TOBYDOG

Your feelings are expected and I would worry if you did not have these self doubts. Keep your eyes and ears open and solicit advice from everyone. You would be astonished how much you can learn from the ancillary staff. There is a very good book, that I would recommend to everyone that is new or in a new position, it is a study on how people learn and the transitions that take place in the individual as they advance through the levels of any skill acquisition. The book is written by Patricia Benner. Many threads have mentioned this book and many managers recommend this for all new people to their units. https://allnurses.com/nursingbooks/NsgBooks-14205-020100299X.html. I wish you the best and if you can get a copy of this book, it could help get through your newbie jitters.

In our facility this year we have several new grads (LPN) myself included. We were supposed to have 16 hrs on paperwork and P&P. I had 8 hrs and that time was spent trying to figure out the computer system. The preceptor was busy one the phone and having impromtu meetings while I was orienting. I have spoken to other new nurses, that all happen to be from my class, and the orientation I received was about normal. I have worked at this facility for 2 yrs as a Med aid in a different household. The responsibilities and requirements for charge nurse are much greater than a Med aid. As far as orientation to the floor, I was scheduled for 80 hours but that did not happen. My first day as orientee the training nurse called off and I was the only Nurse on the floor. The next time I was schedualed I was told that I did fine last week so we want you to take over now. I work weekends so it is a little slower, not as many orders comming in. Figuring out the household on my own was a definite challenge but with good aids I survived. I will not be working there once I complete my ADN program (this May). I have documented this lack of training and have contacted the DON and her reply was that "you are a good Nurse and we have confidence that you will handle difficult situations as they arise. That makes me really want to work there Knowing my license is on the line everyday. There is very little actual mentoring or training of the Nursing staff. They pay alot of lip service to continuing ed. and staff development but the follow through is very poor.

I love House. Probably for the escapism. Really when was the last time you saw a doc draw blood or hang an IV?? And how about sitting up all night with the patient circling the bowl? Not realistic but funny all the same. Any of the Discovery Life in the ER and The Medical examiner show.

I totally agree with your methods. Most nights I study 2-3 hrs including writing any papers/careplans etc. I skim the Text readings and reread sections specifically brought up in lectures. I too never study on weekends. I work day shift and then spend time with my wife. Your methods definitely work AEB my 97.75% ave in class this semester. Try it it can't hurt I promise.

In my ADN program we have two formats. One is the traditional scan-tron fill in the bubbles and the other is computerized similar to the NCLEX or ATI formats. Both types are timed but only total time. One can take as much or as little time as necessary for each question. Personally, I prefer the computized NCLEX type for the practice and we are able to get instant preliminary results after the entire class has finished the exam. We are usually given a short break after the exam and then we are called back into the class and can review the results with the correct answers highlighted on the test. I am not sure of the program that is used but I really like having the immediate feedback. Our Instructors review the results after we have looked at the test and they sometimes make adjustments to the grade based on class results. I think that this is the first semester they have tried this format so there is no history of results they can look at so we usually get a few points back. I hope this helps with your situation. Good luck

Hello all I am currently finishing my LPN program, done 6-20. Then NCLEX and start ADN 7 -14. I love to hunt and fish here in Kansas or anywhere in mid west. My Last season was one day hunting a local farm for upland I got limits on pheasant quail and ducks, I was happy to cram my season in to one day with those kind of results. I was hunting with a classmate's husband another perk of Nursing school. My wife and I fish Lake Texhoma. My inlaws have a house and FIL has a boat and lots of guide friends. School gets in the way of out door hobbies for now. I did get 2 days on spring break to Estes Park CO. Fly fishing for local trout. Better get to more drug cards for next weeks L&D clinical. Mike

I have a different pain scale for medical Tx if I can't Walk or I can't talk then it's time to go to the hospital otherwise it's part of being a biped. I have low back pain and it has been chronic for the last 15 yrs. Stretching and activity only do so much. Meds can control it but personally I wouldn't go for the radical Tx my Ortho advised on the first visit. I just can't bring myself to the knife with other options available. Sounds bad for a student but its reality or my perception. As far as my Pt's pain it is what they say it is. My challenge is to find what will work for them. Meds are good but sometimes there are other methods that they haven't heard of. Our job should be to educate our PT's on different methods of pain control if they are open to other interventions. Obviously there are needs for all pain meds and they are very valuable to our Pt's conditions.