ACC_RN

jeepgirl, hey, i'm also a new grad that went straight to pediatrics. i graduated in may and passed boards in july; meaning that i went from a tech to a nurse in july after i passed boards. i had a 12 week orientation and then started on my own. it's been rough so far. there are definately days when i question why i became a nurse at all, but then there are days ( a few) when the night goes really well and i actually enjoy my job. i'm lucky in that i'm never left alone on my floor and most of the nurses are rn's, so that the job's that only a rn can perform aren't left for me to do. i won't be charge until i've worked for about a year; and, that makes me happy. i also work on a floor of sick kids. the worst nights are those when my patients scare me to death because they look so bad. i've had to transfer two kids to the picu since i've been working on my own (one month). but, what i've found through those hard nights is this - i always have someone to ask questions to. sometimes i won't just get one opinion, i'll get two or three. i really struggle with my knowledge sometimes. i'm not confident enough to KNOW i'm right at this point. so, i'll get people to verify that a lot. i ask lots of questions - sometimes i feel like i ask too much. but, kids are different than adults and the nurses who are experienced with them can help out a lot. on those two nights i've had kids get bad on me and have had to send them down to the unit, i've always had nurses there to help me, answer questions, and tell me what they'd do. i struggle with this issue a lot - 'when to call the md' ------ i'll aks the nurses, in this situation, do i need to call the doc or do i need to wait it out, use my nursing interventions to solve it, etc.... and they always help. i know who to ask and who not to ask. the nurses i work with are the reason i've lasted even a month. it's stressful and sometimes you can't do it on your own, you need the help and backup. the good news is this: on peds, the kids are usually great. whenever i get discouraged and dread going to work,i look at the picture one of my 7 year old kids drew me and i feel better again. i beleive it just takes time and you have to give your new job the time it takes to become familiar. good luck with your job!!!!!!!! -acc_rn

jeepgirl, hey, i'm also a new grad that went straight to pediatrics. i graduated in may and passed boards in july; meaning that i went from a tech to a nurse in july after i passed boards. i had a 12 week orientation and then started on my own. it's been rough so far. there are definately days when i question why i became a nurse at all, but then there are days ( a few) when the night goes really well and i actually enjoy my job. i'm lucky in that i'm never left alone on my floor and most of the nurses are rn's, so that the job's that only a rn can perform aren't left for me to do. i won't be charge until i've worked for about a year; and, that makes me happy. i also work on a floor of sick kids. the worst nights are those when my patients scare me to death because they look so bad. i've had to transfer two kids to the picu since i've been working on my own (one month). but, what i've found through those hard nights is this - i always have someone to ask questions to. sometimes i won't just get one opinion, i'll get two or three. i really struggle with my knowledge sometimes. i'm not confident enough to KNOW i'm right at this point. so, i'll get people to verify that a lot. i ask lots of questions - sometimes i feel like i ask too much. but, kids are different than adults and the nurses who are experienced with them can help out a lot. on those two nights i've had kids get bad on me and have had to send them down to the unit, i've always had nurses there to help me, answer questions, and tell me what they'd do. i struggle with this issue a lot - 'when to call the md' ------ i'll aks the nurses, in this situation, do i need to call the doc or do i need to wait it out, use my nursing interventions to solve it, etc.... and they always help. i know who to ask and who not to ask. the nurses i work with are the reason i've lasted even a month. it's stressful and sometimes you can't do it on your own, you need the help and backup. the good news is this: on peds, the kids are usually great. whenever i get discouraged and dread going to work,i look at the picture one of my 7 year old kids drew me and i feel better again. i beleive it just takes time and you have to give your new job the time it takes to become familiar. good luck with your job!!!!!!!! -acc_rn