New and scared

[danigirl58]

i posted this in a different forum but then i found this one and thought that i owuld post it here

well in the last two weeks i have gone from student nurse doing my senior practicum to officially being a grad nurse. next week i start a new job as a gn on a unit that i have never been to, which i might add has the name of hell 4 for all of the codes and stuff. at times i'm overwhelmed, scared, and happy. i know that i am going to learn a ton on this unit, and i am happy to be going there especially for all of the experience that i will gain. however its a scary thought to know that if i screw up i can really screw up and unintentionally hurt someone. thankfully i know how to and am not afraid to ask questions .... sometimes i'm sure people wished i didn't :)

i guess the reason that i am writing this is to ask all you guys out there how you adjusted to the change from student to nurse. i know no matter what i have learned from my senior practicum that i am about to learn a whole lot more and maybe some of that learning will be done the hard way.

dani

[ms_sweet_kimmy]

First of all... CONGRATS!!! I wish u luck....

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I'm still in my first month of nursing and been taking it like its another phase of school. I've been learning as much as I can, never say no to a learning experience ( unless they ask you to do something on your own that you've never done before with no supervision).

[indigo girl]

We all had our defining moments of triumph and heartache. Study what to do in a code, and get in there and help. The more you do it, the better you'll respond even if you're afraid. Work on the things you feel least certain about whatever they are. Since you aren't afraid to ask questions, you will be safer in your daily practices. Learn from the other nurses, how they organize their shift. Be kind to yourself, but accept responsibility. Don't allow anyone to intimidate you without coming back here to get strategies on how to deal with it. Enjoy your patients, you can learn so much from them. And congratulations to you also. Good luck!

[Irishgirl]

It's scary to be new, but at least (hopefully), you'll have a preceptor. If not, the other nurses should be helpful, knowing that you're new. If not, go to another unit. Good luck

[HeatherLPN]

Never be afraid to admit that you don't know how to do something or if you don't know much about something.

[danigirl58]

well i managed to get through my first day as a gn. :uhoh21: am i overwhelmed .... yeah .... am i scared .... hell yes......... am i going to hate the next little while ..... i'm thinking so... but most importantly am i going to learn, and yes i know i will. during morning report i heard illness names that i have never heard or remember learning. this unit is so different from what i am accustomed to (i have been on a respiratory/thoracic med surg unit). i've never had a patient in crf dialysis or chemo. not only am i learning new illness but a whole whack of meds.

i know that i am going to mess up, i know that i am going to learn and i know that i'm going to ask a ton of questions. i think this learning experience will be an awesome stepping stone to where ever i chose to eventually find myself.

thanks to everyone for the positive comments :)

dani

[AngelsRN]

i know that i am going to mess up, i know that i am going to learn and i know that i'm going to ask a ton of questions. i think this learning experience will be an awesome stepping stone to where ever i chose to eventually find myself.

thanks to everyone for the positive comments :)

dani

just remember to be patient with yourself, take your time and stay focused. we all make mistakes, but if you take your time, you will limit them, especially when giving meds. until you know what they do, look them up, triple check the mar's etc. i still check check check, when it comes to meds - i have been a nurse for only 4 months but i dont think that habit will ever go away.