Need some advice on med/surg

Posts: 5 · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 5 Location: WI

I work on a med/surg unit in a small town. I have been the nursing home nurse also for about a year and a half. I have been told that med/surg is 'hard' but wow I need some advice about time management or something. I have this night from hell tonight and I don't know what to do to change it or change the way I do things. Ok I had a guy getting blood (first time doing that on my own, had to look up the protocal) one with staff getting IV atb's, one getting golytely, one that is going home tomarrow and an admit for comfort cares oh the guy getting blood went from swingbed to acute so I had to change his whole chart to acute. I was overwhelmed. When the night nurse came in she said you should have called someone to come in and cover so of these things. and I felt she was right but my supervisor had said something about watching our budget and well everything went well except the paperwork. I guess I feel like I should be better at the paperwork or faster and I don't know how to get faster except to just keep doing it and it will get faster.? Now I am sitting at home thinking of I's and t's I didn't dot and cross. I feel like I am the nurse who forgets to say stuff in report, forgets to write on the IV record forgets to write notes. I don't forget meds though. Please help. Is this how your first I don't know year goes or do I need to do something different? Confused

Posts: 5 · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 5 Location: California

That is a heck of a lot of stuff to deal with for being so new...you have GOT to develop the habit of asking your charge nurse and co-workers for help!!! There are no two ways about it...open your mouth and cry "uncle" and let them know you're feeling overwhelmed!

I can relate to the pressure (nursing stress) of the shift you've described but that only helps you so much...make some friends on the unit. Offer to help them and ask for help from them. Talk with your charge nurse. Ask her for help too.

Remember, nursing is a 24/7 job. You must prioritize and some lower priority items may have to go to the next shift. In time, you'll see that you can't always get everything done that you are "supposed to" due to unforseen circumstances!!! You're going to have to accept that and cut yourself some slack! Wink

Posts: 5 · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 5 Location: WI

Thanks