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Discussion

What were you not expecting when you got out on your own?

I appreciate the answers to the other thread about what you didn't feel you got in nursing school.... I'm still interested in the new grads' experiences :)

What have been the biggest surprises (good or bad) once you started working?

Nothing is too insignificant, or unimportant. :clown:

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    The biggest surprise for me was feeling like I knew NOTHING when I started on the floor. The learning curve is steep! But everyone starts there and you will get through it.

    I was also surprised by the other staff members some are mean and want you to fail while others are WONDERFUL resources and want to help and teach you. Some techs are going to be a savior while others make your job harder. Here is my advice, surround yourself with the good people. Learn who the supportive helpful ones are and stick with them. Stay out of the gossip, anyone who gossips to you will also gossip about you. It is like a crash course in being back in junior high. Stick with the people who treat you right and help, forget the ones that don't.

    Oh and IVs, really wished we had practiced those on actual people instead of the plastic arm. :)

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    • Moderator

    I was surprised -- pleasantly so -- how much my experience in the corporate world (10+ years with a government contractor) translated into being able to deal with hospital management on many levels. There is something to be said for just having work experience, period, even if it wasn't in a healthcare-related field; it taught me to effectively deal with people. And I'll bet those of you who put time into the retail industry are the masters of de-escalating situations with dissatisfied "customers." :D (Been there, done that as well!)

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    I was surprised at how much I didn't know, but now after working for about 4 months, I am surprised at how much I have learned!!! I am still in no way comfortable and I still go to my coworkers with a lot of questions, but I am just in awe at how far I have come in such a short time!

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    I'm starting to wonder if some of the ones who seem to want new nurses to fail are also ones who came out of nursing school feeling so overwhelmed and underprepared that they have nothing to offer, and are just trying to hang on??? I don't know. It never excuses undermining someone, but maybe explains some of it?

    Since I haven't worked since 2004, (but been IN the hospital a LOT) it's been very strange to hear from co-workers and friends who are nurses how much has changed with new grads- and it's not the new grads' fault !! For the most part, what I've heard is that they really are trying to do all they can to get acclimated to being on their own, but weren't given an accurate picture of what that entailed.

    Y'all are teaching me a lot :)

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    I've been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I have been. I now know what a fantastic education I got. I have so much to learn, but don't feel like I'm drowning.

    I am also amazed at my coworkers. They are all open to me asking questions and are incredibly supportive. I've floated to a couple of different units in my hospital and found the same atmosphere on those units. I am incredibly blessed to work where I do. It's funny--I never thought I would work at this hospital; it was actually my third choice of three area hospitals and I am so happy to be there.

    I also think Lunah is spot on. I was in a customer service oriented profession for 10 years so I'm good at working with people, patients and coworkers. I can deal with cranky patients and families. I did have one woman and her husband that I had to excuse myself from because they made me so angry (they were verbally abusive to me and about the doctor). But, I stepped away instead of saying something I'd regret or would get me in trouble. :)

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    ...how incredibly different it feels from nursing school. I don't know why my nursing school felt it was necessary to scare the everliving bejesus out of us but being on the floor, getting down the routine just feels so much better than it ever did in nursing school.

    ...that like most new grads, GI problems that never previously existed popped in response to stress.

    ...how good some days are and how bad, tiring, discouraging other days are.

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    I think instructors have a "Fear Factor" quota they have to meet.... starting with how easy it is to lose a license (that is NOT true), how everybody sues (depends on the lawyer:patient ratio), and how it will be great to just pass the work on to ancillary staff (NOT!!!). :)

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