new nurse stressed out!!!!!!!!

[witter11]

Hi everybody Im a new nurse who started in the hospital on a tcu floor. I started in april and i am still having a terrible time adapting. Im overwhelmed, stressed, nervous, scared all the above. I believe I started in the wrong area as a newbie or maybe it is just not the fit for me. Im trying to give myself longer time, as they say give yourself at least a year. Im about to quit and try a nursing home but I have been warned by so many not to do this. I just cant imagine anywhere else being as difficult.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am sorry to hear about your troubles at work. Here's a hug! (((hug))) :icon_hug:

What exactly is your issue that is inciting all of this stress? Is it related to time management? If so, I have some tips for you to assist with managing your time more effectively while at work. Do you feel that your education, training, and orientation period did not prepare you adequately for your position? If so, you might want to consider transferring or finding another job.

Good luck, and I hope that the bumps in the road smooth out very soon.

[witter11]

Time management is an issue for me as well organization. I get myself so

[witter11]

Time management is an issue for me as well organization. I feel I got a good education and my orientation was ok, I got 9 weeks but I was with 7-8 nurses during this time which made it difficult.Im still a little slow with assessments plus I chart in between fearing Ill forget.medications I have to look up.I try to keep a mental check in my head About my patients but I just get scatterbrained. I still dread giving report because I feel Im not giving enough. I hate to sound negative it has just been tough.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Here is my method to madness for time management. I work on a subacute/rehab unit at a large nursing home, and I fully comprehend that it is totally different than hospital nursing. I am typically responsible for 15 patients. My workplace only gives nurses a 3-day orientation before they are cut loose to work on their own. Not surprisingly, the employee turnover rate is rather atrocious at the facility where I work.

Anyway, here is how I organize for the day. I work 16 hour shifts, from 6am to 10pm. At the beginning of the shift, I'll go through the MARs and TARs with a fine tooth comb and, as I go, I will jot down the things that must be done in my notebook. My notebook is how I organize the rest of the day, and I usually won't forget to do anything. Here is how Sunday's notebook page looked (names have been changed due to HIPAA):

8-12-2007

DIABETICS, FINGERSTICKS: Agnes (BID), Agatha (AC & HS), Bill (AC & HS), Wendy (AC & HS), Rex (BID), Jack (BID), Esther (AC & HS), Margie (0600, 1200, 1800, 2400)

NEBULIZERS: Margie, Esther, Bill, Jack, Jane

WOUND TREATMENTS: Jane, Bill, John, Jack, Lillian, Rose, Lucille

IV THERAPY: Wendy (Vancomycin), Laura (Flagyl), Rex (ProcAlamine)

COUMADINS: Agnes, Agatha, John, Lucille

INJECTIONS: Agnes (lovenox), Jane (arixtra), Rex (heparin), Bill (70/30 insulin), Esther (lantus), Mary (vitamin B12 shot)

ANTIBIOTICS: Wendy (wound), Laura (C-diff), Rex (pneumonia), Agatha (MRSA)

1200, 1300, 1400 meds: Margie, June, Rose, John, Jane, Jack

1600, 1700, 1800 meds: Rose, John, Rex, Lucille, Lillian, Laura

REMINDERS: assessments due on Agatha, Jill, and Louise; restock the cart; fill all holes in the MAR; follow up on Jane's recent fall, fax all labs to Dr. Smith before I leave, order a CBC on Rex...

[MIKE411]

commuter: this sounds like a good plan, I was wondering how do you feel at the end of the day working 16 hour shifts??? I might want to try this///

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

commuter: this sounds like a good plan, I was wondering how do you feel at the end of the day working 16 hour shifts??? I might want to try this///

I'm tired at the end of a 16 hour shift, but it is worth it for me to have more days off per week.