I have 6 months home health experience and was recently hired to work at a very reputable Level 1 trauma hospital's Med/Surg unit (the only one in this region). My hospital is a Magnet hospital and has an overall wonderful training program and i have been trying to get in the door since i was still in school. I am so happy that i am finally employed by this network.
this is my sixth and final week of orientation. i feel like i am doing a horrible job. i thought i was progressing at first but this weekend, i worked Fri - Sun and i just got to my 6 patient load on Friday. On Saturday i had 2 PCA pumps, 1 Heparin drip and 3 discharges that occured simitaniously. 3 of my patients were also on tele and two had to go for 2 seperate procedures. On Sunday I had 2 PCA pumps, 1 Heparin drip, a Facial fracture who was a new admit by night shift but i had to do the admission because they came 30 mins prior to shift change. I had never used a PCA pump until Saturday when i got my two pateints and had never hada heparin drip. There were 3 stat labs due at the beginning of my shift and my patient with the PICC line had an occlusion so i had to order activase and could not get her stat labs done. I needed so much help from my preceptor those two days. She seems to get so frustrated with my dependence. I really wonder if I am cut out for this. I LOVE being a nurse and i love caring for my patients. Most of my patients are so understanding of my mishaps because they say that i am very pleasant and i am always honest and let them know that i am a new nurse who is still on orientation.
I have been told that I am too slow and I am so nervous. I spoke to my manager on Sunday and she told me that they expect me to sink a little at first for my first month or two that i am off orientation until i get a routine together, but that still didnt make me feel better. Most of the time i really think that my preceptor thinks i am incompetent to do this by myself. In all fairness, i dont know what i would have done this weekend if she hadnt been right there the whole time doing stuff. She did all of my charting, started all of my IV's, did 3 of my head to toe assessments. I am so frustrated. i should not have needed so much help!!! I have not handled all patients by myself yet and i only have two days left of orientation!!! When asked by one of the clin II's if i still felt ready to be off this week, about two weeks ago when i was at 3 patients, i said yes. I feel stuck and like i am going to fail. Any advice?
