Orientation leaves me flustered....

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2007

Hi there!

Have you tried asking them about taking your own load? If not, the next time that you work, ask your preceptors to allow you to take some of the patients on your own.

Let them know that you appreciate the things that they have taught you, but you would like to start to ease into doing everything for some of the patients. Be polite, but let them know that you realize that you wont always have them there to handle everything, and that you need to start organizing your own "routine" so that you can get used to it, and wont be so overwhelmed when you are off orientation.

Be sure to let them know that if you have questions or are unsure of something that you have no problem asking for help.

Good luck and welcome to nursing!!

smileysenior · Mar 15, 2007

I felt the same way when I was in orientation. Just try to fight the feeling to want to fly on your own and take a step back and just try to learn from the other nurses while you can. You will be on your own soon enough......I promise and you can do your own thing. It will be challenging, so now is the time to take what you can from other nurses and develop your own style. You will get to do things your way soon. Just try to learn from the other nurses first. As a newbie, you have so much to learn, most that you didnt learn in school. So try to fight back and take a breather and just try to at least be open to the other nurses methods, yes, you may have to do it someone elses way first, but just try to learn from it. I guarantee you will be on your own soon enough!

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 15, 2007

As someone who has coordinated a lot of orientations over the course of my career ... I find that it is usually a positive thing when an orientee feels ready for a little more independence. It shows that they are not overly fearful and that they feel prepared to take responsibility for their professional practice. That is usually a good thing.

The exception to that is that some people want off too soon because they don't want other people to tell them what to do. Those people are usually dangerous because they don't take direction well and may be practicing in an unsafe manner because of their resistence to doing things any other way but their own way. It doesn't sound as if you fall into that category.

Perhaps you can negotiate with your preceptors to give you a little more "room" and independence. Tell them that you would like to to try to manage at least a portion of your assignment "on your own" as you will after orientation is over. Tell them that you don't want to go from the extreme security of having a preceptor close by to suddenly having no preceptor at all -- that you would like an "in between" time. Also assure them that you will check in with them regularly and discuss your plans for your patient with them. As they see you succeed with what little independence they give you, they will be encourage to give you more independence.

Good luck,

llg

kiszi, RN · Mar 16, 2007

I can sympathize. I only had 4 weeks of orientation (LTC), but after about 3 weeks, my preceptors were pretty much letting me handle the floor myself, with me just asking questions or for help with certain things. THEN I got stuck with a new preceptor who drove me crazy! I already had some semblance of a routine going, which I told her, but she still hounded me all night, saying "aren't you going to do this next?" or "well, I usually do THIS before I do THAT." or "You should do that THIS way." I only had to work with her one night though.. phew!

My advice is to take a deep breath, smile and just go along with how they do things, all the while entertaining yourself with thoughts of how YOU will do it when you're on your own.

letting out a big scream in your car after work may help, too. :wink2:

jill48, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2007

I always felt the same way when on orientation. It's even worse when you do know enough and have no more questions and still have to walk around following other nurses like a dope. You just have to smile and be nice, and take it. It will be over soon. I promise.

crb613, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2007

I agree it is very hard to get a handle on your pt's when someone else is...passing meds, doing chart checks, taking off orders ect. It always put me in a state of confusion. I needed to do it all in order to be able to put it together.I agree with the other poster who....suggested you ask politely to have a few that you are totally in charge of. You seem like you will ask questions & you know you still need someone to lean on but... you also need a chance to see what you know... to learn by doing, handling problems, & asking questions. Good luck!

willdgate · Mar 18, 2007

just make sure you know what you are doing before you do something, b/c many preceptors will mess you up, if you do something and you do it wrong. I would recommend coming off orientation, if you can.