Thick skin missing

[hurleygirli1]

Hey all....

Note: this is LONG, but please read and help me....need to pour my heart out and get some encouragement...

I am a student nurse who is about to start my 2nd semester of nursing school. I got almost all A's first semester and was voted class president and was feeling pretty confident about everything until....

I got a job as a nursing student PCT in the float pool at a hospital that I hope to get a nurse residency at after I graduate. I really want to work at this hospital, but they will not hire anyone with less than a year of experience unless you are in the residency program. I have heard that working as a student PCT will help you get to know people at the hospital and increase your chances of getting a job when you graduate. This is my first foray into patient care as we got very little in our first semester. I just finished orientation and am terrified to work on my own. Here's why...

First day of orientation included shadowing an RN for 8 hours on a med-surg floor, which honestly was useless to me for orientation to PCT and the 2 nurses I shadowed seemed to consider ME useless because honestly for my first day, I really don't know a damn thing! I didn't get any PCT training, just felt like I got in the way.

Second and third days were great...I worked side by side with 2 PCT's on different units who were very helpful and encouraging. One day was on Trauma ICU and the next was Neurovascular Intermediate. I was starting to feel like I would be just fine....and those girls had said just as much.

Fourth day....last day of orientation. I was put on another med-surg floor where EVERYTHING is done differently. Apparently the "floor" is much different than the "unit." The PCT's I worked with were very critical of everything I did, even if they didn't do those things themselves (i.e. "you MUST positively ID EACH patient EACH time"....which they did not do, but chastized me if they didn't hear me do it). I also got chewed out for asking the patient if they were in any pain...which I told was outside of my scope of practice. I just thought that if they said they were in pain, I could tell the nurse, that's all. I was also told that I was too slow with taking vitals, etc, etc. I did make a couple mistakes, but only because being watched like a hawk makes me extremely nervous and I am more prone to make mistakes (nothing life-threatening, I assure you). I am learning and am slow because things don't come to me in the blink of an eye like it comes to them, having done this a while. I might need an extra few seconds to think before they pounce on me....I'm sure this wasn't second nature to them when they first started.

I was also told by another PCT nursing student that has worked there for 2 years and is a semester ahead of me that I will fail Adult I if I can't do patient care. I can do it, but each floor is different and I am trying to learn all the different routines in 3 actual shifts with another PCT orienting me. The nursing student float pool manager encouraged us to take as many extra days of orientation as we need, which I would love to do, but don't want to take too much advantage of that or overstep the bounds, if you know what I mean.

All this new job stress plus beginning next semester next month makes me an absolute basketcase...and I hear from some new RN's that it is the same situation when you graduate. I am a sensitive person who can get intimidated a bit. Do I need a thicker skin? Am I doing something wrong? Is this common? What should I do?

Thanks all! I would really appreciate your feedback as I came home crying tonight...at least they didn't see me.

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

Any float pool position, nursing or pct, is harder to catch on to because you are new to the job and, as you have learned, different units do things differently. Do you think these same techs who were so discouraging to you knew how to do their jobs perfectly after four days? I doubt it.

Try not to let their negative attitudes get to you. Don't be too hard on yourself. You will catch on and become much more comfortable with the job. You will find, as a float, there are some great units and then there are some units that you will find yourself counting the minutes until the end of your shift. It sounds like you are already seeing some of that. By the time you graduate you should have a feel for which units you believe that as an RN you will be best suited to.

[eagle78]

I say better safe than sorry. If they complain when you are slow just ask them how they will feel if you **** up?

Take your time, do NOT let anyone dictate to you when you should be in your comfort zone because only you can know that. Your caution to me is a good indicator of how successful you will be as a nurse. That is, however, coming from another student...

Again, take your time and good luck to you...

[lrobinson5]

I think you've been given an awesome opportunity to learn, don't let those people get to you! I know it is tough, but think of the positive experience you got from the first PCT's. Don't let the nasty ones command your attention!

I find it hard to believe you can't ask them if they are in pain. You weren't asking them on a pain scale, you just asked a yes or no question. I would verify with a manager as to what you are allowed to do.

[SaraStrong]

All I have to say to this is that many people are a- holes. Don't fall for it and stand up for yourself. I know it's hard. After a good try, if nothing changes with the people you work with or within your own head - find a new position.

[rn/writer, RN]

It's really important that you learn to separate your job situation from your self-worth as a person and your opinion of yourself as a student. So a couple of people are trying to diminish you and drag you down on the job. That says more about them than it does about you. Let it roll off your back and move on.

You are wise to work as a PCT now. You'll learn a lot about time management and organization, not to mention the hands-on part of patient care. The pressure you're feeling now will substantially reduce your new nurse jitters later. And you will have a real appreciation and understanding of the role of the PCT when you are the one delegating.

You were right to be interested in the patient's pain level. I do see the wisdom of checking the patient's ID enough that you are certain who you are talking to the nurse about.

You're going to catch on to all this before you know it. Worry less about niggling peers and more about learning the job. If different people tell you different things, go to your trainer for clarification. Maybe mention such conflicts/confusion when asking for another day of orientation.

Meanwhile, keep your eyes on the prize--that residency down the road. Be gracious to everyone. Use humor when you can. Laugh at yourself if it seems appropriate. Thank people, even for unwelcome advice--that really throws the ones who are trying to give you a hard time.

You're going to be and do just fine.

[hurleygirli1]

Hey all....

Thanks so much for the resounding support. I really appreciate it!:redpinkhe

So just to let you know what's happened since then....

I scheduled another orientation day and worked on a neurovascular floor with a wonderful preceptor. She was very patient and non-critical. She was more of a "Here's a better way to do that" person rather than "You are doing this wrong. This is how I do it and that's how you must always do it" kind of person. She watched me work from a little distance instead of hovering over me and by the middle of the shift let me work on my own. She really helped me get my confidence back! I think that although this experience made me upset, I probably needed to go through it so that if I am ever asked to precept someone, I can use this experience to know what to do and what not to do.

Soooo....I work tomorrow night by myself....I think I'll be ok and will ask questions if I'm not.

Oh...btw...I asked my clinical nurse manager about asking about pain and she replied: "Of course you can ask about pain. It is EVERYONE's job to make sure the patients are comfortable. Just make sure you definitely relay the message." She had also mentioned that it was the 6th vital sign and part of my job is to check vitals. So she took my preceptor's name and said she will educate her and even apologized (!!) for the situation. Crazy.

So I'm feeling better thanks again!