Understaffed and new, is it possible to leave on time at all?

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I was so enthusiastic about my new job, but also knew there could be a worst case scenario. Well it's that. My preceptor works nights and I work day shift so she stayed as long as she could and got me through morning med pass. Then I was all alone on my first day with 18 patients. There is another nurse on the other wing but she was even busier than me and often stuck in rooms. She said she was there until 5pm yesterday and I heard her tell her husband she thought she could leave a little earlier today. I left just an hour late, but there is probably charting I didn't do since no one was there to train me on it. The evening shift nurse had an orientee too, although at least she wasn't a new grad. She answered a few questions but I could tell she wasn't interested in training two people. No one even showed me where the bathroom is (which didn't matter anyway since I never got a chance to drink or pee) and I found what looks like an employee lounge by accident. They are seriously understaffed due to a massive amount of admits out of the blue.

Anyway my point is what are the chances I will have to work late that much? I HAVE to pick up my kids from school, I can't just leave them there. If I am super organized (which I usually am) and very good with time management is it possible?

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Yes. And if all you were was an hour late on your first day with three hours of orientation you're gonna kick some serious butt. BUT: you must have a back-up plan for picking up the kids. You will simply not be guaranteed to leave on time every day.

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Specializes in ICU, MedSurg, Medical Telemetry.

Your preceptor is not on the same shift as you? I wouldn't think that would work...

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Did you have any other orientation? You didn't know where the bathroom is?!!!

Be on the lookout for your next job ASAP. This facility obviously doesn't care about its patients or its personnel.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

It took me three months to find this job. It doesn't really matter what the conditions are like, I have to stay. Hopefully after a year when I have experience I can move on/up. Thanks for the tips, hopefully I'll get it down quick. I'll have to think on the kids thing, there really isn't anyone I can call on short notice but you're right there are going to be times I just can't leave. Ugh. I meant to go in a few hours early this morning to try and get organized but it didn't happen. :lol2:

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
Your preceptor is not on the same shift as you? I wouldn't think that would work...

It doesn't.

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It doesn't.

:lol2:

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