bluebird123

from one new nurse to another...ditto to your entire post :)

best of luck!! I just love that little dancing angel

This is SO sweet of you!! And I honestly do NOT think you need to go crazy buying little gifts for all three shifts! that seems overboard and frankly I think its rude for other shifts to expect something from a patient they may have not even seen once! Again, VERY sweet of you for even thinking of doing this. When I was on L&D I never saw any patients bring in gifts for the entire floor.

Hey shining star :) I'll send you a private message.

WOAH! Just a LITTLE intense for a post about "advice for starting nursing school" lol Great info here no doubt....but good lord I wouldn't be surprised if you scared the OP half to death with this.

I suggest we close this thread.

Good for you Katy! I know the "gut feeling" when something just isn't right. Glad you wrote back to us to let us know how the meeting went. Best of luck in your new position. Rock it out with your new preceptor :)

Hey there, Ok I am new graduate nurse (just passed my boards...yippie!) I felt compelled to respond to this post. In my last semester of nursing school, during our "role transition" or senior preceptorship as some places call it, I dealt with a preceptor much like the one you have described. I felt like there was nothing I could do right by her. I asked for input/suggestions after each shift....and after each shift I felt like the only criticism she gave me was negative. I wasn't going fast enough...I should be "running the show" by myself...as student...new to a very busy labor and delivery floor....it was safe to say I was terrified. So much so that I felt like you...I felt like I was screwing up little things...things that I KNEW how to do. I just felt like with her breathing over my shoulder at times I would freak out and get it all wrong. I did end up meeting with my instructor from school and tried to find a common ground with her. I also requested to work with a few different nurses on that floor for a few shifts as I found our relationship not so beneficial to my learning. And a few nights...at 5 am...much to my disappointment in myself...I broke down crying. I was just SPENT. I felt like I was truly giving my all and it was never good enough. The other nurses on the unit said I was doing a fabulous job and to "just hang in there". During one particular bad night (after I had broke down crying) she said I was getting so upset because she thought she had...in her words "called my bluff"...no idea what she meant there. To be perfectly honest I thought that was a very unprofessional thing of her to say. All that being said...I did find a way to end that rotation on a positive note. I finished strong, can pretty much stick an IV in any preggo with horrible veins (or at least give it an honest try a few good times!). It was not a good fit for her and I, but I CAN say I learned a hell of a lot from her. Our teaching/learning styles may not have meshed....but she is a GREAT nurse. I can say I would be lucky to have her by my side at any kind of an emergency situation. She just knows her stuff backwards and forwards. Which is why she probably went into precepting to being with. I realize your situation is a bit different than mine because at the time I was still a student and was only with her for 7 weeks for my final senior rotation. I am assuming you would be with your preceptor for longer given it is your orientation...if you are at a place that has 6 month or longer "nurse residency" program. I can only say this...do what is right for you and your learning style. And if that means switching preceptors after you have tried to find a common ground with this nurse than so be it. Try to not burn bridges with this nurse, as nasty as she may seem...she is a wealth of information. Its also awesome to look back and think...ha! I did it! I had a hard time doing those final 170+ clinical hours with my nurse. But I know now for SURE that I will be one amazing nurse because of the sum of experiences I have had thus far. The good, the bad and the ugly. Best of luck to you. Remember why you went into nursing to begin with. There will always be nurses, physicians, patients, family members that are hard to get along with, but it's up to you to decide how you let it affect you. You can do this. All the best. -Jessica

happy to see people are actually giving "real world" advice here at the end of this thread! I was starting to think everyone here was heavily medicated on "happy meds" haha. But for real, I'm a second degree student going for my BSN in nursing. I worked as a CNA this past year and summer and I'm TELLING YOU it is one of the most physically demanding jobs you will ever have. Yes there are lovely moments when your favorite old person gives you a hug and calls you "their angel" and you cherish those times because most of the time you caring for 20 residents and hardly have the time to even eat a sandwhich nevermind sit down and have long conversations with these people. Its really horrible how short staffed they are in LTC. Not sad for the CNA's and our precious backs haha But even more so for these dear people who really do deserve someone to sit and talk with them for more than 2 minutes. Kudos to those of you going into this...just know what you're in for. And for petes sake if you have a family to take care of and mounting bills...take a step back and DO NOT quit your good paying job just to "feel better" about yourself during the day. Volunteer there if thats the kinda feel good vibes youre searching for.

