Started new job...help!!

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 18, 2005

help!! i just started a new job after eight years of being away from nursing. iwhile i know i'll be a good nurse, i'm nervous about being away for so long and getting back into it. i need a great teacher. this was too discouraging. any ideas to get through this? i certainly don't want to "trash" this nurse mgr, but want the supervisor to know i didn't get much out of the day. if i keep my mouth shut, she'll wonder why i'm not coming along. the thing is i will be working another shift and possibly on another floor too. is this common for new hirees to experience?

after being away from nursing for so long, you need a job that offers a really good orientation. perhaps this isn't the job for you! give it a week to make sure, but allow for the possibility that it isn't you, it's them! then get thee to a hospital. the pay may not be as good, but with a higher staffing ratio, there will be more rns there to learn from, and that increases the odds that you'll find a really good preceptor. in your interview, stress that you're looking for a really good orientation, and a mentor that loves to teach. you may have to interview in a few places before you find the right fit, but you will!

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[color=#4b0082]after a year or so of hospital nursing, you should be ready to move to the nursing home, if that's what you really want, and make the most of it.

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[color=#4b0082]good luck,

[color=#4b0082]ruby

HONEYBEAR · May 19, 2005

Why were you placed with a nursing manager, and not with a regular floor nurse.....that could not have disappeared?

closatssl1 · May 19, 2005

Help!! I just started a new job after eight years of being away from nursing. I went to a nursing home where the pay is better than hospitals in the area. I worked with a nursing mgr today and it was awful!! I was suppose to shadow her and she made herself disappear all day. I didn't think I'd make it the whole day without going crazy. Also, I wasn't impressed at the care given to the patients. That really concerns me. I felt like a fool as no one gave me info on any patients, yet I'd answer a call and even the patients, mainly one, made me feel foolish because I didn't know everything to help them. Many patients were bedridden, others were not, but nearly all of them were trying to get out of bed whether they were supposed to or not. It was crazy!! Although this is common in nursing homes. While I know I'll be a good nurse, I'm nervous about being away for so long and getting back into it. I need a great teacher. This was too discouraging. Any ideas to get through this? I certainly don't want to "trash" this nurse mgr, but want the supervisor to know I didn't get much out of the day. If I keep my mouth shut, she'll wonder why I'm not coming along. The thing is I will be working another shift and possibly on another floor too. Is this common for new hirees to experience?

Lisa41Rn, you gave excellent advice. I really felt I had to commend you on that, could not put it better myself.

lisa41rn · May 19, 2005

Ruby (and everyone):

Thanks for your advice!! I appreciate it. Today was better. I made sure I wasn't with the head nurse who could run away! I did more than yesterday, but being in a nursing home concerns me. I don't see hardly any skills being used. My thought is to work until after the holidays, I'll have about eight months nursing home experience and then try to get into a hospital. I know I'm going to hate the third shift, but am willing to do whatever it takes to get some experience. I just don't want to take too long to make a switch. Thanks again for your thoughts.