Will I ever be fast enough?

[ladydame]

I'm doing a RN residency program where I rotate throughout certain floors of the hospital. Right now I'm in the ED and like it (still trying to find "my place") but feel like a turtle down there. I've only been there two days and managed to swim instead of drown, but the damn computer system and documenting seems to be slowing me down. My preceptor has been doing this for 11 years so I guess I shouldn't compare myself. I just want to know that i'm not a turtle down there and I'm actually doing something. How did everyone else keep up?

[lisaow]

don't you dare compare yourself to someone who's been working the unit for 11 years. when you are learning, it never does any good to go too fast. be accurate first, then speed will naturally come!

[ImaERtraumaRN]

Priorities are different in the ER, it takes more than a couple of days to learn the pace and to "get in the groove". Watch your preceptor and how he/she does things and in what order, but dont expect that you will have things down to a science after such a short time. Soon you will notice that you do things on auto pilot that used to take a great deal of thought, and be able to do things more quickly and efficiently.

Be good to yourself and good luck!

[medic2bsn]

I have to say thanks too for those words of encouragement. I've been in the ER for several weeks. At times I feel ok, but there are others when I wonder if I will survive. Feeling like I am not up to the speed I need to be. The paperwork is the pits. Every shift is another learning experience.

I know that things will come naturally after some time. I have been a medic on an ambulance for almost 15 years. But this transition to RN is taking some getting used to.

Thanks again.