Please Help.............I Got My First Job!

Nurses General Nursing

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ok, i am a lpn and got my first job in an outpatient mental health clinic near where i live, i applied saturday and they called me on monday morning, excited right:yeah:right, well sort of, i am scared out of my brain. i get orientation on tuesday, so my question for you guys is what question should i ask the nurse who will be orienting me. please list any question that pop up in your head. i will literaly be the only nurse working in the clinic, so that is scary for me, it is only part time 3 days a week. my main job will be giving injections and working with the doctors. anything you guys can think of please post it for me. i have already started a binder for organization, also started pharm card on every psychiatric drug availiable so that i will have them on hand:nurse::nurse:. please post all questions!thank you in advance, between you and me i am kinda shocked i got hired......i have really no experience, but i guess i have to start some were,right!

beleive me i am really excited!

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I would ask what happened to the previous nurse that worked here?

What kind of nurse does well here?

What are your sources for back-up?

What is the patient population like?

Do you have other staff on site such as LNA's?

Make sure you are informed of protocol to follow in emergency situations.

How long is your orientation? Don't take on this responsibility until you feel you have been given enough knowledge and practice.

Good luck in your first job. Since you don't have experience in this field continue to read about meds and medical conditions. Let us know how it is going.

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Specializes in CTICU.

I would not work in a solo position as a new grad. Good luck.

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I would not work in a solo position as a new grad. Good luck.

Thanks for the encouragement:bluecry1:

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Just show up. The questions will come as you need them answered.

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Specializes in critical care, telemetry, ER.

Yes, the questions will come as you are oriented.

one thing that pops in my head is to ask what kind of things come up that you don't see day to day and how do you deal with them?

I haven't worked in mental health besides the patients we get into the ER. But ask what you do when someone comes in with suicidal/homicidal thoughts or something else where they need sent to the ER. Get info on getting 1013's, 2013's and such signed.

how long is your orientation? make sure you feel comfortable before you take that responsibility on by yourself! It's not worth losing your nursing license over, stand your ground if you don't feel like you are ready to be on your own yet.

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how long does it take the average newbie with your background to grasp the bare bones meat and patatoes of this job? Now divide this timeline by two and put yourself on this treadmill, this way, at the halfway point, if you are not up to speed, you have room to cathch up and make improvements along the way. But, note the trick to your game is good time management.

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Specializes in pediatric.

hi, do u still work in the outpatient clinic? if so whats it like for a newly qualified nurse, im starting in an outpatient clinic soon i wont b on my own il b with other nurses but jst wondering whats it like and any advice thanks xxx

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