The Proper Manner

[brown eyed girl]

Okay, so I've finished my noon med pass (thank heavens!) now what in the world do I do if I have charts w/new orders or if I have lab results that have come back? I have only worked one shift, a 7-3 and when I had this issue come up not to mention the 2 discharges, the unit manager took care of all of it for me since I got called in late and didnt arrive until 20 til 9! YIKES! It was my first day, I was already behind of course, and I found out later that, that particular hall is an extremely busy hall with the med pass being easily 3 hours long. Needless to say I was overwhelmed b/c Im new but not new to nursing; I have been an aide for 7 years in ltc. I have been having serious anxiety about this part of my job b/c in my mind, I need to be proficient. Yes I know I need to ask questions about certain things if Im unsure about something, and I would for their safety BUT, this is something that I feel that I shouldn't have questions about seeing that these are routine job functions of a nurse in ltc. Do you understand what Im saying? I have talked to my former classmate who knows me very well and she said that she thinks that Im probably just "over-thinking" the situation as I have a tendency to do and I have to reluctantly say that she is right. I just want to do an EXCELLENT JOB. I am not a "know it all" nor do I want to be. I just want to be competent to my fellow nurses b/c I am a stickler about not having someone do my job or anything for me and I want to be confident within myself. Im not worried about my speed regarding the med pass b/c I know that evethough I was slow as molasses, my speed will pick up with time and Im okay with that.

Oh just one more thing! How in the H*** do any of you nurses that work 8 hours get anything done???? Oh my goodness, after I finished my noon med pass it was almost 3! After I did some last minute things, I gave report and counted and I still had to chart! Things were so crazy that day and I found out that it wasn't just me (so that was good) but I didn't get out of there until 5! What can I do differently next time regardless of what 8 hour shift I work and how do you manage if your working 12 hours?

Sorry this was so long, Im just trying my d***est to build my confidence.

[suebird3]

First off, take a deeeep breath.....then let it out. I have worked in the same facility for nearly 7 years on 3-11, and yes it CAN and DOES get crazy. To be honest, if the wing you work is that busy and you need help, ask; I have done that several times.....

As for the labs and orders dilemma? I would do the orders first. My rationale is if an order needs clarification, I need to call the MD about that, and also mention the labs. Cuts down on multiple calls to the same MD.

Suebird

[anniev]

you will get more organized but some days are worse then others and every day is different .Its a different world on this side of the desk, I really love it when STNA becomes a nurse I here oh wow I never realized how hard it was gonna be you all made it look so easy!!! ( believe me we don't feel we make it look easy!) Good luck you'll get great at it!!!