were you scared/nervous on your first day of work as LVN

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Hi everyone!

can you share your first day of working as LVN without any experience... just curious... haha!

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Heck yeah, I was nervous. It wasn't that long ago that I got my first job. That was back in September when I did flu shot immunizations at retail and corporate sites. I had done 10 IDs, 20 SQs, and 15 IMs in school - and NONE OF THOSE WERE ON KIDS!

That job lasted till December. It was at that time when I got my second job working in an urgent care clinic. Was I nervous then? Heck yeah!

I had very little experience:

- administering narcotic injections (maybe 1 or 2 in all of NS);

- being exposed to the myriad types of vial contraptions that all sorts of medications come in (like carpujets, or the two tiered vial that Solumedrol comes in with active in the bottom and diluent on top, the iSecure syringe, and even yesterday, a new single dose vial for hydromorphone that has a 3-step opening process...When the other nurse and I unpacked it, we both looked at each other and laughed - "holy cow! what are we supposed to do with this?");

- working with drs and assisting in sterile procedures, setting up trays, anticipating and making sure that the stuff they might need is out, close at hand, or on the tray;

- knowing instruments by name - still learning those;

- and on, and on...

I take advantage of the resources available to me. I've watched several of the online training videos that the corporation I work for has. Even youtube has been helpful. A couple of weeks ago I had to administer a TB test. Yikes! I hadn't done an ID in well over a year, and certainly never had done a real TB test.

Oh no, what to do? How do I hold the needle, how much solution, the needles/syringes available were not the same ones from school! I looked at how to administer TB test and got the best hints from the CDC viseo. (

)

But now, I'm confident when a pt comes in C/O SOB, chest pains, has had a stroke, or has taken a fall and suffered a concussion or a broken bone. I love working with knowledgeable nurses and others (MAs, other LPNs, RNs, NPs, MDs), who are generally more than willing to explain and demonstrate. I am a visual learner and do best when I can observe and then perform.

I can actually answer pt's questions, feel better about speaking w/drs, know more-or-less what to do in a procedure.

So, am I still nervous? There are still times when I feel clueless - but this is all part of the learning curve. For me, becoming a good nurse has been 20% school and 80% on-the-job. I learn daily, I'm getting better and better every month.

Hope that helps! :nurse:

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Had my first day today april 2 2012. I worked as a CNA in the facility and on that floor. Lots went on renewals, missing med, DC'ed meds I only did about half the med pass my preceptor did the rest. Tomorrow I will do the intire pass 19 pt.s myself, hopefully. On Wednesday different shift different floor. On Thursday Im on my own! Pray for me!

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Specializes in Dementia / Hospice.

Nope not at all.

:jester:KIDDING

i was terrified. all knowledge of anything i learned was erased. lol but it got a lot better and within 3 months i felt better

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Heck yeah, I was nervous. It wasn't that long ago that I got my first job. That was back in September when I did flu shot immunizations at retail and corporate sites. I had done 10 IDs, 20 SQs, and 15 IMs in school - and NONE OF THOSE WERE ON KIDS!

That job lasted till December. It was at that time when I got my second job working in an urgent care clinic. Was I nervous then? Heck yeah!

I had very little experience:

- administering narcotic injections (maybe 1 or 2 in all of NS);

- being exposed to the myriad types of vial contraptions that all sorts of medications come in (like carpujets, or the two tiered vial that Solumedrol comes in with active in the bottom and diluent on top, the iSecure syringe, and even yesterday, a new single dose vial for hydromorphone that has a 3-step opening process...When the other nurse and I unpacked it, we both looked at each other and laughed - "holy cow! what are we supposed to do with this?");

- working with drs and assisting in sterile procedures, setting up trays, anticipating and making sure that the stuff they might need is out, close at hand, or on the tray;

- knowing instruments by name - still learning those;

- and on, and on...

I take advantage of the resources available to me. I've watched several of the online training videos that the corporation I work for has. Even youtube has been helpful. A couple of weeks ago I had to administer a TB test. Yikes! I hadn't done an ID in well over a year, and certainly never had done a real TB test.

Oh no, what to do? How do I hold the needle, how much solution, the needles/syringes available were not the same ones from school! I looked at how to administer TB test and got the best hints from the CDC viseo. (

)

But now, I'm confident when a pt comes in C/O SOB, chest pains, has had a stroke, or has taken a fall and suffered a concussion or a broken bone. I love working with knowledgeable nurses and others (MAs, other LPNs, RNs, NPs, MDs), who are generally more than willing to explain and demonstrate. I am a visual learner and do best when I can observe and then perform.

I can actually answer pt's questions, feel better about speaking w/drs, know more-or-less what to do in a procedure.

So, am I still nervous? There are still times when I feel clueless - but this is all part of the learning curve. For me, becoming a good nurse has been 20% school and 80% on-the-job. I learn daily, I'm getting better and better every month.

Hope that helps! :nurse:

WOW! seems fun... i would love to do the same job in the future hope i can find a job sooner. thank you! the youtube video really helps. :)

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Had my first day today april 2 2012. I worked as a CNA in the facility and on that floor. Lots went on renewals, missing med, DC'ed meds I only did about half the med pass my preceptor did the rest. Tomorrow I will do the intire pass 19 pt.s myself, hopefully. On Wednesday different shift different floor. On Thursday Im on my own! Pray for me!

Good job! sure will pray for you. :)

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Nope not at all.

:jester:KIDDING

i was terrified. all knowledge of anything i learned was erased. lol but it got a lot better and within 3 months i felt better

i hope i will do the same... thank you!

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

- being exposed to the myriad types of vial contraptions that all sorts of medications come in (like the iSecure syringe) [paraphrased]

Grrr isecure syringes. I have a couple of years experience behind but being in the home setting with an terminally agitated patient swinging punches and your grabbing for the prefilled valium and you have to quickly figure this one out and the plunger keeps falling out and your trying to hold it there and hold your patient. Disaster. Well at least I had needles the previous shift there was none because the nurse dropping the meds off insisted the needles were included and even insinuated that my coworker with 20+ years of experience didn't know how to give an IM ( yeah it takes a needle )

Anyways for future reference

Hospira - iSecure™ Syringes

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Specializes in 3 years MS/Tele, 10 years total ICU, 5 travel.

lol - I was nervous my first MONTH as an RN. And that was after almost 2 years of nurse aid experience! (sorry, not an LVN, but I saw this on the sidebar and HAD to respond!)

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lol - I was nervous my first MONTH as an RN. And that was after almost 2 years of nurse aid experience! (sorry, not an LVN, but I saw this on the sidebar and HAD to respond!)

thanks for responding... i wanna pursue RN but i gonna think it a million times because i was having hard time during LVN. :)

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OMG! I can't believe this happened to you too!!!

We were in this room where this guy had a severe decube!!!! It was ruffffff!

My stomach was tore up from the floor up, but my preceptor never knew it because you couldn't smell my gas over that awful decube! I made it to the toilet the first time, and I dug in my purse and found my correctal-u guessed it, I got it confused with Immodium. BAD MISTAKE!!!

I was helphing lift a 300 lb guy from the BSC to the Bed, and midway through, I had to drop drawers and use the bedside commode. I was so embarrased, they rolled him out of the room on his bed, and I was just stuck there ripping and roaring. The RN/Charge Nurse wouldn't even get me any toilet paper! I had to use my panties!!!!

One, You are not alone Honeypot!!!! Nursing Moved Me Too!!!

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

My first day as LPN was fine. I was confident and prepared. I find myself with more anxiety the more years I get. Its' crazy but true.

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