Off Orientation...

You will be fine. A 6 month orientation is amazing, I am sure you are far more prepared than you think you are.

I've been off orientation for 6 months now, and I felt just like you when I became "full staff". WeeBabyRN is right. You're never alone in the NICU. No matter what has come up for me in these 6 months, my charge and fellow nurses have been there to support me when I needed it.

Looking back at the last year, I am amazed at how far I've come and still awed by how much more I have to learn. You'll be fine... just never be afraid to ask questions and get help when you need it. Best of luck to you!

I recently finished my orientation too and felt pretty much the same way you did. Our unit was in a lull during my level 3 orientation and I basically had ONE level 3 patient the entire time (a 25 weeker). I only had "half admissions" during my orientaiton...basically I went and helped out during the admit, but never finished the whole process (e.g. cultures, setting up fluids, opening care plans, etc.). There was quite a bit I missed, but fortunately, I had 350 hrs during a BUSY time in the unit as a student. There are still days where I feel overwhelmed but I am never, ever alone. I always feel fully supported by most of the nurses I work with, or my charge nurse. You'll do fine! :wink2:

And......I'd just like to add........the nurses right off orientation who DON'T feel like that are the ones that scare me!!! Knowing that you are new and haven't had experience with things can make you more cautious and focused. Like others have already said.......be sure to ask for all the support you need. I remember times I just wanted someone to come stand with me while I did a procedure ....... just in case I was about to do something wrong. And the more experienced nurses always did, and eventually I felt more confident. Congratulations on finishing your orientation! -- The whole next year is kind of an extension of that, and after that you'll still find yourself learning new things every week! It's a great specialty and will never get boring if you keep learning!

I've been off orientation for 3 months now and I am STILL scared to death. There are STILL so many things I do not know and I am constantly asking questions. Most nights I feel like a moron when I ask a question and the answer is so obvious I know I SHOULD have known it but temporarily was brain dead. I still have parents ask me questions that I don't know answers to but they have all been very nice when I just tell them that I am not sure and I will go find out for them. My charge nurses have all been EXTREMELY helpful.

Good luck! You'll be fine! We all felt ( and still do) that way!

Thanks for all the comments and words of encouragement, guys!! It really helps to know that I am not the only person who is/or has ever felt this way. I have do those moments where someone would tell me something, which sounded so obvious and simple, I think to myself "duh! why didnt i think of that?!" It is all just a learning process I guess....:wink2:

I have do those moments where someone would tell me something, which sounded so obvious and simple, I think to myself "duh! why didnt i think of that?!" It is all just a learning process I guess....:wink2:

I've been off orientation since November 2006 and I STILL have those moments. Nurses who have been in the NICU longer than I've been breathing have those moments. The trick isn't knowing everything; you never will. The trick is learning to go with those moments without beating yourself up. Even things you know will sometimes escape you. Just re-integrate them into your knowledge base and move on.