CarenicaRN

Hi Sassy! I am a new nurse myself and soon I will be starting my first job. The experience that I have with this issue comes from my Sr. Practicum. At first, I was very hesitant to ask for help, either from other nurses or from aides. I always had such a problem finding time for breaks! My preceptor finally held an intervention. She said, "Look, you are doing great, but what I want you to work on is delegation. You don't have to do everything yourself." I have also been told by several nurses that as a new nurse, if you DON'T ask for help you will be "black-balled." Could it be that these nurses are saying, "hey, do you need help?" by asking you why you don't take breaks? You said yourself that these nurses are just trying to help you. Take them up on it! Ask them help you clean-up a pt., hang a drug for you, or whatever else it is you need. As an added bonus, working together with these nurses in a pt. room can help you build the step to the social relationships outside of the room. Another powerful maxim from a Sr. Nurse: "The fastest way to burnout is to not take breaks." Hang in there! -C