Questions for Nurses with Less than 5 Years of Experience

Do_Good · Apr 19, 2010

Hi! I'm a senior nursing student who will be graduating in May. I just have some questions for any of you "new" nurses out there who feel like sharing some of your experiences with me and any other students who may have the same questions. Thanks for any advice you can give! :)
- How long did it take for "the fear" to wear off?
- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life?
- What was the hardest part about being a new grad?
- Did you feel like you were prepared after school?
- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?
- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?
- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse?

-Most of my fear came from not being supported at my job.

-yes....I did way too much OT b/c I was trying to do all my paperwork correctly.

-Hardest part for me was that I was older and confident. Where I worked....that wasn't appreciated

-Yes...I really felt prepared after school....I went through a difficult program

-The worst mistake I made was thinking that staff would care about what I thought

-That nursing homes are mostly a place where nurses go to retire - not many skills to learn -

-Believe that you did learn and the stuff you learned was good knowledge - Don't let the grade school back biting get to you -

Can you tell I was a new nurse who was eaten? I was ...now new job and much happier

cebuana_nurse · Apr 19, 2010

Hi! I'm a senior nursing student who will be graduating in May. I just have some questions for any of you "new" nurses out there who feel like sharing some of your experiences with me and any other students who may have the same questions. Thanks for any advice you can give! :)
- How long did it take for “the fear” to wear off?
- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life?
- What was the hardest part about being a new grad?
- Did you feel like you were prepared after school?
- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?
- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?
- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse?

-It takes time for the fear to wear off. There's no specific time for it to go away, totally up to you.

-For me, yes. I had been unemployed for a year and just got back in the workforce. I guess I was pretty much used to being in the house than at work. So as much as possible, I try to de-stress and spend time with family and friends on days that I'm off. We work to live not live to work.

-I guess the hardest part of being a new grad is the job hunting. It can be frustrating especially if you had sent tons of applications and you would receive rejection letters saying that they need someone with at least a year of experience. But, never give up. Hard work always pay off.

-You are never gonna be prepared after school. Nursing is a continuing learning experience. You'll be surprised on how less you know when you're at the real world.

-Med errors and little things. I learned to double check everything before giving meds. It may take me a whole 2 1/2 hours to do med pass for 25 residents, but I don't care. As long as I'm safely administering them. Don't get discouraged when you make mistakes, everybody does. Just suck it all up, learn from it and move on.

-I wish I would have been told that LTC is a whole new world. Where old people can be stubborn and get in your nerves. :crying2:

- My advice for you is that, "Never stop learning. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It maybe scary to try new things to expand your horizons, but it can be exhilarating--and that's what life is all about."

Good Luck! =D

franciscangypsy · Apr 19, 2010

- How long did it take for "the fear" to wear off?

The fear of what? Of hurting someone? It hasn't ever completely gone away. When there is a close call that I don't have any experience in or where it might have been my fault, it returns. But the night-to-night-oh-my-gosh-I'm-going-to-kill-someone fear faded for me about 2-3 months after I was off orientation. It might even be closer to 1-2 months.

- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life?

Personal life? What personal life? :lol2: To, be quite frank, it has it's challenges, but probably not much more than a normal job. I'm just a little more sleep deprived than most people, that's all. :clown:

- What was the hardest part about being a new grad?

Realizing that I didn't know crap and that I couldn't be a perfect 2-years-of-experience nurse overnight. Being afraid that my errors could really, really hurt a pt and lose me my license -- all due to this ignorance that my experience had yet to remedy.

- Did you feel like you were prepared after school?

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: Heck no. Find a good mentor. I found several and they have taught me soooo much more than nursing school ever did.

- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?

I misread a Heparin order sheet and started the post heart cath pt on double the amount of Heparin than allowable. My cosigner didn't catch the error and neither did the "smart" pump. The next day, the pt's groin site popped. Thankfully, he ended up being okay and was able to continue on and get his CABG as planned. I learned to read all the fine print on the order sheet and to be ocd about my gtts even when my cosigner isn't.

The horrible things was, a week later, the next time I started Heparin, I did everything right, but the guy was just really sick (he'd gotten 2 units PRBCs the day before and had to be started on Heparin for a PE) and had multiple problems that just hadn't surface. He vomited blood and needed to have his stomach suctioned (400 mL blood pulled off of him). Before I came into work the next night, I was terrified and in tears b/c I thought that it was my fault and I had hurt the pt. My coworkers were amazing (this is a common refrain for me) and made me feel better about it.

- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?

Real life is very different (and far more awesome) than nursing school

And... crap happens. Do everything you can to prevent it, but sometimes there's nothing else you could have done. Take it, learn what to look for, and don't beat yourself up for it.

- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse?

Utilize your coworkers as much as they'll let you. Pick their brains. Ask the "dumb" questions. If you don't know the answer and you're concerned, ask. You'll never know otherwise and you don't want to find out by something bad happening. Check your ego in at the door, it has no place in nursing. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. They rather you ask (or at least the good nurse do) than have you pretend you know it all and have someone getting hurt b/c you were too afraid/proud to ask.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2010

- How long did it take for “the fear” to wear off? A few months...though it still reappears from time to time, as it should.

- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life? Hell no :) I'm not in nursing school anymore so I have my life back. (Actually, I am back in school but as I'm already licensed there's a lot less pressure on me)

- What was the hardest part about being a new grad? Finding a job. Seriously.

- Did you feel like you were prepared after school? Yes...and no. I do have a solid knowledge base from school...but nursing in the real world is nothing like nursing as in the textbook. The real world is far more unpredictable and you don't have half the resources that you'd have in the textbook world.

- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it? Med error. No one died, no one was harmed...but it was a wake-up call not to get lax in the med room.

- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?: Not too much...my mother-in-law is a nurse so she filled me in on the gory details about the real world before I started working :)

- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse? You can learn something from everyone (even if they're not nurses) and everything, you should always be open to feedback both good and bad, you should always ask questions even if you think they're silly, and you should never be afraid to call for help when you need it...especially when you need it--don't try to be "super new grad" and take on too much because you're afraid asking for help will show weakness.

And buy your favorite pen by the case because charting is a whole lot easier when you're using that pen.

kxvc · Apr 25, 2010

- I still have a little anxiety when I have a very critical pt. I never let it get in the way of what I'm doing. Once I hand them off to more experienced nurses in the ICU the anxiety is gone.

- I'm single, I live with my dog, I do online classes (BSN)...there is not much to balance.

- Not knowing how to do something and everyone is busy. I hate to bug, but I never do something I have never done/don't know how to do without instruction.

- School taught me how NOT to kill someone. The rest I'm learning at work.

- Giving protonix instead of pepcid IV and getting all worked up about it. I learned to let it go, and be more careful next time.

- I never imagined the amount of responsibility I would have on my shoulders.

- Enjoy your days off. Don't rush into getting OT for the money. Take time for yourself. Once your more comfortable, then consider going in extra.

yoshiki56 · Apr 25, 2010

- i had 15 days training and 2 weeks to wore off my fears to work on my own.

-yes, i have trouble balancing my work and my personal life. I work too much, late to get out and blamed for being late home for that.

-Hardest part of being new grad. is finding a job, or a decent job.

-yes, i think school prepared me on critical thinking, but not enough of real world experiences.

- Giving wrong medications to the wrong patients.

- nursing isn't a recession proof's job. Nurses can lose their job and get in huge legal trouble anytime anywhere with anyone who wants to put you through such hell. Lose the job, lose the license, no one ever wants to hide you with the bad record. It ony take one persont to life on you.

- Be prepare at least 2-3 months to find a decent job, be open minded when look for a job. Smile and listen carefully when you are training at the job, get to know your staff members you wil need their help in future.

Best luck!

Jules A, MSN · Apr 25, 2010

-How long did it take for "the fear" to wear off?

I was more calm after a couple of months and felt pretty good by the 6 month mark but I continue learning things evey day and hope that is the way it remains.

- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life?

What personal life? I'm sucked into the overtime trap. Plenty of cash though.

- What was the hardest part about being a new grad?

Not having each of the more common medications I give memorized. Once that became second nature it was as if my brain had a huge space for other information and my confidence level rose.

- Did you feel like you were prepared after school?

Yes as much as one can be for a job they have never done. My program was pretty good.

- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?

Med error. It happens and the good news is that the pt. wasn't harmed and my boss was very supportive. Check, check, check and if something seems a little off ask for another set of eyes on the order.

- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?

If they think you are fairly sharp forget a decent orientation also it seems like short staffed and nursing go hand in hand, get used to it.

- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse?

Look for a job BEFORE your last semester! Like others said be friendly, humble and open to learning from all your coworkers. Not everyone will be super warm at first but give it time, once they realize that you are competent and hardworking things will fall into place. Congratulations on your new career!! :up:

atrice, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2010

- How long did it take for “the fear” to wear off?

It took a couple of months.

- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life?

No. When I have a bad shift I try and leave it at work and not bring it

home.

-What was the hardest part about being a new grad?

The unknown. Not knowing what kind of patient's or issue's would occur

during a shift.

- Did you feel like you were prepared after school?

No. Nursing school is just a foundation that is built upon after graduating.

- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?

I did not put a bed alarm on a patient. He had gotten up to use the

bathroom without my knowledge. I work on a tele floor and I heard the

tele monitor go off. It read asystole and at the same time I heard what

sounded like a bowling ball hitting the floor. Found patient on floor and

called code and began compressions. Long story short patient was in for

new onset of a-fib and we were just waiting to get his INR therapeutic and

he would be going home. Unfortunatly he ended up in ICU with a subdural

hematoma and because of the extended pause he got a pacer placed the

next morning. The mistake I made was not having the bed alarm on or

being in the room to assist him to the bathroom (I could of assessed him

before he got up).

- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?

The truth about what nurses truly do....I was a tech for 8 months before

becoming a nurse, but as a tech you can always "pass the buck" and

say, "I will get the nurse". As the nurse everything falls on your head.

- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse?

Just breathe and you will do just fine. The initial impact of this new role

as "the nurse" will only last a short time and then you will start to feel

more comfortable in your role.

SillyInScrubs · Apr 29, 2010

Thank you everyone for your responses! My biggest issue right now is getting a job. Then I'll start panicking. But for now... just the job would be fine. :)

november17, ASN, RN · May 8, 2010

Hi! I'm a senior nursing student who will be graduating in May. I just have some questions for any of you "new" nurses out there who feel like sharing some of your experiences with me and any other students who may have the same questions. Thanks for any advice you can give! :)

- How long did it take for "the fear" to wear off?

About 3 months.

- Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life?

No not really.

- What was the hardest part about being a new grad?

Not knowing which dang doctor to call when stuff started going wrong.

- Did you feel like you were prepared after school?

I personally did, but I went to a very intensive school.

- What is the worst mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?

I dumped out an entire bag of TPN along with the lipids when the 12 hour hangtime for the lipids was up. Boy did I ever feel like a dummy.

- What do you wish you had been told before you started working?

"eat your vegetables, drink more water, and get a lot of sleep before you go to work."

- What would be the most practical piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a nurse?

Get some good time management skills. Use a worksheet, whatever you need to do. Don't always trust older more experienced nurses either. Go with your instincts.