New Nurses

[Anoetos]

Realize this:

You're not allowed to know anything, but at the same time, you're stupid if you don't always know what to do.

Oh, and that old saying, "there's no such thing as a stupid question..."? Well, it really all depends on who you ask.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I can relate. I don't think "being a good fit" trumps fine-tuning your critical-thinking skills by participating actively in discussions on patient care issues. Also, you likely do have something to offer, or you wouldn't have graduated, passed the NCLEX, been hired on that unit, etc. I know how it feels to have your ideas dismissed arbitrarily, and I suspect 2 things may, from time to time, cause other nurses to respond this way toward rookies: pride and the tendency to be territorial.

[MedChica]

Realize this:

You're not allowed to know anything, but at the same time, you're stupid if you don't always know what to do.

Oh, and that old saying, "there's no such thing as a stupid question..."? Well, it really all depends on who you ask.

I can identify...well - somewhat. Everyone's been supportive. I ask stupid questions and no one shames me for it. The older nurses actually ask for my input. It makes me feel like a part of the team.

I do still read and whatnot. I don't want to be the Dumba..s New Nurse. LOL

I'll say that this job is just so stressful. The 'detective work' is fine. I'm ok with that but the paperwork and the fact that I work geriatric/psych where someone's either flipping out, trying their best to die, trying to 'make a run for it', trying to fall, fighting, refusing meds which makes them loopy-er, trying to kill themselves or calling the police/FD. That's precisely what happened this weekend. LOL

I was so 'weary' when I got home. Even the aides couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Ever since the seasons changed, I swear, these residents are trying their best to die on us. It's just from one emergency to the next and the events that I've described? They're usually occuring simultaneously. LOL My day consists of paperwork, detective work and putting out fires all day long.

I'm going to stick it out, though. I just have to remember how good this job's going to look on my resume. LOL

[nursel56]

Reading between the lines a little, but if any of the nurses you work with inferred that you asked a stupid question well then they are just a bunch of dummy-heads because "anoetos" and "stupid" don't reside anywhere near each other.

You said what you needed to, they heard you - and as you said as long as patient safety isn't compromised you've done your part. Their experience may counter what you learned in the classroom, but a true team approach should include them explaining why they made the choices they did. Based on the majority of the posts from new nurses here, being dismissed and ignored might actually go in the plus column.

[BrendaH84, BSN]

so true, try to schedule yourself on diff days as them, it's all you can do besides look for a diff job

[vbrown1977]

hello

if you don't mind me asking, where are you working? how long did it take you to find your 1st nursing job?