When RN=Rookie Nurse

[dieterj]

The last several years of my college teaching career I spent teaching psychology days and going to nursing school at night. My plan was to have a second career doing something that made a difference to one person at a time.

I have advanced degrees but I must admit that nursing school and the ADN was the most challenging and humbling experience of my education. I toughed it out and landed a job as a floor nurse at a local hospital. My goal (even at my advanced age of 60) is to one day work in Hospice. Now I work on a floor that has oncology patients and a variety of med-surg patients.

Problem is, I may not make it past orientation. I won't go into the details but I seriously underestimated how HARD floor nursing would be (even for someone who has completed marathons) and I did not factor in the incredible disillusionment I have experienced. (I have, however, noticed the root word there; undoubtedly I had numerous ILLUSIONS about nursing of which I am now disposessed.)

Much to my dismay, my superiors are not satisfied with my performance either. It is true that I am slower and not as organized as I need to be to handle the expected patient load; but I have also been reprimanded for "talking too much" with patients and spending too much time in patients' rooms. The mandate is to be more "task oriented" and efficient.

I have had several wonderful experiences with dying patients and am more certain than ever that working with them, being there for them and their families, is what I am meant to do. I just don't know if I will be able to get the requisite "experience" as a floor nurse to qualify for such a position. (They may give up on me or vice-versa.)

The following is what is in my heart as I try to make it through this first year as a rookie nurse. Maybe there are others out there who feel the same:

Prayer of an R.N. (Rookie Nurse)

Lord, I am a Rookie Nurse. As your servant, I begin this shift with the desire to do your work and care for my patients' needs in body, mind, and spirit.

Be with me today. Inspire my thinking and guide my hands; help me to set priorities and respond to competing demands in ways that will be of maximum benefit to my patients.

Give me humility and openness; allow me to learn from each person I come in contact with. Help me communicate your love and acceptance; let me embrace all of your needy souls with equanimity.

When I am overwhelmed and discouraged, lift me up and refocus my energies onto my patients. Steer me away from the pettiness, personalities, and politics that can distract me from your work.

I pray that more experienced colleagues, doctors and nurses, will remember the early days of their own careers and be generous with their knowledge and gentle with their criticism.

And when my rookie days are (finally) over, help me to maintain the ideals that led me to the noble profession of nursing as I endeavor to do your will.

I'd appreciate any advice or comments. Thanks. JD

[ellakate]

Hello, dieterj, It has been a long time since I was in a hospital, but when I tried to keep the following schedule, things seemed to flow better for me. Plan to get all your VS and see all your patients in the first hour. After VS, prepare medications. Breakfast time. Go to the restroom! Open your charts. Pass meds. Perform AM care. Time for lunch and noon meds. Finish AM care for patients requiring extra assistance. Check your charts for new orders. Finish passing noon, mid-day meds. Chart some more. Answer lights. Prepare for change of shift report. Try to finish charting 30 minutes before you start report. If something happens to a patient, you can then add an additional note.

Patients are very understanding. Let them know that you are training for a patient care marathon and that you need their help to become more efficient. Combine tasks, like VS, assessment, passing meds. Remember to check VS before passing meds, so that - - -- you know the rest! Remember to check AM blood sugars before breakfast, unless otherwise ordered.

There was a time in nursing care when we were educated to not be 'task oriented,' but that was also some other century. When you get discouraged, say your prayer. Your heart is in the right place. Your hands are some of the ones that God has put on the earth to help.

Sometimes being a nurse is like being pecked to death by ducks.

[dieterj]

Centex, Thanks for the concrete suggestions and especially the encouragement. I can tell you remember quite well how hectic it is because you included bathroom break and lunch :) I appreciate your taking the time to answer. jd