Transition to Nursing

Actually, I had a lot of support and was kind of eased into the job. I've been a registered nurse for a little over a year now. I had a good preceptorship and was not on my own until I was ready. I do remember I had to learn to pace myself and get down to a routine. I had to remind myself to stop and eat lunch. There was so much to do and at first, I wanted to get it all done before I stopped to eat. Now I have my routine down and can schedule in a break (most days). What probably helped is that I did my senior practicum at the same place where I ended up working as an RN.

I am also a mom of two and between school, kids, and husband (extra kid), sometimes I wonder if I will ever make it through.

What do you remember the most about your transition (Good and Bad)? What happened if you made a mistake or couldn't remember something? Where you allowed to go look it up?

07student, for sure you will be able to look things up. it is impossible to remember everything, and your unit should have reference books for medications and also some sort of policy and procedure manual. When I was a brand new nurse, I worked at a protocol driven hospital. I would xerox the protocol for whatever- say Trach care- and hang it over the patients bed while I was doing it...of course I was also a bit paranoid that I would do something against policy....

As far as my transition, it was not too difficult, but I had already been working in the hospital for a year as an aide, so only the unit was new, not the whole thing. I'd recommend trying to find the best fit possible for your personality, learning style and interests.

I hate to be a downer, but my first experience as a nurse out in the field sucked. It was a small town hospital that was trying to train me in several different fields at once IE. L&D, PP, Nursery & medsurg. I didn't have any hospital training (onsite training - my charge nurse felt it important for me to forgo that hmmmmm) and was jumped right into the floor. I made it a total of 3 months before I developed ulcers. Well - I have just been hired at a new larger hospital. Not the department I wanted (PP/Nursery) but it will have to do for now. I go through orientation (hospital) next week. They have a nurses orientation, JUST for nurses, prior to even stepping foot on the floor! That I am looking forward to! If my last job were to have done that with me, I probably would still be there.

I will let you know once I get on the floor how that goes :)

Well, it really depends on the orientation given to you on your first job...the quality of orientation and the time given to you for orientation. Not all orientations are the same from place to place. I became an RN 20 years ago. What helped my transition was the orientation...in classroom and on the floor. Even as a seasoned nurse, if you start at a new facility (hospital), there is an orientation process...or should be. However, like I said, not all orientations are the same. Some facilities have excellent orientations...some may not. I remember one orientation as a seasoned nurse, starting at a new hospital, where "one hour" was spent in how to use the telephone...yes, how wasteful. And I'm not talking about a class on proper phone etiquette...but, on how to use a phone..."we have a telephone system...see here is what a phone looks like...it has 10 buttons from 0 to 9. Let me show you how to dial a number on the phone...etc" How condescending! But, believe it or not....it was an hour long class in that hospital. In that hospital, much of the orientation was similar. It is of no surprise that new grads left in droves from that facility because they were so unprepared for the reality of nursing. So, orientations vary from one place to another. Much of what I've seen of late has NOT been badly put together. However, the orientation process tailored to your needs as a new grad is what you desire and will help you with your transition. Don't short change yourself. Ask questions. Admit you need training in such and such. You're new...make the most of it. The second aspect in transition is the general atmosphere on the floor in taking on new grads. Some floors love them, some are luke warm, and some may see new grads as being a burden to carry. However, this again goes hand in hand with how well orientation is accomplished in that facility. On the floor, starting out, you might consider picking a few nurses as mentors and asking them if they will mentor you. Some are honored at this approach and will be there as a resource for you as a result. If a nurse chooses not to be a mentor, at least you know right from the beginning. But, there is no harm in asking. I hope this helps.

I wish you the best.

Wolfie

All your advise is making things a little less frightening. I finally am realizing how it works after talking with everyone. It appears that you need to finish school and get the framework and then when you get out you learn the essentials and technical skills.

I am enjoying and appreciate everyones feedback.

I'm glad the feedback we offered helped.

Wolfie

I'm glad the feedback we offered helped.

Wolfie

I have been finding in my "few" clinical experiences that I can get most nurses to warm up to me. I try to be friendly and like to ask lots of questions without being too overbearing. I am a little concerned however, with the fact that it is the new RN's that seem to be unwilling to answer any questions or even be the least bit friendly. I am contributing this to thier own inexperience, but then I wonder if it is just how they think they are supposed to treat new students.

Just an example. I was in the OR watching a cystoscopy. I had a few questions about what was going on and the nurses would just ignore me. Finally, I just spoke up and asked the doctor. He was so friendly and kept answering my questions and explaining every part of the procedure to me. He even let me see parts of a malignant bladder tumor and that was really exciting. I could tell this upset the nurses and they seemed very angry that I felt comfortable enough to ask the doctor questions. When talking with a couple of nurses about becoming an RN they say that one thing nurses hate is for you to be friendly with the Doctors, but what is wrong with asking questions, how else will I learn?

New nurses often seem unfriendly, because they are really very busy trying to remember what to do next! I don't think it is because they think that is how they are supposed to treat students!!!

As far as being friendly to physicians. Of course, I am always friendly to physicians. It depends on what people mean as friendly- asking questions about a cystoscope, is not really all that friendly (Sitting on his lap at the nurses station---oh I have seen this...) is *friendly* and tends to annoy people as it is unprofessional, not to mention just silly. Even if you are engaged to elope to the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, this sort of behavior is best left for private moments in my opinion.

Many of my really close friend who I socialize with out of work are physicians I met on the job. I'm not disliked by my colleagues (Some of them sure, but not most of them...).

The nurses you ran into in the cysto area were probably just jealous- they may have never taken such a keen interest, and thus probably never had such a nice interaction with the same physician. Sad to say, but a lot of nurses have very busy lives, and just go to the job, perform a safe and adequate job, and go home. So they were not very nice people.

New nurses often seem unfriendly, because they are really very busy trying to remember what to do next! I don't think it is because they think that is how they are supposed to treat students!!!

As far as being friendly to physicians. Of course, I am always friendly to physicians. It depends on what people mean as friendly- asking questions about a cystoscope, is not really all that friendly (Sitting on his lap at the nurses station---oh I have seen this...) is *friendly* and tends to annoy people as it is unprofessional, not to mention just silly. Even if you are engaged to elope to the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, this sort of behavior is best left for private moments in my opinion.

Many of my really close friend who I socialize with out of work are physicians I met on the job. I'm not disliked by my colleagues (Some of them sure, but not most of them...).

The nurses you ran into in the cysto area were probably just jealous- they may have never taken such a keen interest, and thus probably never had such a nice interaction with the same physician. Sad to say, but a lot of nurses have very busy lives, and just go to the job, perform a safe and adequate job, and go home. So they were not very nice people.

Thanks Katie....

Just an example. I was in the OR watching a cystoscopy. I had a few questions about what was going on and the nurses would just ignore me. Finally, I just spoke up and asked the doctor. He was so friendly and kept answering my questions and explaining every part of the procedure to me. He even let me see parts of a malignant bladder tumor and that was really exciting.

It has been my experience doing clinicals that doctors just LOVE the student to ask questions. Of course, you have the time the questions at the proper moment not to make a nuisance of yourself. I have never had one act nasty to me and after I ask a question they encourage MORE questions. I milk those doctor's knowledge as much as I can; they seem to enjoy it.

:)

Lu Ann