RN residency programs

AnonRNC · Mar 2, 2012

Every facility is different, but my understanding is that a new grad is expected to be able to perform basic tasks safely. Understand and administer medications, perform assessments, calculate I&O, pass a med test, perform basic (CNA) care, know when to ask for help, know what values to report in the morning and which to call for right now. A new grad is not expected to be able to take a full assignment, start every IV, nor get every female cath. You should be able to do IM and SubQ injections.

What do you mean by "all the nursing skills?" Has someone made a list of EVERYTHING a nurse needs to know? :eek: What skills, specifically are you thinking of?

Newnurse83 · Mar 2, 2012

I feel like so not ready whenever I am with my preceptor when she is like so pro at everything!!! Every hospital also uses different software and databases. It will be a huge change because I am only familiar with one particular hospital database. I do feel comfortable doing assessment. I am getting familiar with charting. I just don't want them to think that I am not prepared for the residency program.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2012

Well, there's something you have to consider. Your preceptor has probably been a nurse for a couple of years or longer. Students will not get to do everything. I know where I live, there are like 5-6 RN programs and a LPN program. They fight for clinical spots all the time. So, in turn that means less time on the floors, availability of only certain types of patients, etc. Nursing school tries to get as much clinical experience with skills as possible, but not everything will be done.

My mom is also a nurse and when she went through nursing school decades ago, she said they were one of the only schools and they went everywhere for clinical and they did like 8-12 hr clinicals and in OB, when their patient's water broke, they were notified and had to go to the hospital and take care of them. Now, clinical is maybe 6 hours, only on certain floors, some observation. Oh, and OB clinical is pretty much hit or miss now.

So, in short, don't be so rough on yourself. Just watch what your preceptor does and ask for help and you'll be a pro too. :)

Newnurse83 · Mar 2, 2012

Thank you so much for the great responses!!!! That boosted my confidence. :)

nulife4good · Mar 2, 2012

hi! i have a few questions about the rn residency programs.
in general, how extensively do i get to be trained on skills? are they going to expect me to know all the nursing skills? i feel like preceptorship during the senior year will not cover every single skills i need to know.

well, it really depends on which hospital employs you. i just finished up my rn residency program which ran for 16 weeks and incorporated formal class, lectures and skills labs. we also had a list of core competencies which needed to be completed and signed off by our preceptor(s) during our orientation. it was mainly a review of hard skills that were covered in nursing skill and i spoke up on several occasions if i encountered a skill that i never performed and would learn about it, perform it a few times to my preceptor's satisfaction and eventually get the skill signed off in my competency book.

keep in mind that the technical nursing skills that you will need to know will vary based on which unit you will work on. also, no one expects you to know everything and the staff should anticipate and welcome any questions that you have. you will not be perfect and you will make mistakes, it's part of learning. good luck!

D.R.A. · Mar 2, 2012

No you are not expected to know and be able to perform every skill. You are new. You are learning. Your preceptor does not expect you, or should not expect you, to know everything. There are things that experienced nurses can't do because each floor at a hospital can be so specific that it excludes certain skills most of the time.

Our orientation lasts for 12 weeks, but internship lasts for a full year.

Newnurse83 · Mar 2, 2012

Thank you so much D.R.A. I think I am way too hard on myself. I cannot wait to be a competent nurse. SOOOOO excited!!!!!