What was your 1st day like??

allnurses Guide · Sep 9, 2008

what was your first day at work as a nurse like? i'm assuming most of you starting working at a hospital?
yep, though some people start out at dialysis clinics, health departments, etc..
what was your starting salary
16.50 an hour for an rn. that was in kentucky, and that was five years ago.
did you make mistakes
oh yes. you will. just learn from them; that's the best thing you can do.
were you nervous
yeah, but i think it's good, ok even, to be nervous. if you are, then your senses are heightened, you are more receptive to teaching and maybe criticism from other nurses... you are aware that you aren't perfect and you don't know it all and that's a good thing. i've seen new nurses come in with their heads held way high, not nervous (not acting that way, anyway) at all, and thinking they know it all. not good.
how did you have to do report at the end of shift (verbal, recorded?)
always verbal report when i've done med/surge, but when i worked psych i always did a recorded report. i have to say i liked doing the recorded report. =)
were your co-workers welcoming and helpful, did you like where you worked, etc.
yes and, i liked where i worked, "ok". at that hospital, nurses tended to work less as a team than where i work now, where nurses really work as a team and everyone is very very helpful. it really just depends all on where you find yourself. always strive to find yourself a place where your fellow coworkers are helpful and the atmosphere is a "team" one.

:smokin: :coollook: :twocents: :redbeathe

MMARN, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

What was your first day at work as a nurse like? I'm assuming most of you starting working at a hospital? What was your starting salary, did you make mistakes, were you nervous, how did you have to do report at the end of shift (verbal, recorded?), were your co-workers welcoming and helpful, did you like where you worked, etc. Please give as much information as you can, I would love to hear about your experience on your first day of work as an RN :) BTW, I'm currently a student.

My first day as an RN by myself is kind of fuzzy in my mind. I don't really remember what I did or how I did it, only that I was scared out of my mind and very awkward.

I started in one of the cardiac units in my hospital, yes.

Starting salary: $21.75

I was very nervous, and still am today. I've been by myself since mid May, and I have yet to find that rhythm and flow that lets me feel more comfortable. There are days better than others, but most are spent in a kind of daze where I can never find enough time to finish everything I need to do.

At the end of shift, we do verbal reports. I have yet to give an extremely good one because I almost always forget to say pass on something important to the night shift nurses.

Most of the people in day shift were very welcoming to me, and still are. A lot of night shift nurses continue to rub me the wrong way because I am still new, and a lot of them don't understand that I still don't have that time management still in place. It's going to take time for me to get in that groove, and some of the night shift nurses don't understand that.

I have had very good days, and I have had very terrible days. The only thing I can say is keep your chin up, pray, and hope for the best. :) Good luck!

ajessrn, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

first day was probably not typical because i did a special program where i got to do three weeks on different medsurg floors and pick which one i liked. but at the end when i was truly working on the floor i picked as my first night, i was extrememly nervous. when i was there before, i was on days and was now going to be doing nights so i didn't really know the night shift staff or the girl who was going to be my preceptor. when i was on my own with my own patient load and no one looking directly over my shoulder all night, i was even more nervous. and it just so happened that one of my patients was a FEM POP and his BP went way up and his temp went way down and he was shaking uncontrollably all of a sudden, frieked me out i had to page the MD. luckily we got everything under control quickly, and my co-workers were very helpful. i missed a dose of his epidural medication and did not notify the anesthesiologist and just charted against it. anyway, kind of a long story, but one of my case managers saw that and sent an email out to several people about it, i was so embarassed. but she was right i did not handle that correctly. i should have informed the anesthesiologist and gotten the order to hold that dose etc...that is part of it, people will know about your mistakes, but that is ok, they might be able to learn from them too.

my base pay was 19.55, but working third shift i got shift differential too. 3 12 hr shifts so 36 hrs wk. that was little over year ago.

we do a written report sheet and give updates at the bedside. it works well most of the time. the idea is that we will know a lot about our patients before seeing them, and any changes can be discussed breifly and we introduce the next shift to the patient if possible. continuity of care. i really like it.

my night shift crew is great. day shift is too, but day shift is just so hectic there isn't a lot of time for teamwork it seems like. everyone is crazy busy. sometimes nights is like that, but generally when one person is slammed the others step in and help with meds, chart checks, etc....to help keep eachother above the water. especially if a situation arises that pulls you away from your other patients.

but some nights are very stressful and i question being a nurse. i have a meltdown at home with my boyfriend and then i am ok again until the next time. and then some nights are awesome and i feel like i have really given my patients great care and it is all worth it.

my biggest stressor is just not knowing enough. luckily i have some great senior nurses on night shift that are great when i have questions. because i have a lot of questions. just don't ever be afraid to ask when you don't know the answer. we can't know everything, it is impossible, especially at first. it takes time to get experience.

ninisasa85 · Sep 9, 2008

Hey there,

That's one GREAT question that you asked.

My first day of work was not fantastic. My dad got stroke about 6 months prior to my graduations. Things at home were really bad. My dad is non compliant client. My first day of work started off with me smilling at myself in the mirror as I donned on my RN green uniform. Then suddenly there was loud voices shouting from the kitchen. The argument was between my mom and my sister, they were fixing breakfast for my dad. Apparently dad was caught by my sister at 4am in the morning having breakfast with yesterday leftovers. My mom couldn't accept the accusation from my sister. So they bickering about my dad is very non compliant and if he doesn't take care he will land up with another stroke....blah, blah, blah. So all that ruined my mood to work, I was fed up and shouted at them. Needless to say, i joined the "rally", I was really hurt and sad and angry. I was telling them that that day was first day at work and they just ruined it. My sister being older and sharp tongued said " It just too bad that your first day sucked!" and she just stormed off to her room. I just went to work quietly and cried silently in the train to work. I will never forget my first day at work. that very fateful day, 13/06/2005. I'm over it now, and dad still "steals" food from the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning. And Thank God, he didn't have another stoke, however, he was recently diagnosed with diabetes, but another story.

Thanks for the questions again.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

I don't remember my first day. The first six months is pretty much a blur. I remember being petrified and feeling completely inadequate, though.

AnnaSL, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

Wow, my first day.. I was so excited to start working.. Before the Hospital actually distribute us per ward, we have undergone Orientation and informed us that we are on a twice a week evaluation...

So I did, trusted what I gained a year after graduation and I was just so excited to start..

The Senior Nurses was there to also train us what should be our first task and they are very helpful, although we cannot really take out the fact that there are bad company but it didn't even bother me because i was just focus on getting everything and absorb things...

Yes, I did mistakes and all, but DOESNT ALL OF US START WITH MISTAKES... at the same time, you would be able to learn and put to mind that these mistakes happen and promise yourself NEVER to DO IT AGAIN.EVER!!! PERIOD...

All in all, I was excited to start and a little nervous... who wouldnt be, right???

Scrubby · Sep 9, 2008

Terrible. I had not slept the night before because I was so anxious and so I was an absolute zombie on my first day. I told the nurse I was paired up with that I hadn't slept and they were pretty good about it, told me they didn't either the night before their first day as well.

Yes I have made mistakes, some really stupid ones that should never have happened. All nurses do, we're only human after all and hopefully most of us learn from them...

My base salary was AUS$21 hour on a normal day shift.

Sl1011 · Sep 9, 2008

:smokin::redbeathe

Yeah, I'm hoping wherever I get into we will get to do a recorded report hehe... I used to work as a CNA at the hospital, and we had to be a part of the report group in the staff room. But the CNA's don't do anything, we just have to listen to what the nurses were saying, and the only time we had to get a verbal is if the nurse from the previous shift didn't have time to go record. I hate speaking in front of people, but I need to get over that too.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

JACHOs big push is verbal report only...just for a FYI.

My first day in the hospital was just relearning a new set of tasks to do for nursing...I've been a CNA on this floor for 2 years during NS....

