Starting over

Nurses Career Support

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8 Posts

Thank you so much. This helps!

JudyB88

13 Posts

Stick it out, you will be so glad you did. If you are consistently showing improvement, maintaining a positive attitude and doing some homework every evening, they will keep you. Once you have this down, doors will open for you. It takes 1-2 years before most new grads to be confident and fully independent. I'm assuming they know and understand your history so they will likely be more understanding. Are you "clicking" with your preceptor? Maybe you could be open with her and state that you understand that at times all the questions could be exhausting and tell you wouldn't mind if she took a break and had someone else precept you for a week or 2. Some preceptors are just not a patient as others and maybe a different preceptor would give you some tips or insight that this one has not. Honestly, it may not be all you. Everyone teaches and learns differently. When I took my 1st CICU position, I had an experienced preceptor but our styles were very different. She and I agreed that I should try someone else. I excelled with my new preceptor and was off orientation in 2 weeks. It doesn't mean she is not good, just styles don't always match.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hi! I need a little encouragement. I am 3 years into nursing and I am starting all over. Back to the beginning with med-surg. I have job hopped quite a bit and done wound care primarily. I feel like I suck at nursing. I am not sure if it's for me. Now that I am starting over with med-surg I am very nervous and I have forgotten a lot of stuff. My orientation is only a month long and I feel like I have a lot to relearn and to remember. I have trouble with IV pumps and I worry that when I am on my own I will suck so bad that I may get fired. They are willing to work with me and give me more time in orientation if I need it. I am at 4 patients and I can tell I annoy my preceptor, but she helps me. Like I suck at time management and I have slightly improved at giving report. I am just nervous to be on my own bc I have forgotten a lot and I never really stayed long enough on a job to actually get my time management together. I am also embarrassed I guess because time has passed me by and I am 3 years into a profession and can't get the basics. My journey with nursing has not been easy I have taken some awful jobs and quit. I have finally found a really good hospital to work in and now I feel embarrassed and like maybe nursing is just maybe not for me. I have a child now so I have no choice, but to stick this job out. Any advice would be great.

It sounds as though you haven't stayed at one job long enough to become competent -- that usually takes two years. So of course you lack confidence in yourself and your skills. You are starting over, so to speak.

If your preceptor, boss and colleagues are willing to work with you, that's a great start! So be willing to work with them! Ask lots of questions, but make sure they're SMART questions. A dumb question would be "How do I work this pump again?" A smarter question would be "I think I have this pump set up and programmed correctly, but would you double check it please?" When you ask questions, make sure you clarify what you have already done to find out the answer on your own and what exactly you need help with.

Brainsheets help enormously with time management. You can borrow an outline from someone whose time management skills you appreciate or you can make up your own. The key part is having the things you are most likely to miss on the sheet so you won't miss them. For me, it was lab draws and results. I'd put a reminder for when to draw and when to check results on my brain sheet.

I hope you're planning to stay in this position for a while. Good luck with your orientation!

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