Should I be concerned my manager is giving me light assignments?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Transitioning from the Direct Observation Unit (DOU) to the Medical/Surgical (Med/Surg) department can be a significant change. It's important to know you are adapting to your new role effectively. Your manager should definitely be giving you feedback so you don't have to wonder if you're meeting expectations.

Med-Surg and DOU have different workflows. While DOU is higher acuity, Med-Surg requires skill sets that DOU nurses don't necessarily have, such as juggling up to six patients.

Here are some steps you can consider:

• Self-assessment. How do you feel? Reflect on your current workload and responsibilities. Are they too easy for you, and do you feel underutilized? Or do you feel challenged enough and still in a learning phase?
• Learning and Adaptation: Remember that transitioning to a new department often comes with a learning curve. It's normal for assignments to start less complicated as you acclimate to the new environment.

Talk to your manager. If you feel your assignments are consistently less heavy and less complicated than your coworkers, it might be worth discussing this with your night shift manager. Here are some tips on how to approach this conversation:

• Express willingness to learn. Frame your conversation around your desire to learn and grow in your new role. You could say something like, "I appreciate the time to adjust to the new department, and I feel ready to take on more complex assignments to enhance my skills."
• Ask for feedback. Seek feedback on your performance and ask for specific areas where you can improve or take on more responsibility.
• Show initiative. When appropriate, highlight your willingness to take on more challenging tasks or to help with more complex cases.

 Ensure you complete your current patient care assignments to the best of your ability. Demonstrating competence and reliability in your current tasks is crucial before seeking additional responsibilities.

Use this time to observe how your coworkers handle their assignments and learn from their experiences. This can help you prepare for more complex cases in the future.

In summary, seeking feedback and expressing your willingness to take on more challenging assignments is a good idea. This proactive approach can demonstrate your commitment to professional growth and help you integrate more effectively into the Med/Surg department.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[Annon16453799]

Nurse Beth said:

Just switch from dou to med/surg department. My assignment are less heavy and complicated than my coworkers in m/s. Do I need to talk to my night shift manager for feedback? Or just worry free and complete my jobs ?

I appreciated reading this short article as a new nurse with 9 months of Med-Surg experience. The organization has done a phenomenal job transitioning me through assignments-- number of patients and patient needs. This last week was so tough, with a handful of total care patients. All shift there was a cloud in my thinking because I was mostly thinking about who needed to be turned and repositioned. Unfortunately, one of  the patients was stoic about pain and I ended up offering a PRN four hours later than I should have. I have been in tears, and trying not to lash out at home. I know I am growing stronger but my weak moments are reaching new lows. I am looking forward to the next shift that I can be proud of my work. I am still owning up to my mistakes, but some are brushed under the table. I feel embarrassed looking back on how confident I have been. So proud of myself for taking time to do assessments education and charting.