New RN Orientation

[Kaylyn126]

I recently passed my NCLEX and have just started my first job as an RN.  I started my unit orientation with a preceptor a few days ago, and thus far I feel completely and utterly overwhelmed. The amount of new information to learn and comprehend within a short period of time is intimidating to say the least.  It doesn't help matters that my preceptor is a little short with people and has been pretty unreliable. They have either been late or have called off each day that I was supposed to be paired with them. However, I do give them some credit because the day that I was with them, they were a pretty solid teacher (although a little impatient).  I don't mean to complain, because I realize how very fortunate I am to have secured a position at a great hospital near me.  I realize that I am lucky to be in the position I am in and that I have been given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I am just struggling a little bit at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I never expected everything to be easy by any means, I just didn't expect to question my own abilities quite as much as I have been recently.  I didn't think that I would be left wondering if I can really handle this or if nursing is really the right fit for me. I am hopeful that this is something that will get better in time and will fade as I gain more experience. I am just at a loss for what I can do in the present to help myself get to that point. I don't want to dread going in every day. I would rather not feel the tremendous weight of pressure and anxiety as I prepare for each shift.  With all that being said, I'm an optimistic person and will continue to go in and give it my best every day. I am determined not to give up and to keep pushing through it, I just hope that I do not lose my sanity in the process. 

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

14 hours ago, Kaylyn126 said:

They have either been late or have called off each day that I was supposed to be paired with them.

This is YOUR orientation and you need to take control of it. Go to whoever arranges the preceptors and explain that your current preceptor is either late or calls off routinely and you would like to request a different preceptor so that you can get consistent training.

[JKL33]

16 hours ago, Kaylyn126 said:

I don't want to dread going in every day.

Then don't. ?

I mean that kindly but seriously. Let's use some logic. You are a brand new nurse. Accept that and accept that the process of eventually becoming an expert is a long (but interesting) one. Accept yourself where you are right now. When others appear to not accept the fact that you are a beginner, recognize that as THEIR problem to deal with, not yours, for THEY are the ones not being logical or fair.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding why not knowing a new thing (x, y, or z) makes some people so extremely uncomfortable. I find it illogical to feel that way. When people are in a situation they have never encountered before or having their first opportunities to apply principles they've learned, why not take it in stride? It's silly to think they would be able to know exactly how to do these things. I've told this story before but will repeat it here: When I was on orientation I was about to pull up IV medication from an ampule and administer it. I thought the filter needle was to be used to push the medication into the patient rather than pull up the med out of the vial. So I pulled the med up with the regular needle and then replaced that with the filter needle as I prepared to push the med. My preceptor noticed in time and basically said, "oops...that's not how that's used." We went and got a new dose of med and that was the end of it. I felt silly for all of about 5 seconds and learned something new. I just didn't feel that I didn't "deserve" to be a nurse, or feel stupid, or berate myself and question everything about myself.

So I say take things in stride! Stand up tall, make good eye contact with people, be pleasant and attentive. Concentrate on all the new information coming at you. When you experience a particular point of learning, accept it. If someone gives you info or corrects you, say "thanks!" or "thanks for letting me know." That's all. If other people have a bad attitude about learners and grumble and roll their eyes and huff and puff...those are THEIR problems, NOT YOURS.

Everything's going to be okay.

Good luck!