Orientation

I have been on orientation for a total of 2 weeks now and I already feel Ive learned so much. I am very lucky to have been paired with very good preceptors who actually care how I am doing.Everyone on the floor has been very welcoming of me as well. I always feel like I can ask any question no matter what it is. The last couple of days I was pretty much on my own. I had 3 patients and was very busy. The first day I did pretty well I missed a few things on charting, which never seems to end. The second day I was so overwhelmed, I felt like I was in over my head. I still only had 3 patients but it was like everything was happening at once. I had one pt come up from a procedure and another being discharged home. This doesn't seem like it should be too hard but there is just copious amounts of paperwork involved. Luckily my preceptor jumped in and saved my butt. She said Ive been doing a good job and that she had to let me fall a little.She said I did exactly what she wanted me to I realized that I couldn't keep up quite yet and asked for feed back to improve. The issue is the paper work, I asked the night shift to take notes of anything i missed on days and let me know so I could improve,and it was paperwork. The night nurse said she didn't see anything with patient care I missed just documentation stuff. grrrr.

I wish there wasn't so much paper work it all seems so redundant, I feel like I'm charting the same thing in 10 different places. oh well Ive only been on the floor a total of 6 days no way I'm going to be a pro yet.
One things for sure though I cannot wait to go on nights because I am not getting enough sleep working days. I am a night person and I can never seem to fall asleep unit 12-1am even after Ive worked all day. Then I have to get up at 4:30 in the am so I'm working 12-13 hr shifts on 3 hrs of sleep not good.
well I will keep everyone posted on how my days are going.

Merry Christmas

I got the Job!!! Now what?

I got the call on friday morning, they offered me a full time clinical I position in the ICU stepdown unit. I know it's not the NICU of my dreams but I think it's a good place to start. The hospital actually has a NICU and so the option is always there to transfer after a yr or two. I start orientation Dec. 1. I'm very excited but also terrified. I guess the biggest question in my mind is "will I be a good nurse?" I have alot of compassion but I am still unsure of certain clinical skills. My hands still shake (bad) when I go to place an IV, Ive never placed an NG ( I know how to care for them and check placement, just never actually placed one). Of course I also worry about making mistakes, I know I will. My soon to be coworker (and hopefully preceptor) told me "you will make mistakes because you're new, you just have to pray that mistake isn't the one that kills them." I am just really nervous,I know I will have a preceptor for at least 3 months but it's still scary. I mean I know what I lack in clinical skills I make in my bedside manner but just the same theres alot to remember from school and learn from the real world.

I am so excited to get to do what I love. I feel so privileged to be a nurse, to have others trust me with their lives and their well-being. It's a great responsibility, one I do not take lightly and hope I never do.

Here's a question for you though..... Do you think it would be inappropriate to request a certain person to be my preceptor? The floor nurse that I interviewed with made me so comfortable and seemed to have alot of knowledge. I would like to learn from her.

Anyways I will keep everyone posted on how this goes.

That second interview!

I had my in person interview today. It went really really well.I was in with the nurse manager and a wonderful floor nurse named Cami. I was in with them for about an hour and 15min. I felt really comfortable with them, they were very nice,laid back, and made me feel like I was one of them already. They seemed pleased with my answers and there was even some small talk. :) She even gave me a tour of the unit and introduced me to the other nurses. I am hoping this is all a good sign, the manager said I would here something by early next week at the latest.Crossing my fingers!!!

The Interview

I had my phone interview today and it went really well. Ill admit I was a little unprepared for some of the questions asked. I thought I was being really smart and wrote down a list of points I wanted to make and answers to potential questions. Hey, I know it seems like cheating but I had just gotten off of working a 12 hr shift. I was surprised because instead of the usual "Tell us about yourself" and "what are your weaknesses" I was presented with ethical dilemmas. They also had some screening questions that were along the line of those personality test they make you take. I just answered honestly; apparently that was enough.
I was asked to come in for a second interview! I am very excited. The recruiter said she could tell I had a real passion for nursing.
Now I get to work on endorsing my license in MO which is proving to be a bit of a pita, they want alot of paper work.
I'll let everyone know how the interview goes on Wednesday, hopefully I will have a job soon and this blog will be more interesting. :)

The Job Search Continues

So here I am. I survived nursing school and passed my boards. Now I sit day after day obsessively applying for jobs anxiously waiting to begin my nursing career.
For a field that is supposed to be suffering a shortage, jobs are hard to come by. After two months and about forty applications (believe me I’m not exaggerating) I have had one interview at a Dr.Office. I have another interview Monday at great hospital in a challenging unit; I'm praying that I’m able to somehow wow them more than the other applicants, and land this amazing job. I will admit it's not exactly the area of nursing I want to be in forever. The job is for a telemetry unit and I want to work in the NICU, but many nurses have told me that med-surg or step down is a good place to start, plus the hospital has plenty of opportunity for growth.
Of course, there’s this part of me that says what if I actually get the job? Then I’m a real nurse, in charge of real patients without the security of my instructor standing behind me. On the other hand, I’m excited to finally be doing something I love.
One thing I wonder though is this saying I keep hearing about "nurses eating their young. I suppose I will find out when I start working if it’s true.