Task orented vs. the big picture?

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Hello all,

I am a new nurse and have been on my first job about 4 1/2 months. I work nights on a M/S telemetry unit. I do enjoy taking care of my patients, I like working nights, and I enjoy my coworkers. It's just that I don't feel like I'm being a "real" nurse.

I feel like I'm so focused on getting all my "tasks" done in my 12 hours, rather than looking at the big picture and performing interventions to help my patients heal. Is all the care planning we did in school just a load of crap?

We are constantly harped on about completing our admission databases, DVT screening, advance directive forms, bed alarms on, skin assessments completed, charts complete, reading our strips, filling out the census, checking our new MARS, completing the next day's flowsheets, preparing paperwork for next day's procedures, reading our weekly communication memo, filling our surveys, etc. :banghead:

I just feel like I try to get my patients to sleep so that I can do all my other work. Am I missing out on "real" patient care since I'm on nights. If I worked days, would that make me more of a "real" nurse?

I think redefinition is ABSOLUTELY right. You are not going to be "super-nurse" overnight. You should read benner's "novice to expert." It really puts things into perspective. You are doing a GREAT job because you are learning how to complete the tasks. Just hang in there, it does get better. I have been working as a nurse for 6 months and I have improved week after week. You learn to pick up on things quickly. Just take each day one at a time and set little goals for yourself. For instance, maybe one night you could make it a point to look through your patient's H&P one night. Also, nursing is a 24 hour job. If you don't get a task done, you should be able to pass it on to the next nurse. We are all human and can't finish EVERY single thing. Hope this helps and keep up the good work!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Medicine, Outpatient Pediatrics, IBCLC.

You hit the nail right on the head!!!!! That is exactly how I feel. I work on a neuromed floor that has tele as well. I feel more like a task manager (call so and so, get this pump, transport this pt, etc) than a nurse sometimes!!! I really WANT to know the big picture, and I don't feel like I can be a good nurse without understanding my pt. I think that's part of how bad pt outcomes occur.

I feel this is especially true at the big teaching hospitals, because a pt may have a brand new doc everyday, who sometimes don't seem to know the big picture themselves!!! For example: I took care of someone who had blood thinners ordered who had recent hx of a hem. stroke!! Luckily, she hinted at that and I held em, but come on!!!! She also had a pacer and they had ordered an MRI!

And on med/surg floors, there's usually a higher ratio AND a more diverse group of pts. I've had maybe 1 or 2 days so far where I've actually felt like a good nurse. All the other days, I'm too rushed to get to know the pt and/or help them get better!

nursealanarae: I keep being told that "nursing is a 24 hr job" but then I'm made to feel guilty when I pass something off the next shift! I feel like I just can't win:(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Give it time and you will stop being so task driven. Have you ever read Benners stages of Clinical competence? It really is a realistic look at generally the way you progress from Novice to Expert. It was shoved down my throat my senior year and now that I am out I understand why.

Oops, didn't see the above posters. Sorry to repeat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment