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Discussion

New Nurse

Hi, I just started working my very first LPN job 2 days ago. I feel like i'm getting everything down, and the people training me say i'm doing excellent and learning very quickly. But I just don't feel like i'm going to be prepared to go out on my own on the floor in 6 more days (they only have orientation for 8 days). I feel like I am going to make myself look stupid. What i'm really needing I guess, is encouragment. Being a brand bew nurse is so much more frightening than I thought.

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    I still felt like that after 6 months. It takes at least a year of nursing to begin to feel like you might actually be something close to competent. It's perfectly normal to be scared to death and feel like you're not prepared at first. It gets better with time as you learn to trust your own judgement and gain confidence in your ability.

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    You are never going to be fully prepared, because there will always be a situation that you have never encountered. Do not be scared to ask questions or ask for help! Not asking is probably the worst or dumbest thing anyone can do. I was a nurse working in a rehab facility, and had only been working as a nurse for maybe 2-3 months when I had woman stoke out on me in the middle of my 0800 med pass, around 1200 a male patient weighing over 400lbs went into cardiac arrest. Regardless to say I completely panicked! But my DON and the other nurses working the floor with me jumped right in and helped me deal with my 2 emergencies, my med pass, my treatments, charting, doctors rounds, and assessments. And honestly I remember standing next to the nurses station in tears because I felt so overwhelmed and saying out loud (I know this because I met my best friend working at this facility and she always reminds me of this) "Nursing school did not prepare me for this! There isn't even a manual!"

    It will be hard and yes some nurses will not be very kind to you and others will bend over backwards. The nurses who are not very nice at first I like to think are testing you. If you just ignore their snide comments you should be okay. If you don't know something ask or look it up. I am always googling things I am not sure of at work or calling upon a fellow nurse for advice.

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    In the area where I live, new grad LPNs in LTC/SNF receive three days of orientation before being cut loose to work on their own. Management will laugh in your face if you ask for more time.

    As a new LVN in LTC, I received one 8-hour shift of orientation and that was it.

    Orientation is a time for learning the routines, paperwork and flow of your new workplace, as well as learning where supplies and other things are located. It is not a time of extended clinical practicum where one gets to learn all the things they didn't learn in nursing school.

    I hope the next job goes much more smoothly for you. Good luck!

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