theviolinist

I've been at my job in a LTC facility for 2 months now and on more than one occasion a cna has mentioned something about the nurse "just passing meds". It certainly seems that way sometimes but I never thought nursing was med passes only. It is just frustrating when I here it said. Even some residents have called me a "pill pusher". Does anyone else feel this way? Does it get better?

Ok, I just found out I have to orient a nurse on my unit this weekend. I have only been a nurse since July and I've only been at my LTC job for a little more than a month. I still don't know a lot and I'm still learning so how am I supposed to orient someone else?! Sorry, just a little frustrated and I need to vent. Any tips for me? How long were you a nurse before you had to orient someone.

I recently graduated with my BSN degree and accepted a job in a LTC facility after not being able to find a job anywhere else. I'm still in orientation, but I feel overwhelmed. Mostly, I have been passing meds while my preceptor does treatments, paperwork, everything else. How do you manage when you are the only nurse? Also, my preceptor told me that I'm wasting my BSN degree in LTC and that I should go to a hospital. Is that true? Am I really wasting my degree? I don't know what to think. Should I stay in LTC at least for a little while to get some experience? I don't want to go through orientation and then quit. I would appreciate any advice!

Hi all, I recently passed my boards and I've accepted an RN job at a LTC facility. After my first day of orientation, I am feeling so overwhelmed and just want to cry. I will have 28 residents to pass meds to, treatments, assessments, charting, etc. I have 10 days of orientation, but I don't know how I'll ever get it all down. Nurses keep telling me it will get better overtime and to just ask questions, but I don't even know where to start! I feel like I was hired just because the facility needed nurses. Do any of you experienced nurses have any tips/advice for me? What should I focus on during orientation? I want to know everything, but it's so overwhelming.

Thanks everyone! I found out today I passed! It's a huge relief for sure!

So, after weeks of studying and preparing, my NCLEX is over. 76 questions and the screen went blue. I just about cried when that happened and I just felt overwhelmed. I wasn't expecting it to shut off so soon and I don't really feel good or bad about the whole thing. Of course, my family is asking all sorts of questions about it. I'm nervous because the questions didn't seem extremely difficult. Anyway, I just wanted to vent and I'll know the outcome very soon.

Hi Everyone! I'm a senior nursing student and I was assigned to the OB floor for my preceptorship. What tips would you give me? I am excited and a bit nervous for this learning opportunity! I have been practicing skills & reviewing information from my OB class, but what else should I be doing? Thanks!

You should look into the requirements for the nursing program you are applying to. My nursing school required us to have a CNA license in order to be accepted. It depends on the program though.

I'm in my senior year of nursing and every year in clinicals my instructors tell me how quiet I am. I know I'm quiet, but I feel like I can do a good job. Even though I don't talk constantly when I'm in my patient's room doesn't mean I'll make a terrible nurse, does it? Sometimes it feels like that and I don't want to continue nursing school. However, I really do want to be a nurse someday! My problem is getting really nervous whenever my instructor is watching me. Also, this past week I had a patient who was quiet too, so it made it even harder when I tried to start a conversation. I've really been working on confidence ever since I started the nursing program and I am getting better. I just needed to vent for a little bit. My instructors make me question my abilities because I'm not a loud and outgoing person. I know I am able to communicate when I need to and be confident, but how do I show this to my instructors? Is it impossible to be a nurse if you're quiet?

I need some advice..I know there have been topics on this before but I was wondering how often do you read your books? I'm started my third semester of nursing school this week and I feel so overwhelmed by the reading! It's like first semester all over again! In previous semesters I haven't done all the readings (if at all) and was fine, but this semster some of my professors have said if we don't read the book we won't do well on the tests/quizzes. So, do you have any tips for me? I know I have to find what works for me, but your advice is appreciated!

Hello, I need help making sense of infusion rates for IV piggybacks. So, last week at clinical I had an IVPB medication that was 250 mg in 200 mL to give over an hour. However, we decided to slow the rate to 150 mL/hr since my patient was elderly. That's where I'm stuck. Can someone explain how to figure rates out? Sorry, I'm just confused.

So, I had a meeting today with my instructor and advisor and they are going to make me retake clinical because I'm quiet. They even think I should see a counselor for shyness. I was so upset when they told me, and I really don't think I'm that shy. I know I could work on my communication skills and being more confident but I'm not afraid of people. Anyway, thanks for all your advice everyone! It makes me feel a little better, at least.

Well, I've had about the worst day of my life. I talked to my advisor and she was very understanding and helpful, however the decision isn't up to her. They will probably decide next week and I have the right to talk to them and tell them what I think. My advisor said she won't be surprised if they do fail me (although she used the words 'make you retake it). If I have to retake the class I'll feel like a failure! I've worked so hard and they want to hold me back because I'm quiet! How is holding me back going to help my confidence level? I think that will just make it worse. I'm sorry, I just had to vent to someone. I am so upset about this!

My instructor asked me a week ago how it was going for me. I told her I thought it was going good and I felt more comfortable. I do feel much more comfortable than I did the very first weeks, so that should count for something! She didn't say anything about needing to improve my communication with patients until my evaluation this week. It won't help my confidence at all if she fails me for that! I'm glad to hear there are other quiet people out there who are nurses! That makes me feel a lot better about myself.

Thanks for your replies. My instructor said she's concerned that I won't ask questions when I have them and that when I'm a nurse I won't be able to talk to doctors or pharmacy if I have questions about an order. She's afraid my shyness will interfere with leadership skills. I just don't know what to do and we're done with clinicals so I don't have anymore time to show her I can be assertive.