MissNurs2016

You will gain more confidence with this with time. I do appreciate parameters but after you gain more experience you will be able to assess if the patient is symptomatic, you'll be able to look back and see how he has been trending before, you assess all the factors playing in etc. I have had patients dip down into the 30s without needing to make a phone call. Others might be symptomatic at 50. New grads typically hold meds more often and call MDs more often. This is ok. Don't worry about anyone giving you attitude. That's about them and not you. But do ask more experienced nurses for advice. I used my charge nurses and senior nurses a lot in the beginning if I was uncertain if I should contact the provider.

Is there a lot of gossiping at your workplace? Seems to be a lot at the place I work and it makes me put my guard up and I'm just not as trusting as I usually am. With goosping I mean nurses complaining/ talking about other nurses and doctors in a non-flattering way. This includes chargenurses and the manager. This hasn't been the case at previous jobs I've had . It definitely effects how happy I am there. How is it at your workplace? I'm afraid to leave based on this only to discover the grass isn't greener on the other side. And yes, I do stand up to people but it still does not stop the gossiping.

Hi! I'm a fairly new nurse and I have yet to develop a consistent time management. I work 12 hour nights in an ICU step down unit and typically see 4 patients. I never know how I should plan my day. My orientation period was not great and I was mostly just left to my own and now I feel like I need to develop my own strategy. I start at 19 and my shift ends at 0730. Assessments are due 3 times per shift, or every 4 hours. If anyone who is good at time management wants to tell me their routine Id be very thankful. Every shift I'm short of time ad after working for 4 months I still haven't been able to take a single break.

Sure, you probably need to do a refresher program to reactivate your license. Contact your local university. Good luck!

Hi! Just got my first job as an RN at a Step Down unit (primarily strokes and cardiac) at a hospital in a bigger city. Anyone who can tell me bit about how I should prepare for this job. I got about 1 month until I start orientation. Thanks.