rach2103

The biggest thing I had troubles with as a new RN was delegating!!! Remember all the lessons we had on that? It really is a big part of your job! It was really hard for me to ask people for help. I felt like I was bossing others around. However, when you do it properly and respectfully, it will save you! Part of our job description as a Registered Nurse is to delegate (properly, of course ~ baths, vital signs, toilet visits, etc). And remember that it goes both ways! If you have some down time and your CNA is running his/her butt off, offer to help with anything! They will remember it and be even more wililng to help you when you need it! Good luck, and I promise, it gets easier with time!

Hmmm....could be, I guess! If you don't do it often, it can be a bit intimidating. However, it's part of our job! I wonder what the aversion is to it???

Hello all! I have a question regarding being pregnant in nursing... 3 months ago, I transferred from an orthopedic floor to a cardiac ICU. I found out yesterday that I am 5 weeks pregnant (yay!), but got to thinking about work... I have heard that varicella/chicken pox patients are the only isolation patients you are not supposed to care for. Are there any other restrictions while pregnant? When should you tell your supervisors about your pregnancy? I didn't think I wanted to tell them right away, but then I thought that maybe they could be aware when making patient assignments. What do you all think? Thanks!

Well its been a few days since the med error, and I want to thank EVERYONE who responded. You all helped me get back to work and do what I love to do: be a nurse!!! The pt was fine, went home that day, and dr wasn't upset or worried. It was hard to go back, but everyone was supportive. We were sent an extra nurse the next night and I only had 5 pts. Again, thank you all!!!

The error came in that I gave the lantus the evening before at hs as ordered, then gave it AGAIN in the am, even though it was ordered qhs. So the pt got 2 doses of lantus in 12 hours. I didn't have to cover her with regular due to her BS.

I started on a general surgical unit in June after graduating in May. I had 1 week of clinical classroom orientation and then 6 weeks one on one orientation on the floor with a preceptor. I thought it was perfect for me, but another new grad took 8 weeks. So we were lucky because they were very flexible. I would refuse to work at a place that only offers 4 weeks or less. Its your license you have to protect!!!

I have been an RN since May of this year, and work on a general surgical unit. Last night, I had 8 pts, and was working with an LPN who had 8 as well, so had to cover all her IVP meds and other parts of her charting. We had 1 CNA. At the very end of my shift, I gave 50 of lantus insulin to a patient without looking at the MAR BuT verifying the amount with my supervisor because I was way behind on EVERYTHING and was used to giving her insulin in the am. I realilzed it about 10 min later when going back to chart on the MAR. The BS was 112, and I immediately told the supervisor and called the dr. He didn't seem concerned, just said to monitor her BS and give her D50 if less than 70. It was end of shift so I had to pass the pt on to day nurse and I felt AWFuL!!! I cried, and everyone was so supportive, telling me she'd be just fine, and she'd be closely monitored and treated if she wasn't. She was a knee replacement, and was due to go home today. I didn't get to eat anything all shift, and its now 830am and feel nauseated from my stupid mistake! This is my first EVER med error. How do I get over it? And how do I get myself to go back to work tonight??? I just want to quit and run away! I know I SHOuLD feel awful, and I KNOW I'll learn from this, but I'm feeling very alone through it all. HELP!!!

Come to Reno! They are wonderful to new grads here, and always seem to have openings :)

I'm a new grad too, just about 2 months out of orientation on General Surgical. I KNOW the feeling ~ its totally overwhelming and scary!!! But my advice to you is to give it some time. You are going to learn SO much that will be valuable to your career. Ask questions ~ ALWAYS! Its our license we have to protect, and asking questions facilitates learning. And I truly believe that knowing your not the only one who feels this way helps a ton! I have had days I wanted to cry, and days that I've went home feeling like I really AM a great nurse. But everyone has both good and bad days, and I've already been having more and more good ones. I hope things begin looking up for you! Know your not alone!!!!

Hi! Welcome to nights :) Like you, I'm a new grad. I started orientation the first week of July, and went to nights the first week of August, so I only have 2 months under my belt. But here's what I've found so far: I IMMEDIATELY bought the window tint for our bedroom. We have 4 huge windows, so curtains were MUCH too expensive and just didn't work. It works to keep it generally dark and actually MUCH cooler too! I got it at the Home Depot ~ the darker the better! On my first night, I try to sleep as late as possible. I've never been a "nap person", so when I tried a few times to get up like normal and nap in the afternoon, I found myself tossing and turning and never getting any sleep, so I'd be up for 24 hours straight! So I sleep til noon or 1, then get up and do my thing, go to work, and get home and go right to bed, usually sleeping about 7 hours. I also couldn't sleep during the days in between at first. I don't like to use sleeping pills, but found that melatonin works great for me. I know it doesn't for everyone, but worth a try! I'm not CRAZY about nights, since my husband has an 8-5 job, but I always tell myself that its only 3 a week, and someday, whenever that is, I'll be on days. Good luck to you! Rachel