Simple things new nurses or experiece nurses are not doing?

Specialties Med-Surg

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SmilesHeal101

116 Posts

Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Oncology.

As a new nurse I know I forget many things, and some things were just not taught to me. Instead of blaming someone....teach them something. Encourage them to think out of the box. Patients can run a fever post-op for many reasons, so please don't shift the blame on someone. Be a mentor and guide new nurses. We get lost easy, because we are so overwhelmed with getting the task or skill done instead of stopping and thinking for a minute. It takes new nurses longer to develop the critical thinking and expertise that experienced nurses have. I ask a lot of questions, and I don't pretend to know. If I don't know, I just don't know. If I have a patient that I don't fully understand the disease process I go home look into the labs and crack open the text book to be better informed. Please don't be one of those nurses that blames and talks about new nurses or experiences nurse behind their backs. It is hurtful and doesn't encourage a good team player atmosphere med-surg floors should have. Help one another, remember in the end we are all in this together and hopefully for the same cause.

orangepink, NP

289 Posts

^ wow! i've been a new grad RN for 4 months now and you just accurately describe my work experience. it is such a relief to know that i am not the only one going through this. i joined the residency program in our hospital and as i listen to other new grads, i feel so alone because it seems like they're doing so well. now, that i think about it ---- i think it's all B.S. most of them are just trying to make themselves appear better. so now, i joined a another mentoring program via the academy of med surg nurses. we'll see how that works out for me.

SmilesHeal101

116 Posts

Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Oncology.

Please let me know how the online mentoring program is. I have been thinking of joining myself.

Kittyfeet

81 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Critical Care.
Our first priority is assessment and meds, and then putting out the fires that arise after that. We're still crawling, we'll get to the walking and running stages faster and with greater confidence (and with tons of appreciation) if you cut us some slack and let us know the things that we can be doing better. And then have patience when you need to remind us 3 or 4 or 5 more times over the next few weeks because our brains are saturated with new information, we've received binders and binders full of orientation information that we have to read and know, on top of studying for and passing the NCLEX and dealing with the chasm that exists between nursing school clinicals vs. actual real live nursing. We'll get there faster if you teach us! I don't know any new nurses who don't want to be doing a better job. Just recognize that it's not possible for us to do it as well as someone with years of experience.

That's exactly how I feel! I want to be one of those awesome nurses that just knows what to do instantly and knows what all to look out for. I learned a lot about disease processes in school, skills, meds, but we only had 1 clinical day a week with 3 patients, and even then we couldn't pull meds ourselves, put in orders, call doctors, etc.. all that stuff I'm learning to do now. They really limited our computer access I was great in clinical, made A's, instructor told me I was very smart and knew what was going on.

Now, I am working med/surg and I have worked a total of 4 shifts, ever. I spent all day yesterday just trying to keep up with the meds that were due and get my documentation in. It literally took me *all* day because all of my patients were on like 25 meds. We just ended up with a complicated group. I kept having to call the pharmacy over and over because there were missing meds and then the family showed up with more home med prescriptions that they forgot to give us and also told me that the patient was no longer on like 3 other meds that they had given us on the original list that already had been signed off on by the doctor and that I already gave.

I'm not confident in my IV skills... I guess maybe I'm just too paranoid, I'm always looking up to make sure I can put something into a line with whatever is running or if something has to be diluted.. and many, many times now I have had meds pop up on the eMar that I've never heard of before and need to look up. I am terrified of making a drug error! On top of that I have no idea how I'm ever going to have time to worry about all the other stuff. And I know the night nurse is probably rolling her eyes right now (well, I guess last night rather) over the things I forgot, simple things like fact that I forgot to put stickers on the IV tubing I changed because I couldn't find them and didn't remember about it until I was driving home. :( I know I learned this stuff in school, but when there are 6 patients and the day is crazy I tend to second guess myself on what I know! I really need to get faster but I don't want to make any mistakes.

