Pocamom

I really love Med/Surg. Granted some days are tough, but aren't they anywhere?? I have learned and continue to learn so much. I look back to 7 months ago when I started on the floor and I just smile. I have learned to prioritize like nobodies business, delegate, throughly assess, and even pick up on signs and alert the MD like I never thought I would learn. It can be tough, but oh so rewarding. Please try to look at all the positives in each day, yeah maybe I didn't get so and so done, but look what I did accomplish. You know that sort of thing. And please give your self some credit and praise. You are not a whiner or a failure and your post does not reflect that in anyway. The more you think of yourself the more others will also. Hey you have made it this far, and that is saying a hell of a lot!! :)

I have only been a RN for a month and I work quite the variety of shifts. 3a-3p, 3p-3a, 7a-3p, 7p-7a. And I have to say I absolutely love it!! I am learning so much about the flow of each shift and I think it is really helping develop into a professional nurse. Others would hate these swing shifts but it works great with my life. I work two 12 hour shift a week, each week consists of two of the same shifts and these rotate every six weeks. I like the day shifts as much as I do the nights. Hope that helps??? :)

way to go!! great feeling isn't it. hats off to you new rn!! :roll boy we got great vibes don't we!

Just to add with what has been said. Yes it is for a 2 week pay period. Each 0.1 equals 8 hours. So 0.7 x 8 = 56 hours/pay period, 0.6 x 8 = 48 hours/ pay period, and 0.3 = 24 hours/pay period. It took me awhile to get used to this lingo, now I find myself talking to my non-nursing friends and saying, "Yeah, I accepted a .6 position..." and they look at me like I am speaking in a foreign language. :chuckle

I had this very same type of error, I totally missed one, it was a lovenox injection. I had given the pt their other 2000 meds but for some reason missed this one and didn't catch it until 6am the next morning at the end of my shift. I was absolutely sick about it. And so very pissed at myself. I have learned from this mistake. I do not write down every med and time, that would be just way to time consuming for me but I do do this: When I come on I get the 10 min early and look at the MAR's I write the time of each pts meds on my report sheet and circle it, then next to the circle I put the number of meds the pt is to recieve at that time. And then when I am getting the meds out and doing my 3 checks with the MAR I make sure that they are getting that number of meds, I haven't missed one since. It has been really effective for me. Our vice president of nursing wrote an excellent article for us and in it stated: "We need to unmask the unspoken myth that if we are really good nurses, we won't make any mistakes. In reality, we don't go to work hoping to make errors, but the happen to ALL of us (yes, ALL of us) and we need to support when they happen." This article came out one day after my error and it really helped me. I now have a copy of it in my locker and at home by my computer as a constant reminder. I hope this quote helps you also. :)

Thank you all so much for your advice. I do feel comfortable on the floor and with the staff. I am on my fourth week now and it is going really well, a few weeks ago I actually had to ask my preceptor when it was that I handled the load myself because that is one of my worries. She was surprised, they are used to orientating someone new to the facility and that doesn't happen that early. The thing that suck right now is that our census is so low. We only have 4 swingbed pts (which are rehab) and no acute/unit pts. I know what to do with swingbeds, have handled them successfully thru-out my internship. It is the experience with the acute/unit pts that I so desperately want/need. I did talk to my manager and she said that I could pick up extra hours these next two weeks for more learning experiences as long as I did not go over 40 hours. So they are supporting me very well, just the census isn't.

I did it, I passed! I took the test on Tues at 10am and found out on Wed at 9:30am, while I was at work. My boss told me! We were all jumping around and screaming, even the patients were excited. I had 75 questions, and I felt good about how I did when it shut off. I was very calm. Which worried me because everyone told me I would think I failed! I tell ya you just can't win! :rotfl: It was very broad based, I had pharm, ob, peds, med/surg, disease processes, infection control and lots and lots of priority. No med calcs, and one alternate format. I was praying for it to shut off at 75 and I about jumped up and down when it did! I want to thank everyone here for there support and guidance. Saunders really works, that's what helped me to really understand what they were looking for. I did 75-100 questions a day for the past two weeks, but I had used Saunders all through nursing school to study for each exam I had. What a wonderful resource! Good luck to all, I wish you the best! You can do it!! Just have faith in yourself.:) Yeah!! :balloons:

Well it shut off at 75, I was really hoping it would. :imbar It seemed to have quite a variety, OB, Peds, Psych, Pharm, disease processes, Infection control, and lots of priority. I had one multiple/multiple, and no med calculations. I left feeling pretty good about it, which is kind of scary since everyone has told me you will feel like you failed it. So either I just think I know this, or I really do. :rotfl: I can't wait till Thurs when I find out. But I must say I have a sense of relief because it is done. And what will be will be and I will take it from there, one day at a time. I think the few beers I have had have help with this. :imbar I wish everyone facing the test this week SUCESS!! We CAN do it!!:)

I took the RN NCLEX this morning and I had a handful of psych questions, I can't say how many exactly?? But they were in there. One med, and then the rest where you have this pt with such and such mental illness, how would you respond in ??? situation, you know those type. My test seemed very balanced a little bit of everything.

And please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for tomorrow Jan 24th at 10am! I will be sitting in front of that wonderful computer proving my knowledge for the NCLEX-RN. Here's to success! Thanks guys, I will be praying for all those facing the same this week! We can do it!!!! :) :balloons:

how fabulous for you!!! i can't wait to have the same title after my name. now go out and have some fun!!!:balloons:

Working there for 1 1/2 years, you are by no means impatient. I would speak to the manager again and express your eagerness to learn and become a well-rounded nurse and if they decline this request, I would look for other employment. If you are not happy and need more of a challenge and a better learning enviroment then by all means see what else is out there. And when you find one that better suits you, quit and let them know exactly why. They are idiots to let a nurse with such eagerness to learn go. Just my 2 cents. :)

way to go!!!! what a relief this must be. there are good vibes on this board, keep them coming my way on tues the 24th. :) i am very happy for you!!!

Hello everyone, I am about to start my orientation on the Med/Surg floor this next week. I graduated in Dec, and am scheduled to take my boards on Jan. 24th. I have worked on this floor for 3 1/2 years as a CNA and nurse intern, the last 6 months has been as an intern. Anyway, my boss said she is planning on having my orientate for only 4-6 weeks, then she feels I will be ready. The usual orientation for new hires is 8 weeks. We are short staffed until I am done with training. What are your thoughts and feelings on this? How long is the typical orientation on a Med/Surg floor? Keep in mind we are a rural hospital, 29 bed facility with 3 ICU/CCU rooms. Any thougths would be appreciated. :wink2:

:) I am new to this board, just moved up from the student nursing board! I graduated Dec. 21st, and recieved my ATT yesterday. I signed up for Jan. 24th. I am very nervous. :uhoh21: I have started to review again, took the holidays off. I am also starting orientation this week, so I think the hands on will help out too. Any tips for preparation for the NCLEX? Thanks for your time. Glad I'm here!! :)