Orientation, alot at once.

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I have this new job and am learning the new setting, the new hospital, the new EMR (have not used this particular one before) and the new routines. It seems I am learning all of this stuff simultaneously and the EMR training was a joke. I wonder why, they can't teach you one thing, let you at least half way master it, then teach you something else. Seems like it is 1 minute here on this subject, ok next subject another one minute. I find it very hard to learn that way. So, I have been taking lots of notes, trying to listen, watch and write all at the same time. Then on the weekend I review my notes, rewrite them into something legible. I think about the new job all the time, trying to remember how to do all the tasks in the EMR and how they do other tasks and am reading about the common diagnosis there and all the new medications. I am beginning to think I'm not too sharp and I don't want to disappoint my co-workers or employer. Anyone else have a problem, is it just me? Learning issues have never been a problem, maybe it is just the stress of a new job.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I am going to be honest here. I develop and participate in running clinical orientation in my current facility. You sound extremely anxious - abnormally so.

Orientation is overwhelming. There is nothing wrong with you other than your apparent feeling that you must "master" each thing before moving on to the next. Its not reasonable to expect that kind of time. New jobs don't come with weeks of schooling before you start your position. The learning curve is sharp because you are an experienced nurse. Its like that anywhere you go. There is a certain expectation that your foundational knowledge is going to carry you through, that what you are learning here is simply software and this particular facility's policies about things. As an experienced nurse, you are expected on a lot of levels to hit the ground running, picking up the things you don't already know as you go along. Its meant to be exposure, not comprehensive learning. The facility's (ie your manager's) goal is to get you on the floor working. The best way to learn software is to simply start using it. The rest of it is all regulatory stuff or facility specific policies.

You are going to need help when you get to the floor. Everyone does. There is no expectation that you are going to come out of orientation as proficient as someone who has been working there a few years. You are going to have to ask questions, continue learning and give yourself time to get up to speed. This means three to six months of feeling less efficient than you would like to be. Your foundational nursing knowledge and time management skills should help fill in the gaps. When you get to your unit, build relationships, work hard, be appreciative to those who do help you and just keep plugging away at it. Expect the first three to six months to be uncomfortable. It will get better, but you will need to manage your anxiety. Seek help when you need it, focus on your strengths, be patient and realize you are not stupid, nor is the facility unreasonable. The truth lies between the two.

If you expect orientation to take the time to teach you everything, at your pace and to your satisfaction, you are going to be really, really unhappy. That isn't what orientation is for. You have railed against the way orientation is done in the past for other jobs on here as well. This is the reality of modern day nursing. Orientation is brief, intense and steep. You can't change that. You can change how you react to it.

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On 8/29/2019 at 7:22 AM, not.done.yet said:

I am going to be honest here. I develop and participate in running clinical orientation in my current facility. You sound extremely anxious - abnormally so.

Orientation is overwhelming. There is nothing wrong with you other than your apparent feeling that you must "master" each thing before moving on to the next. Its not reasonable to expect that kind of time. New jobs don't come with weeks of schooling before you start your position. The learning curve is sharp because you are an experienced nurse. Its like that anywhere you go. There is a certain expectation that your foundational knowledge is going to carry you through, that what you are learning here is simply software and this particular facility's policies about things. As an experienced nurse, you are expected on a lot of levels to hit the ground running, picking up the things you don't already know as you go along. Its meant to be exposure, not comprehensive learning. The facility's (ie your manager's) goal is to get you on the floor working. The best way to learn software is to simply start using it. The rest of it is all regulatory stuff or facility specific policies.

You are going to need help when you get to the floor. Everyone does. There is no expectation that you are going to come out of orientation as proficient as someone who has been working there a few years. You are going to have to ask questions, continue learning and give yourself time to get up to speed. This means three to six months of feeling less efficient than you would like to be. Your foundational nursing knowledge and time management skills should help fill in the gaps. When you get to your unit, build relationships, work hard, be appreciative to those who do help you and just keep plugging away at it. Expect the first three to six months to be uncomfortable. It will get better, but you will need to manage your anxiety. Seek help when you need it, focus on your strengths, be patient and realize you are not stupid, nor is the facility unreasonable. The truth lies between the two.

If you expect orientation to take the time to teach you everything, at your pace and to your satisfaction, you are going to be really, really unhappy. That isn't what orientation is for. You have railed against the way orientation is done in the past for other jobs on here as well. This is the reality of modern day nursing. Orientation is brief, intense and steep. You can't change that. You can change how you react to it.

Thank you I appreciate the feedback. I so much want to get it right, as you know you aren't allowed to make mistakes in nursing so I guess that is why I feel anxious to get it down as quickly as possible. I need to ease up and not be so hard on myself. Thanks again.

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I have had some great experiences in orientation, I just want to put that out there. I should probably rant about some of the great things that have taken place and not air my feelings as much.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I'm right there with you and I'm a new grad.

Just started orientation August 19th. I can't help but feel like I don't know whats going on sometimes and I don't want to let anybody down, but it's getting easier every day. The charting is a lot. Just keep an open mind and don't be afraid to ask questions and be willing to always learn. Even the seasoned nurses were telling me that they don't always have an answer either and still learn and grow.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Good luck. You are not alone, many nurses have the same experience. We're rooting for you!

Keep us posted ?

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Getting better, thank heavens. Once the person that was training me stopped watching over my shoulder I improved significantly. Still some anxiety though. But, overall it is going more smoothly. Those first 3 weeks nearly did me in.?

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