ARose11

So, I have recently started a new job, at an organization that requires new hires to take on-boarding classes to acclimate and familiarize with policies & procedures with a little bit of skills thrown in there. However, someone whom I am pretty sure I don't know has decided to take my name and spread defamatory rumors to the staff members on the unit that I am to work on. Like, saying some super outlandish lies that are the complete opposite of my character. I was even confronted by a supervisor about it, accusations galore! Initially I was super shocked, because the truth is that I have never said anything negative about anyone, about anything, anywhere. I'll admit I almost cried (to myself, alone) over it, because it really was hurtful to hear my character defamed like that. But I got over it, quickly. I assume it may have been one of the other applicants that applied to my floor and didn't get the job, and is spiteful. I also confronted my supervisor about it again, made my case, and left the conversation with. "After you get to know my by either observation, direct contact, or through future evaluation you will undoubtedly see what kind of person I am, and from there you will know that these accusations are untrue". Moral of the story, even though you think you're in an environment of adults, who are supposed to act professionally, there will always be someone to try to step on your toes. You just gotta keep on doing you, being you, and putting your best foot forward! Never let a hater get you down!!

I was not on the floor the full day, so I dont know the outcome. The patient wasn't combative, just restless, old, and said that the mask scared her. Nevertheless, after this discussion I believe that it was a prudent course of action. I actually feel a little silly now...

Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments. Points taken.

On a rotation that I recently had as a student; a patient's O2 levels were dropping, and the patient was becoming restless and agitated. the O2 was ranging 93-88%. The patient was refusing to wear the BiPAP mask, but the nurse restrained the patient first, applied the mask with the respiratory therapist, and then proceeded to ask the physician for an order for restraints due to confusion related to hypoxia. I was wondering if this would be the correct way to handle this situation, because I wasn't sure that the patient was confused enough to not be able to make decisions on her own behalf. However, when I asked about why the process went down like that. The nurse replied that she wasn't going to do nothing while waiting on the doctor to get back to her.

Is it just me or is it normal to feel totally freaked out being a senior nursing student, starting ICU and peds rotation this semester? I have always done well on exams, never gotten below an 80, and have done well at prior clinicals but it all feels like chump change compared to this semester. I am two weeks, one clinical experience, and a couple hundred pages in and I just have this overwhelming sense of impending doom! It feels like the scariest thing to make recommendations to doctors about patient care or medications, and I worry about that skill... At what point does a new nurse start to feel good about that particular skill set?