New PCA-tips from nurses?

[Smiley2055]

Hello! I am new to this website and so far I absolutely love it! So much to read!:-) Anyways, I just started at a hospital a couple weeks ago as a new PCA on a surgical floor and so far I love it! Well, my first couple weeks, even though I love it, has been a struggle. Sometimes Ill get stuck in a room or something will happen and I cant get everything done and it just becomes a mad house...not to mention that I dont know where everything is yet, let alone what to do in certain situations. In CNA class they dont teach you about NG tubes, JP bags, colostomy bags, etc...they also dont teach you alot of things that nurses require from you like clearing IV's and other things which I am all learning now. My question is what do you nurses think of new PCA's? are they usually slow? What can i do to improve? are their any tips or tricks I can use? I so badly want to be a good PCA but sometimes I just dont know things and it takes me a couple times to actually learn it, and when its a hectic night i feel like a bother asking the nurses....well if you can provide feedback thatd be great!

Thanks:-):loveya:

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

Don't beat yourself up over being slow right now!! Just focus on doing your job to the best of your ability and you will get faster as time goes by. If you don't know something, ask questions....that's important! Never do anything you're not comfortable doing. You'll get quicker as time goes on!!

Good luck!

[nminodob]

I was a CNA and a PSA (sort of a cross between PCA and student intern) and my experience has been that if you are gung ho and willing to help at whatever level you are at, the nurses will grow to love you! As you learn where things are and how to do more things, and as you get faster at the things you already know, you will find yourself feeling more and more like part of the team. Besides being a great way to learnhow to feel comfortable in the hospital environment, you will also learn how to be more like the nurses you admire - and soon enough you will become a nurse yourself!

[catshowlady]

Yes, you are slow - and you are going to be slow, just like we nurses were when we were new at our jobs. Be nice to yourself, and give yourself time. With practice, you will be able to go more quickly. Learn how to do your job right first, then focus on speed.

Don't worry about asking questions if you are not sure. So much better to ask, than to harm a pt by doing the wrong thing. Just tell us, honestly, what the problem is, whether it's something you haven't learned before, or something that just doesn't look right to you.

My biggest tip regarding learning is to ask the nurse to help you, and go with her/him so you can learn. Don't just say you don't know how to do something and let it fall on us (as long as it's something within your scope of duties - obviously you shouldn't be expected to do things that are only in a nurse's scope of practice.). Some of us really like to teach, and will explain rationales, etc. as we go along.

Oh, and if you are behind, and need help, please let us know as soon as you can. If I can, I will help w/ I/O's, etc. I need that information for report anyway. It's a lot easier to help with things if I know about them 2 hours before end of shift, rather than fifteen minutes.

You sound like you really care about doing a good job. Hang in there, it will get better. :redbeathe