I hate laziness and careless mistakes.. every job I've ever had I've been that go-to person that knows everything and teaches everyone how to do stuff. My bosses always asked me to do special projects because they knew it would get done. I hate not being that person anymore! I just want to get on top of this and I really don't want to annoy my co-workers and make them think I'm the stupid new girl. I know I will get the hang of it eventually, but at the moment it really sucks. Honestly though, I would rather annoy people or make a mistake in the computer that can be fixed over something really happening to the patient. I know that *everything* is important in nursing but my #1 thing right now is just safety. I have a strong work ethic and given time I know I will be one of the best nurses out there once I find my running shoes.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
if by "new nurses," everyone means someone a year out of school, then okay, air your gripes. but for those of us who have a whole month on the floor under our belts, we're still trying to remember where the supply closets and kitchens are, and what the different codes are to get into each! we still get lost on our way back from the bathroom! our first priority is assessment and meds, and then putting out the fires that arise after that. we're still crawling, we'll get to the walking and running stages faster and with greater confidence (and with tons of appreciation) if you cut us some slack and let us know the things that we can be doing better. and then have patience when you need to remind us 3 or 4 or 5 more times over the next few weeks because our brains are saturated with new information, we've received binders and binders full of orientation information that we have to read and know, on top of studying for and passing the nclex and dealing with the chasm that exists between nursing school clinicals vs. actual real live nursing. we'll get there faster if you teach us! i don't know any new nurses who don't want to be doing a better job. just recognize that it's not possible for us to do it as well as someone with years of experience.

i understand how new you are, and how much you want to do the best job possible. i understand the crawling, walking and running stages and how much you have to learn. what i don't understand is how someone with less than a year's experience can believe that she already knows it all and has nothing to learn from me. i'd love to teach, but it's impossible to teach a new grad anything when she already thinks she knows it all. unfortunately, i see all too much of this in newbies with 6 months - 3 years of experience!

orangepink, NP

289 Posts

Please let me know how the online mentoring program is. I have been thinking of joining myself.

there's still pairing me up with a mentor.

Schmoo1022

520 Posts

I know this thread is old, but I enjoyed reading it. As, I am reading it, I see a different side. I work Long term care. I am all about the fundementals. Clean sheets, fresh water, fluffed pillows. Yes, I have 30 plus residents,but they for the most part are stable. My concerns are bowels, skin care..ect..

I would love to try MED/SURG, but 5-6 acute patients scare the poop out of me. I can handle emptying the foley bags, but tons of IV meds, Trachs, chest tubes,EKG's ..ect.. I am sure I would forget the basics.

BunnyRN

158 Posts

Specializes in Medical-Surgical-Ortho-Neuro-Agency.
I & O's definitely a pet peave of mine, no hats in the toilets or urinals in sight for the guys.... Dinner trays whisked off and never recorded what people ate and drank.

Stool and urine samples that never get collected, just passed on shift to shift...

Not treating pain adequately also. I hear so often, "they didn't ask for pain meds, so I didn't offer."

What about stool specimen not collected on patients with constant diarrhea? Or, reminding the patient that stool sample is needed, just give them a hat!!!:cool:

Specializes in Oncology/BMT.

I work on a short stay unit. My biggest pet peeve is when a patient comes back from a procedure or surgery 15 minutes before shift change and when I go to chart on the patient there is not one damn thing written. Not only that, no vitals taken or no monitor. Have you heard of neglect? Have you heard of rapid deterioration? Have you heard of lawsuits? I'm not saying write a book or fullfil their every want and need, but at least assess them quickly and get their vitals.

The best though... A new nurse who just took a monitor class went looking for me to tell me my patient's heart rate was in the 20's...

I haven't been a nurse long, but I worked in long-term care for 2 years and on a cardiac unit for 3 years as a patient care tech. I am so used to getting my own vitals, accuchecks, I & O's, etc. And, I am not afraid to put my own patient on the bedpan. I work with a few RN's that will spend 10 minutes tracking down a tech to put a patient on the bedpan or get a blood pressure. Do it yourself!

diane227, LPN, RN

1,941 Posts

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

If you guys are going to start an on line mentoring program I would be happy to help out. We almost have nursing students on our floor and I try to take time out from my charge nurse duties to go over their patients with them and then discuss in detail the illness the patient has and how it is affected by other medical problems that the patient has. If anyone needs help, let me know. Diane

noreenl

325 Posts

Specializes in school RN, CNA Instructor, M/S.

I'm interested in mentoring new nurses as well! Let me know.

elprup, BSN, RN

1,005 Posts

When I locate my new position I will check back and see if anybody is available to mentor. Thank you all for the valuable information. Lots of it went into my notes!

Elp

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