I was just wondering, since I hope to be starting a new grad program in the very near future.....
What are the things that new grads do that really get under your skin?? Have there ever been times that a new grads judgement/critical thinking skills (or lack there of) have scared the pants off of you??
Just wondering...... :)
Just thought someone may want to vent on this one, I would love to hear it, since I want to avoid being one of those nurses like the plague
New grad had a patient that was VERY anxious and upset. She looked at the MAR, no ativan, xanax etc.... There was an order for versed, which had not been omitted by pharmacy when pt was moved out of ICU. Thankfully she was thinking out loud, and an "old" nurse heard her. Disaster averted.
I'll tell a story on myself as a new grad. I was doing an assessment on one of my pts. He was sitting up in a chair, and I was bent over palpating pedal pulses. A nurse in the hall saw me and started to laugh. The pt was an AKA and had a prosthetic limb. I'm not sure that info was passed on in report, but you'd think I could tell a fake foot from a real foot.
"Of course ASN and BSN nurses all start out as new grads, but the difference in education in relation to errors made is not the point of this thread. I know you didn't intend to but it's bound to ruffle some feathers."
Whatever. I would hope that all of us (ASN's and BSN's alike) could rise above the eternal debate to get the humor of this post (as I saw it).
I also hope you're wrong in your prediction.
I guess I failed to see how pointing out the other new grad's degree made the incident humorous. Maybe I'm just tired. Sorry.
It's nice to know that everyone starts out not knowing a whole lot! :)
Everyone knows that new grads know just the bare minimum when they are starting out. You are certainly not expected to know everything! That comes with experience. :)
That said, we did have a new grad who just didn't seem to get how to prioritize. There were multiple times where she passed off a patient to me at change of shift and said sorry, but she just didn't get to giving that insulin, unit of blood, amio load, etc, because she was too busy documenting or discharging. She didn't seem to get why this was not OK. If you didn't get to giving the evening Lipitor, fine. But hours late on insulin? Management did work with her on the issue, providing her with extra guidance, and she did end up getting the hang of it though. She's a great nurse now.
I have been fortunate to work with some excellent new grads, unfortunately we have one now that has been a nightmare and it throws off the entire team. I'm never bothered by questions so ask away! What I am bothered by are new grads that think they know the right way to do things based on what they learned in school. I'm not knocking new knowledge but imo most of what we do is because it works so please keep an open mind and use the experienced nurses as a resource.
Unfortunetely many new grads do things the right way like they dont take shortcuts,look up their meds and check the ID bands,adhere to standard precaution,while a LOT of seasoned nurses obviously forget about that.Why are you so disturbed by the idea of new grads performing according to nursing school standards,more like you should be applaud new grads for trying to practice safely.
Don't focus so much on charting, to-do list that you're not forgetting to see the patient and take care of them first. Dressing and tubing changes, charting, etc can WAIT! Teach yourself how to prioritize. I know new nurses don't want to feel behind so they are "doing" things that eventually need to be done... just not in the right order!
Havent you been a new grad once who focused on the tasks instead of the whole picture..did you know how to chart right away,read and transcribe doc orders,knew all your meds?just remeber we dont have your experience,every little thing scare us and matter to us..,,how can we concentrate on a bigger picture if we dont have our details together yet? Seriously this is hillarious!
They will judge our patients and their families and choices the moms have made. I'm a NICU nurse. No matter where you work or what 'flavor' nurse you become, remember this...you become who you are by your experiences, you get to where you are by choices you make, by the paths that present themselves in the road of your life. Unless you have walked with a person through their life, you have no idea of what they have been through, what they have seen, or why they act the way they do. Even all of us on here haven't had perfect lives, I'm very thankful that I am where I am, because I could have easily taken another path. Please don't judge your patients, you have no idea of why they are the who they are. They might be a big PITA to you, but they are going through one of the most stressful times in their life and they need a little control.
With this one I agree but unfortunetely on my unit the seasoned nurses are the ones who tend to speak bad about patients.