"When someone is really determined to be with someone, they put up with anything to be with them. Nothing else matters - the other person can abuse drugs/alcohol, run up joint credit cards, cheat on them with their friends/family, beat them, be from another species, steal, whatever." This quote seems a little nutty to me!! No offense man but being with someone I loved "no matter what".....including he BEATS ME and CHEATS on me with a FAMILY member! That would be a big ADIOS and I hope (for your sake) to never see your sorry ass again to Mr. Boyfriend! geeez :)

I think is bound to happen bc alot of these people are very old and thus have their "old ways" of thinking regarding race. Just have to deal with it and move on, or ask a co-worker for help. Thats what I did. I'm a white woman and there was this sweet elderly black woman who absolutely refused to let me give her a shower. I asked one of my black co workers at work to help me out and it worked out ok. I just felt bad because I didnt want her to think she should be afraid of me or that I wouldnt handle her with care. But eh I mean she was old and a little crabby so it was for the best. And made her more comfortable if I left! haha I just took one of my friends residents in place of the one she helped me with :)

This was helpful for me too! thanks Sir I :)

"The other day, I even heard one lady saying she didn't even want to be a nurse. She is just doing it so she can have a good job while she pursues something else." **This person most likely will not make it through nursing school. YOU will. Don't doubt yourself. :)

it sucks.

I'm Catholic too. I always pray to St. Anthony til this day whenever I lose anything I've made a deal with him that when I get to heaven I'll help him find everyone elses crap if he just helps me find mine! hehe

Hey there! First of all congrats on being a nurse so young. That is an amazing accomplishment and you should be SO proud. I am currently a BSN student who didnt pass pharm last fall. I had to take the last few semesters off and got my CNA. I started working nights at an LTC. I absolutely loved my patients. Some of the nurses and other CNA's I worked with....not so much. I completely agree with making your requests more patient centered...not "I need you to do this..." etc. But also, please do not initially be so harsh (not to say you are now at all!). But some people when they feel bullied will say hmmm I need to grow a thick skin and then just be very firm with everyone they encounter. I found this to be true where I worked. I worked with some crappy aids....but to my credit I thought I was pretty damn good. Perhaps bc I was a nursing student. But....whenever I encountered a new nurse she spoke with me in that firm almost demanding sort of way. Which I CAN understand if she had previously gotten bullied before, but she didn't even take the time to talk to me and realize that I wasn't one of those lazy CNA's. sorry for the rambling response! best of luck to you. It really is to your credit that you care this much to post on this. You will be a wonderful nurse.

got me thinking....are there any negative consequences that result from actually hitting the bone in a smaller patient? (I'm a bsn student and have not administered many shots yet)

Oh sweetie I completely understand what you are going through. I am a BSN student that started last fall 08. Well that first semester I missed passing pharm by a mere two points so I had to take spring and summer off. I decided to get my CNA. And yes while I absolutely loved my patients I was EXHAUSTED!! I worked nights and had 20+ patients a night. I really felt worn thin. But who I felt worse for was my residents. They deserve to have more people there caring for them. In the end you can only do as much as you can in one shift. You are only human. If you leave there everyday (with sore feet and a sore back!) but knowing that you did everything in your capacity to care for your patients, then I think you did a job well done. Most people do not even care for the patients as much as you do. To some its just a paycheck. You will be a wonderful nurse. Just keep on truckin!! much love, Jessica

Infectious disease doc, trauma surgeon, or pediatric oncologist

wow I would demand more orientation.

Sending lots of warm hugs and good vibes your way. I pray you can find peace as you heal.

hey there!! I failed pharm last year. My schools criteria for passing is the same as yours. 75 to pass....I got a 72.4 grrrr. But now that I am re-taking they have "upped the ante" and I have to get an 80 to pass. I'm VERY nervous as well, but basically failure is NOT an option at this point. I wish you well and will keep you in my thoughts :)

Hey!! sorry for the late reply. I booked my tickets with Delta :) Also used my frequent flyer miles for a ticket for this coming christmas and it cost me....get this.....25 bucks!!! yippieeeeeee!!! cheapest flight home EVER! I am not sure if the hospital offers tuition breaks for nuses employed there but I'm going to Emory University and I have something called the NEAT scholarship that gives you 50% of the cost of tuition ($32,000!!) if you agree to work for their hospital for two years after you graduate. So they must have something if you work for them and then decide to further your ed. Good luck!! and keep me posted!!

To Lunah about the garlic clove....I heard somewhere that its a "home remedy" for yeast infections. gross.

hey y'all! I went but showed up a little late around 9am. Right when everyone was getting into their mentor groups so I figured it should just leave :) haha but at least I got a cup of coffee! haha oh and in the old "medical bookstore" (which is now a clearance store I guess) has scrubs on sale for 3 bucks. I got some good ones! only random sizes left though. Feel free to facebook me...search Jessica Milbury have fun tomorrow!