NEW RN TASK

shedevilprincss · Feb 10, 2017

The whole first year of nursing. Caring for patients and handling a patient assignment on my own. Learning charting and technical skills at the same time. Acclimating to my unit. You name it, overall the first year was hard.

rnstanely · Feb 10, 2017

The hardest thing for me was charting and time management. I really like the patient care but trying to have time for everything is complicated.

Extra Pickles · Feb 10, 2017

The whole first year of nursing. Caring for patients and handling a patient assignment on my own. Learning charting and technical skills at the same time. Acclimating to my unit. You name it, overall the first year was hard.

I second this. The most common theme from a new nurse is that they are drowning in paperwork and have more patients than time. Getting medications done while getting treatments done while getting charting done while getting new orders going while getting-----you get the idea.

Time management and prioritization is what usually trips up new nurses and when it happens to you don't forget that it's expected and it's NOT because you're an awful nurse, it's because you're new and learning the ropes.

BeckyESRN · Feb 10, 2017

During my first year, the most difficult thing was time management and accepting that nursing is a 24 hour job, so not everything must done in your 8 or 12 hour shift.

AliNajaCat · Feb 10, 2017

I think it might be expecting there to be a "most difficult thing."

How about asking us, "What did you like most about your first year of working as a nurse?"

I'll go first:

I LOVED being able to write, "AliNajCat RN" on my charting.

I LOVED learning so many new things and working with nurses who were happy to teach me to be an effective team member.

I LOVED having a paycheck!!! And direct deposit!

I LOVED not having homework (although i did keep buying books and journals and reading up all the time).

shedevilprincss · Feb 11, 2017

During my first year, the most difficult thing was time management and accepting that nursing is a 24 hour job, so not everything must done in your 8 or 12 hour shift.

That 24 hour job thing got me my first year too. I'm a Type A and always used to feel bad about leaving stuff for the next shift. im better about it now but it's still something I have to work on!

Sour Lemon · Feb 11, 2017

I am graduating in May, I wanted advice to prepare me after I graduate. What do you find most difficult about being a nurse?

As a new nurse, I think I was actually a bit intimidated by the patients and afraid to "bother" them. A lot of my poor time management came from putting things off that I could have gotten done earlier.

Eventually, I came to realize that I just had to get in there and get it done. I couldn't leave three, 30 minute long dressing changes for 6:30AM and expect to finish by 7AM.

Now, I make it a point to ask each patient for a run-down of their typical schedule in an attempt to work around what suits us both best. I also let them know what to expect at the beginning of the shift ..."I'll be in at midnight to start your antibiotic.", "We'll need to re-check your vital signs in one hour.", "I'll change your abdominal dressing immediately after your 2AM dose of pain medication so that you're feeling comfortable and don't have to be woken again a few hours later.", etc. It seems to work well.

I also coordinate with the CNAs so that interruptions are minimized for the few patients who actually sleep at night.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 11, 2017

Congrats on your upcoming graduation.

Moved to First Year After Nursing Licensure forum

cocoa_puff · Feb 11, 2017

Everything, I ABSOLUTELY hate being a nurse :bag:

Surprisingly I do like charting unlike most nurse, but I do NOT like patient/family interactions, 12hr shifts, med passes, admissions/discharges, actively dying patients who remain FULL CODE due to their family's wishes, constantly having to deal with petty complaints from patients, management, and families. The self-centered, take-no-responsibility-for-my-health-and-blame-everyone mentality that most of my patients under 85 yrs old had. Very heavy patient assignments. Pain management patients. Being the middle-man for everything that goes on with my 6 patients and having my phone and pager constantly go off. Being blamed for things I have no control over. For the most part, not getting to eat lunch or go to the bathroom for most of the shift.

I do like collaborating with physicians, catching a problem before it gets worse, critically thinking, and helping the CNAs. Still planning to get out of nursing. I'm taking classes for medical laboratory science. Hopefully that will be a better fit for me.