Whether I should or not

HeySis, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2016

i talked to my supervisor before and he said I should handle patient assignment and I am not going there to sit and I have to ask for help if I need. But my problem is that I feel embarrassed at times to ask.
What should I do?

You should request a re-orientation/training period with a mentor. After being out of the unit for such a long time you need an adjustment period and a resource person.

You do need to ask for help, place your own embarrassment to the side, and get the information you need to care for your patients in a safe and effective manner. I suggest the mentor because then that would be an established relationship of someone that knew and was expecting you ta ask questions.

Sarah2018, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2016

You should request a re-orientation/training period with a mentor. After being out of the unit for such a long time you need an adjustment period and a resource person.
You do need to ask for help, place your own embarrassment to the side, and get the information you need to care for your patients in a safe and effective manner. I suggest the mentor because then that would be an established relationship of someone that knew and was expecting you ta ask questions.

But I am just going for one day a week- every Saturday morning. Is it worth having re-orientation and a mentor? I don't know. What do you think?

i am also counted with them as if I was their ward staff member, not an extra member, unfortunately.

thank you for contribution.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2016

You are being forced to work in an area you are not trained in.

It does not matter if it is only one day a week. You MUST have thorough orientation to that unit.

Your license is on the line... demand your training.

macawake, MSN · Nov 22, 2016

But I am just going for one day a week- every Saturday morning. Is it worth having re-orientation and a mentor?

sometime I feel it is difficult to handle patient assignment and my patient will suffer.

I think that the answer to your question is pretty obvious. Yes, it's worth it. For the sake of the patients under your care. Even if you're only their nurse for one shift per week, your patients deserve a nurse who feels confident in her ability to provide safe care.

I second HeySis' opinion. You need to ask for help when you're unsure about something regarding the care you provide. That's something we should do no matter how long we've worked as nurses. All of us need to ask for advice, assistance or feedback at some point.

Good luck!

Sarah2018, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2016

I think that the answer to your question is pretty obvious. Yes, it's worth it. For the sake of the patients under your care. Even if you're only their nurse for one shift per week, your patients deserve a nurse who feels confident in her ability to provide safe care.
I second HeySis' opinion. You need to ask for help when you're unsure about something regarding the care you provide. That's something we should do no matter how long we've worked as nurses. All of us need to ask for advice, assistance or feedback at some point.
Good luck!

Hello! I wonder why my supervisor and the unit charge nurse dont care whether I can work safely or not or whether I need re-orientation. I told my supervisor who is also the supervisor of that surgical ward I work in once a week that I want general help assignment but he said I should handle patient assignment.

When I was working in surgical wards 4 years ago before moving to outpatient department(same hospital), taking care of patients was stressful too and I was afraid of committing mistakes, just like now. Maybe I am much more confident and smart now than before.

And regarding the care, the unit staff are not safest than me, some turn their comatose patient once a shift while I've never done this.

also, going back to wards, gives me lots of excitement. That's why I don't want to complain...

Sarah2018, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2016

You are being forced to work in an area you are not trained in.
It does not matter if it is only one day a week. You MUST have thorough orientation to that unit.
Your license is on the line... demand your training.

No, I am not forced. They give me this option so I can go to college in Tuesdays and then I have to work one day in the weekend to make up for that day.

sure I need some refreshments but not training. Also they will never keep a mentor for me because I am not a new RN.

macawake, MSN · Nov 22, 2016

Hello! I wonder why my supervisor and the unit charge nurse dont care whether I can work safely or not or whether I need re-orientation.

Are you asking me? It's impossible for me to know since I don't work where you work and don't know your charge nurse and supervisor. I can only guess. The two most likely reasons would be that either they consider you proficient enough to not require more unit-specific training, or they just pay lip service to the concept of patient safety and value instant productivity/"filling a hole in the schedule", higher than safety. By the way OP, are you still working in Dubai?

And regarding the care, the unit staff are not safest than me, some turn their comatose patient once a shift while I've never done this.

Be that as it may, you only have control over your performance. You can strive to be the best nurse you can be. The other nurses are responsible for their own professionalism (or lack thereof).

also, going back to wards, gives me lots of excitement. That's why I don't want to complain...

Although it's understandable that you don't want to "rock the boat" if you've been given an opportunity that you are happy about, this is in my opinion a question of integrity and professional responsibility. If you genuinely feel that you lack the prerequisite skills, experience or knowledge to care safely for your patients you need to make that known and see to that you gain the needed knowledge/experience.

sometime I feel it is difficult to handle patient assignment and my patient will suffer.

When I was working in surgical wards 4 years ago before moving to outpatient department(same hospital), taking care of patients was stressful too and I was afraid of committing mistakes, just like now. Maybe I am much more confident and smart now than before.

I'm not sure what to make of this. Why are you afraid that your patient "will suffer" under your care? Is it because of insecurity/ baseless lack of confidence in your abilities? Or is it just the normal fear that serves to keep a medical professional vigilant and on her toes? A small amount of "fear" is in my opinion healthy. An over-confident nurse who thinks s/he knows everything and never asks for advice is scary to me. Or is it because you've identified areas where you actually do need more education/training in order to perform safely? If it's the latter you need to speak up.

But my problem is that I feel embarrassed at times to ask.

What's the reason for this? Pride? Fear of losing your job if you admit to needing help/further training? A sub-optimal safety culture in your workplace? Whatever the motivation behind your reluctance to ask for help, you do need to find a way to do it when necessary.

sevensonnets · Nov 22, 2016

If you can't handle your patient assignments, you feel your patients will suffer, and you're afraid to ask questions, of course you need some training and a mentor. If your patients suffer because you can't handle your assignments, you will have only yourself to blame. You don't need that on your conscience. A little retraining and a unit buddy would be worth it.