Havent you been a new grad once who focused on the tasks instead of the whole picture..did you know how to chart right away,read and transcribe doc orders,knew all your meds?just remeber we dont have your experience,every little thing scare us and matter to us..,,how can we concentrate on a bigger picture if we dont have our details together yet? Seriously this is hillarious!
no need to get upset
yes, I'm sure she was a new grad once & has now learned better
Havent you been a new grad once who focused on the tasks instead of the whole picture..did you know how to chart right away,read and transcribe doc orders,knew all your meds?just remeber we dont have your experience,every little thing scare us and matter to us..,,how can we concentrate on a bigger picture if we dont have our details together yet? Seriously this is hillarious!
I think she is saying that while you are learning to chart, transcribe orders, and give meds, don't forget the most important piece: the patient! Yes, doing that dressing change is important, but it's not as important as your other patient who just went into rapid AFib and needs to be assessed. It's all a learning process and shannon88 is sharing her advice to new grads. That's all.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
new grad had a patient that was very anxious and upset. she looked at the mar, no ativan, xanax etc.... there was an order for versed, which had not been omitted by pharmacy when pt was moved out of icu. thankfully she was thinking out loud, and an "old" nurse heard her. disaster averted.
i'll tell a story on myself as a new grad. i was doing an assessment on one of my pts. he was sitting up in a chair, and i was bent over palpating pedal pulses. a nurse in the hall saw me and started to laugh. the pt was an aka and had a prosthetic limb. i'm not sure that info was passed on in report, but you'd think i could tell a fake foot from a real foot.
that one made me laugh.
i did something similar, though. i'm a bit dyslexic -- can't tell my right from my left without looking for my wedding ring. i had a patient with a right bka and charted all night long about the positive pedal and posterior tibial pulses on the right and the absence of pulses on the left. and that wasn't so long ago.
in report, precptors will ask me what side the central line is on just to demonstrate to the new grads that everyone makes mistakes. "it's on the right. no, it's on the left. oh hell, it's on the side nearest the door, and that's my final answer."
Unfortunetely many new grads do things the right way like they dont take shortcuts,look up their meds and check the ID bands,adhere to standard precaution,while a LOT of seasoned nurses obviously forget about that.Why are you so disturbed by the idea of new grads performing according to nursing school standards,more like you should be applaud new grads for trying to practice safely.
Not disturbed at all but keep in mind that "performing according to nursing school standards" is not the gold standard for doing things the right way and in fact some of what they teach is outdated depending on the quality of your instructors. With this attitude its no wonder you are feeling slighted at work. Pat yourself on the back all you want but I prefer, and have been fortunate enough, to work with many new grads that have a little respect for what I have learned the hard way and can pass along to them.
Havent you been a new grad once who focused on the tasks instead of the whole picture..did you know how to chart right away,read and transcribe doc orders,knew all your meds?just remeber we dont have your experience,every little thing scare us and matter to us..,,how can we concentrate on a bigger picture if we dont have our details together yet? Seriously this is hillarious!
I don't think she meant it to attack new grads, all she said is that New Grads have to learn how to prioritize. If you having difficulties charting ofunderstanding the doctor's order ask your preceptor, don't waste too much time trying to figure it out. Don't forget to hang blood, or tend to a patient with a BP of 75/51 because you are documenting, you can do that later.
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
New grad had a patient that was VERY anxious and upset. She looked at the MAR, no ativan, xanax etc.... There was an order for versed, which had not been omitted by pharmacy when pt was moved out of ICU. Thankfully she was thinking out loud, and an "old" nurse heard her. Disaster averted.
I'll tell a story on myself as a new grad. I was doing an assessment on one of my pts. He was sitting up in a chair, and I was bent over palpating pedal pulses. A nurse in the hall saw me and started to laugh. The pt was an AKA and had a prosthetic limb. I'm not sure that info was passed on in report, but you'd think I could tell a fake foot from a real foot.