Some good, some bad....

[carbaminohemoglobin]

So, I recently started my first nursing job at a local nursing home. I am a Charge Nurse in training... Today was supposed to be my 3rd day of orientation, except.. my "orienter" (the nurse I was to shadow) called in and I was completely alone!

Good:

I freaked out at first, but all-in-all I did pretty well! All meds were passed, all treatments done, nobody died, etc... A few situations arose (a new admission, a broken bubbler, a poop issue, an insanely clogged PEG tube, an aide called in sick, and a few other issues..) but I handled them with ease (yes!). This experience really boosted my confidence and I loved it!

Bad:

I felt some animosity from the aides. It was pretty obvious that they had some sort of problem with me being their boss. They weren't over-the-top disrespectful, but it still irked me. They were making a HUGE deal out of me being the "authority figure." One of them called me "Miss My-Last-Name" in a strange tone. When I walked around the corner, that same aide was at the nurse's station taking a personal call and yelled out "Please don't write me up!" and laughed. And they were trying to pawn off 5 sets of Vital Signs, saying that they'd be too busy since the 3rd aide called in and the other nurses let them do that yet they sat around.. I split the VS up between the 3 of us and 1 VS still didn't get done.. I don't know what the deal is with them.. I had worked with them both days of orientation and they didn't act like that with me or the nurse I was shadowing.. It may just be because I'm young and a new nurse.. I don't know. I was uber nice to them, didn't BARK orders or anything.. I just expect them to do their jobs and everything would be cool.

[~'JesusRocks'~]

Just some advise because I've been there too. I think they are playing you a bit, like testing the waters with you. If they are giving you their work and then sitting on their butts, they are trying to see what they can get away with. Don't be so nice, you ARE the authority figure when you are charge. Don't cut yourself short because you are young or new-you got the position so take it serious. Don't let them play you, tell them firmly what they are to do, if they don't do it at first-remind them. Remind them again if needed, if they still insist on not doing their job you know what to do. Don't try and win them by being "nice", it won't work-just be firm and give the appearance of being confident. I trust that you will get it.