.. I completely empathize with your anxiety. It is very difficult.

For the first month, I came in an hour early to search through the MAR and TAR for things that I had to complete during my shift, and the time frames where these things needed to be done, who had appointments, etc. I work on a subacute unit, so my patients were revolving very often and were often post cardiac/orthopedic surgery. It gets better. It really does. After some time, you will feel like maybe you do know some things, and that you are a decent nurse. Right now you may feel like you are drowning, but you will succeed. Everyday you will learn new things to better serve your patients! Keep learning, look up medications and diagnoses you don't know when you are at home, and keep pushing!

allnurses Guide · Mar 1, 2016

There is nothing wrong with telling people "You know, I am very new here, but I will be happy to find out for you. Give me a few minutes and I will see what answers I come up with".

Itwasjustadream · Mar 2, 2016

Hello fellow nurses! I just wanted to express myself right now. I'm a new grad and I got my first job.
Before the orientation I was so excited to work and able to show my knowledge and experience. I just got out of 15days orientation and working on my own for 2 days, yeah just 2 days and I want to resign right now. I feel like an idiot to be honestly, I dont know whats going on to the patients. I'm just a robot with my shift just doing routine medications treatments doctor calls etc but like when A patient or family member ask me something like about what happened last week or what I dont know what to say! Everybody in my unit is very helpful and all they saying is you know what your doing and you'll be fine. It just takes time. A nurse even told me she got the hang of it after 3 months but for me, what am I suppose to do in the first months staying here. i cannot sleep at night anymore because Im so nervous I lf i did anything wrong, If I missed something or what. I know its too early to quit but I cant do this anymore

That is a really short orientation! I just got off orientation myself and completed my first day alone the other night. I didn't even have a crazy night but I still felt stress and overwhelm. Some days I feel like I'm alone going through so many emotions and then I come on this site and no longer feel completely alone. The only advice I can give you is try to be positive. Tell yourself that you will do the best you can for that day.