Overall, I feel better about coming here and not having to spend energy on dealing with co-workers or aides....

I started at 23 bucks a hour with the 5 buck differential...I'm still nervous at times, and unsure of when to call docs for the grey issues....

we do verbal SBAR reports and I love em...they make things so orgainized and so together...

Like any floor, some people are open and helpful...some think you should have known it all yesterday! It depends..be confident in YOUR ability and you'll be fine.

beachbum3 · Sep 9, 2008

My first day was great. I was nervous about doing any pt care, but after I followed my preceptor a bit. I didn't take any pts that day, but my preceptor had me help with assessments and tasks as I was comfortable.

I started at 23.31 an hour plus now that I'm on nights a $5 shift diff.

Everyone has been really nice and welcoming and has made me feel really comfortable. We give verbal report, but at times report is taped if someone goes home because of low census mid-shift.

We don't use any kind of report sheet, each person has their own way, some make up their own sheets. I made mine with 1/2 report info, and the other half for other info from the day to remember to report off and my own assessments. (ie. assessments, labs, tests/procedures and results, future procedures, new orders.) I'm still tweaking it, but my reports have gotten much more organized. We usually go down the list- chief complaint, admitting dx, hx, last labs (abnormals), results from tests/procedures during the day, new orders, assessments, so I set up my sheets basically in that order, making sure my assessments stay in head to toe order. (vitals (including pain and blood sugars if applicable), neuro, respiratory, CV, GI, GU, skin, IV info) I also write down primary dr and consults including which dr is for which specialty area since I don't know the drs well yet.

Lately I'm gaining confidence. I try to be aware on what I can improve upon. At the end of the shift I think about how the shift went and what I need to work on and then try to come up with a way to improve. Its usually time management/organizational issues. Haven't had any pt care issues yet, as I ask questions when I'm unsure. Everyone has been great and its made me feel comfortable asking questions. I've noticed lately that things have generally been improving and I'm getting better with each shift at managing my time and staying organized. The experienced nurses have told me its just something that comes in time as you learn whats important and what isn't, and as you learn things like what you need when you go in a room, or when to call the dr, or where things are, etc.

I do still, however, turn into a mess when I have to deal with drs, as I'm always afraid they will ask me something I don't know off the top of my head and I'll look like a complete idiot.

I still feel that I struggle with getting the "whole" picture, especially with remembering that there are other parts of pts care in a hospital (ie rehab, social services, PT, etc) and figuring out what pts will need at home as I'm still unsure of what services are available after discharge and how to organize that for the pt. I'm told that comes with experience also.

Overall its been great, and my first day was good. I was a little nervous, but not too much, everyone was nice, I didn't do much pt care. On the second day though, I had a pt assignment. Everyone was telling me it all just felt like it was coming together, which I doubted would happen for me, but it did. It will for you too!

FERN-tastic · Sep 9, 2008

What was your first day at work as a nurse like? I'm assuming most of you starting working at a hospital? What was your starting salary, did you make mistakes, were you nervous, how did you have to do report at the end of shift (verbal, recorded?), were your co-workers welcoming and helpful, did you like where you worked, etc. Please give as much information as you can, I would love to hear about your experience on your first day of work as an RN :) BTW, I'm currently a student.

I don't remember many specific details about my first day other than learning where everything was, and the basic flow of the department. I only remember one patient we had that day, a pediatric burn that was suspected child abuse. That was a good introduction to the job...no easing into the depressing cases. And yes, I was plenty nervous!

My starting salary was 27/hr, I think.

I don't know if I made mistakes my first day, but I have certainly made some. Everyone makes mistakes, and so will you. Just learn from them, and hope to god they don't cause any harm to the patient.

We do verbal reports. Most are very quick, unless the patient is critical or somehow complicated.

My co-workers were very welcoming, very willing to help. We have a great team in my department. And I still love where I work, no matter how much I say I don't!

Good luck in school!