Ugghhh, another new nurse...

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We've all run into a "new nurse". What's the most memorable experience you ever had with a new nurse? Maybe it was something they said ??? Or, something they did? Good or bad share your story...

I never could figure out why RN education didn't include a good, healthy dose of the actual practice. If simply playing the piano requires a lot of lessons and experience, why on earth would a good nursing school with a good reputation not include something so necessary in their curriculum?

Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. I had 900 hours of clinical experience in my RN program, but never foley'd a female patient. Plenty of males, but never a female. In 900 hours, the chance just didn't occur. Same with IV's. Most patients had IV's from the ER or ambulance by the time they hit the floor, so in 900 hours I only attempted 4 IV's.

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A new grad at my facility was having trouble flushing a G-tube. As a rookie she didn't know that the last thing she should do was just apply more pressure to the plunger. When the tube "backfired" all over her face and uniform she promptly whipped out her cell phone and called 911 in a full fledged panic. Needless to say she didn't last long. It provided me with enough giggles to sustain me for months though.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

OH thank goodness for new nurses. Seriously. When mentoring or precepting them, it forces me to take a 2nd, 3rd and 4th look at my own practices and brush up on policy/procedure and education. I learn as much from them as they may from me.

Besides they are so tasty with toast and beer....

JUST KIDDING!!!!! I welcome "new" nurses.

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This used to be me. I really miss the days when everything was new and I was just so darn grateful to have a job. Now, I am definitely more jaded and slightly less patient than I used to be. BUt, I do love having new nurses around to remind me why I became a nurse in the first place.

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I am a new nurse actually just started 3 weeks ago and I often feel stupid and wonder did I really graduate nursing school and pass NCLEX. I, just like a lot of previous posts want to be good at what I am doing right away. I am happy because that is my demeanor but inside I want to cry at all of the mistakes I am making. I actually feel like I am in clinical and not a ''real'' nurse. I know this feeling shall pass and with time my confidence will grow, but wow didn't know I would feel like this.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Yup, as a brand new nurse on my first job I often thought, "OMG! If these patients only knew!...."

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Specializes in ICU.

"i look up to you"

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hi, im a 3rd year student nurse and were working on our thesis entitled "NURSES WORKING BEYOND RETIREMENT AGE" and i'm having a hard time to gather information about the total population of retired nurses here in the philippine and we have also lack of respondents .. if you guys have know someone kindly message me so i can email you our questionnaire ... i will really appreciate your answer.. please help.. thanks:shy:

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

After you've been a nurse a while, you will realize that the reason you feel like they didn't teach you enough in nursing school is this. If they taught you everything you needed to know you'd never get out of school. They teach you just enough to keep you from killing people, and you learn everything else as you go a,one. So don't feel bad. Feeling like you don't know anything is normal. You're fine. You're doing everything as best you can for the stage you're at. It will click eventually.

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a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. every day is a learning day, you will be there, be encouraged

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I like new nurses. They're all shiny and new and haven't been dented yet. Confidence and skill sets will be fine tuned over time, but nursing is a never ending learning environment. There is ALWAYS a new drug, a new technique or a new piece of equipment to learn. And...it's ok to ask for help when you encounter something your not sure of.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery.
Or at least bribe me with chocolate

Or with food. or coffee. Whichever you prefer.

:laugh:

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