RNRichi

LynnLRN- Boy do I wish I worked where you are! No one even offered an apologetic look my way. Well, I can't say that, the EMT that put the patient in my room, apologized beforehand saying, "I'm sorry I have to do this to you, but you're the only one with an available bed", unbeknownst to both of us what was about to take place. It seems that no one thinks twice about what kind of patient they give the new grad, it's pretty much sink or swim. Some days on orientation I was just treading water, but I was proud of myself that I wasn't sinking, this day was totally sunk to the bottom of the ocean! Thanks CountyRat for the correction, I totally missed that I typed that. As for the normal human group behavior, I agree. Nonetheless, it's a shame that I have to go to work and spend 12 hours with these patients that have a warped sense of entitlement and even worse attitudes to go along with it, then have to deal with co-workers that add their bad attitude & snotty remarks. If this is how they treat others, I don't want to be part of their "group". I know, I know, I have to play the game. But my grandmother used to always tell me, "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar". I guess she didn't know that doesn't really apply to the ER;)

I just came off of orientation and totally understand where you are coming from. I also agree with all that have given you advice so far. If I can add one thing, don't just ask to be let in on the uncommon things. Sometimes being able to see the different ways nurses do the same procedure can be very helpful. I took note of the way one nurse prepped for intubations, because her way made more sense in my mind than they way my preceptor did it. Also during a pediatric code, there was a nurse that showed my preceptor a faster way to draw up the epi into those tiny syringes. Don't limit yourself just to the things you haven't seen before. Stick close to your preceptor, you will start to anticipate the supplies you will need, etc. One of my nicer co-workers made me a cheat sheet of the different conditions that commonly present and the nursing interventions. The ones that are still not second nature to me, I put on index cards,punched a hole and put a ring thru them, and I keep it in my pocket when I'm working. It alleviates me having to ask the same question day in/day out. I wish you the best, hang in there!

Thanks again everyone! I am in better spirits and will continue to make the best of what was dealt to me. I know that I am a good nurse, albeit a novice RN, but I will continue to give my all to my pts. Like one of you said, I'm so used to knowing, so to be put in the position of knowing nothing is hard to deal with. I'm taking with me the advice that you all gave, thanks again!!:loveya:

Thank you to all that have replied. I really needed some understanding ears Yes, I am thankful for my LVN experience, because I do at least have some nurse's intuition to stand on unlike some where this is their first nursing experience. I'm just wondering if crying my way home once a week will be a constant part of ER nursing, because I'm not a big crier and this is getting ridiculous!

For the sake of HIPPA and the fact that I have no other job prospects I can't say all the particulars that went on with this pt, but she was in such a state that she could not sign anything, add to that, she actually was having an issue deemed an emergency. I did transfer the pt after stabilization (EMTALA). But the hours it took to get there...and all the crap that happened in between...good grief! Believe me I welcomed the pts prior to her who wanted to leave AMA, I can have those papers in a jiffy, LOL. It's just that they say "if you don't know, ask", and when I ask or seek help, the person who was my preceptor faults me for it. By the way, I only asked mainly for forms or locations of certain things I was unfamiliar with and help with 1 IV on a baby, which my charge came to help with. I thought I had done pretty darn well for someone who didn't eat lunch till 6:00

Hello All, I need you all to lend your help. I am a new grad RN in a very busy ER, I just came off of a 9 week orientation in which I spent one of my 3 shifts each week in an Emergency Nursing course. I felt that I didn't get the best or most out of my orientation because my preceptor simply would NOT relinquish duties and let me do it alone. I would tell her that I can do it, will do it, and need to do it alone but only on my 2nd to last day did it happen. So I asked for an extension and was only granted 1 week more, hence the 9 wks instead of 8. I had my first shift on my own yesterday and all was going well, I would ask the other nurses a question here and there, until I got the worst pt ever, who came with barely any info from the paramedics because they picked her up from a hostile environment. The pt was combative and clearly either on something or had a psych issue, refused to talk to us, was screaming, hollering, and lying on the hallway floors. Not to mention she was having lady partsl bleeding and just nothing could be done until we sedated her. (She painted the rm & bathroom in blood-literally, climbed over siderails, etc) To make a long story short, the hostile people from whence she came called, then showed up, then her mom called 911 saying we had her dead in the ER and wouldn't allow her to see her. The mom turned out to be crazier than the pt, the md there was of no help as he refused to talk to the mom until I got my charge involved. I had every senior nurse that was working in my area helping me. I still somehow managed to try and care for my other 3 pts. After all was said and done, I stayed after my shift and made sure that I had charted graphically to "cya". As I was leaving my preceptor who was one of the nurses helping me said " this is why you needed more time, how are you supposed to ever work alone if you need help from everybody all day long". I feel that NO ONE could have handled that pt alone! (Did I mention that everyone stays there long enough to get experience then leave, the hospital has a constant revolving door, only the senior nurses on the old contract stay). I have tried to be positive even when crying my way home after many grueling days. I study on my own time the things I don't know. I'm not completely new to nursing in general as I was an LVN for 13 yrs, but this is a different ball game. I never wanted ER, but have tried to make the best and do my best because frankly this is the only job offer I received. I REALLY want out, but who hires an RN with 9.5 wks experience:cry: