Nursing Orientation Help

[Chrncllyovrwhlmd2]

I just started nursing orientation about a month ago and I am having issues with feeling pretty incompetent. I graduated in May with honors from nursing school, and all of a sudden now I feel stupid. I suffer and am being treated for anxiety (which, by the way, makes me feel like I am totally not cut out to be working in the fast-pace world of nursing) and I just can't shake this feeling that I am not getting it. I've spoken to my amazing preceptor and she says that I am doing just fine, however I don't feel like I am. I am having issues with time management, and prioritizing. I also am totally terrified about talking to doctors for fear that they might ask me a question about a patient that I don't know, or yell at me. I feel like you have to know every single thing about your patient the minute after you get report and I can't seem to do it. I can barely remember their names!! I am up to 3 patients, and I really can't see how I am going to handle another patient, let alone a full load. Any advice??? (P.S. I read these posts all the time!! THEY ARE SO HELPFUL AND COMFORTING!!). Thanks in advance.

[Conrad283, BSN, RN]

You know more than you think. Just take it easy. After you get report and check your patients make a check list, a very simple check list. Write each patients room number down and then what you need to do at what time.

ex:

36B

8am - FS

10am - meds

12pm - FS

2pm - Meds ... etc

That is what my wife did when she was caring for upwards of 12 patients ... It puts down what you need to do on paper so that you aren't trying to remember everything in your head.

As far as not knowing the answer to a question if the doctor asks and you don't know, just say I don't know. And if it's some type of data that you can do right then and there (BP, meds, fs ... etc), you can go and do it. DON'T make up information. Don't be intimidated by the doctors (especially if they're interns, because if that's the case, they're just as scared as you are).

Good Luck