New Grad Chronicles ~ First Day on the Floor!!

It has been some time since I last posted.....

But I swear I have a good excuse!

I have been working like crazy getting all trained to go on the floor.  They have been cramming my poor overused brain with more information than I thought it could possibly hold.  I mean....I am so afraid that I will be sitting there listening to directions....I will feel a small pop....and brains will just leak out of my ear.

Sometimes I don't believe the essence of nursing is the killer part.....it is the darn paperwork and computer system.  The current one has been in use since I last worked for the system....7 years ago!!!  I think it has been built and rebuilt so many times that now you have a million side operations you have to do in order to complete a simple charting task......eeek!  Totally non intuitive.

Fortunately the legacy system.....finally....will be replaced.  Lots of folks don't like that.....I welcome it. 

All that aside....

I got to do my first day on the floor.  I shadowed a daytime preceptor....but I will be switching to nights next week!!!!! *gulp* I didn't expect it so soon!!  But the shift differential will make life easier I hope.

It was very overwhelming.  But I did some great stuff. 

The patients I had.....I loved them.  They could talk and interact with me.....well....all except my first assigned patient who had passed before I got there. 

I did all I should but there were some minor victories that were pretty awesome to me....

I made a stoic/lethargic man talk and interact. (willingly...hee) 

I took blood from  lady who was very afraid.  Got her on the first stick.  AND she told me I did a good job.  *beam*  (I am particularly proud of this as I hate needles myself.)

I met a very nice patient and her family.  They were having to make some hard decisions that day.  It was kind of sad.  But I felt really good when she told me that she really enjoyed having me as her nurse.

I worked with another new grad nurse.  Afterwards we got dinner.  And that was nice. I really like my new colleague.

And this I think is really cool....

Today, I was super tired after the 12 hour shift the day before....  I did a brain killing day learning about EKG readings and Arrhythmias.  brain....hurts....great....instructor....tons....of....material.....ouch.

So I go home.  I am pretty sure that I will be mentally unble to cook without setting my house on fire.

Stop at the Chinese Take Out place.  Made some kind of error.  I apologized to the lady taking the money.  Said sorry....I am really tired.   And she said.....but look! You are smiling!  You have very happy face.

And then....I realized it.  I was smiling.  I did have a very happy face!

As a new grad....I am scared.  I am overwhelmed. But I want y'all to know.  That I have a very happy face......and I am a very lucky girl.