They say that learning should be a life long experience, that we should strive to learn something new everyday, whether it be technical or simply a new way of doing something you have done before.As most of you know I started my new job in PAR(Post Anesthetic Recovery)in August. My new employer has provided me with an excellent orientation, however the learning curve has been steep. I have never been a PAR nurse and that wasn't a requirement for the job. They wanted someone with Critical Care background and ACLS(Advanced Cardiac Life Support) training, all of which I have. I gather they thought I could learn what I needed to know on the job. Oh my gosh, there is so much to learn.
I don't know if you have ever heard the saying " A nurses is a nurse". I couldn't disagree more. Yes we all have the fundamental training....but that is where it stops. Saying a nurse is a nurse to me is like saying a neuro surgeon is cardiologist Let me tell you if I have a brain aneurysm I want the neuro surgeon operating on me and not the cardiologist. Well that is about how I feel in nursing. Nursing has become so specialized, and yes you must always remember your ABC's regardless of the field of nursing you are in. But nursing has changed and continues to change.
In years past, nurses would float from one ward to another. In one shift they could go from assisting in delivering a baby to defibrilating a patient in cardiac arrest. In remote areas this still holds true, the nurses have just become more specialized in their field.
I have worn many hats in my nursing career. I have been a student, teacher and student again. I have worked in the areas of Medical/Surgical,Palliative,ICU/Cardiac care and now PAR. The one thing that has stayed constant is that I find I am always the student. There is always something new to learn. It seems as soon as you get a grasp on something they come along and change it. Currently, not only am I learning a new form of nursing but a new way of delivering nursing care. In attempts to make health care more efficient we are being faced with new technology. New computers, and computer systems, out goes hand written nurses notes and incomes computerized nursing notes, slowly but surely they are eliminating the paper trail. I can't believe the changes I have seen in my career. I think about my colleagues who have been in the profession for 25 or 35 years and all the changes they have seen. Some for them good....some not so good. I digress.
I mentioned my learning curve. I am not a PAR nurse I never claimed to be one....I had the qualifications they asked for and I am eager to learn. I had no idea how much I didn't know. That is scary. I find myself after coming home from my shifts going on the computer researching
surgeries why they are done, looking up answers to anatomy and physiology questions that have come to me....drugs and anesthetic agents that are used and what to expect....my head hurts, my eyes are heavy. I want to know.....I feel like I should know.....but I don't....and so the pressure is on....not so much by staff...as they have been really good with me...but with myself. I figure I should know it....but how can I...I can't expect to know all of those surgeries and treatments and anesthetic agents...not yet anyhow, hopefully with time I will have a better grasp. Today, was a very busy day, the OR slates were full I was on my feet my whole shift except for my lunch and coffee break(for which I was thankful). I am stressed. I wish things came to me easier. I seem to struggle...somethings I grasp faster than others...somethings....like programing machine to deliver a medication took me longer than I thought it should partially because I let my stress take over and my common sense went out the window. I know more than I give myself credit...I
want to show them that I can do this and that I do bring something to the table and make a good team player. But right now, my nerves take over and I don't believe in myself and I know that causes me to block things that normally would come easily to me.Anyhow, I feel like I am forever learning, my grey matter is over flowing and it hurts.
16 comments:
I can't disagree. Perhaps, as a nurse, my number one job is to learn, be a student.
I admire your courage and I know it will all come to you in time. You are a brilliant, caring woman, that separates you from some of the rest. If I had to choose a nurse to care for me you'd be right at the top of the list! There's much to be said for taking ones time and getting it right.
Chin up!
I can't imagine at my age, and being out of my field for 10 years, that my marshmallow brain would ever come back to the anything close to the abilities it had so many years ago, heaven forbid if I ever have to face that challenge.
I know it is even more critical to know what you're doing when a patient's life is concerned. Hang in there, I'm sure you'll pick it up in time. Doing something often sticks with you much more than reading about it. I've been out of nursing more years than I care to state. I'm sure I could still do the basics but an aid can do that. A career in nursing requires constant education to keep up with the changes. My Aunt was a nurse like you spoke of. She was the inspiration for my own choice in becoming a nurse. She worked at many hospitals where she was the only one on duty in the wee hours. Many times I went with her and hung out in the kitchen or break room. I was impressed with all she knew and the responsibility she held.
Mama Bear
You should know by now how much I admire the way you are always open to trying new things. I'll add this to that very long list.
"Talk" to yourself the way you would a friend. Encourage yourself, pat yourself on the back. Be your own best friend and maybe this won't feel quite so hard.
*hugs*
The main thing I have to say is that if I was in a situation where I was hospitalized, I would want a nurse who was dedicated, trying to learn everything she could, and aware that there is so much to learn in each specialty (pretty much what I get from your description of yourself).
I would feel in much better hands with you than with someone who thought they knew it all and was stale and not attempting to learn as the profession changed. Here I mean someone who had done the same thing for 30 years and didn't try to keep up with changes in their specialty except for the basic requirements to keep the job.
I'd rather have someone like you with a lot of experience coming into a new specialty who was dedicated to learning and had a natural curiosity. Even a bit of nerves are ok unless they make you miserable. I think you are a rare nurse, and person, based on what I read here.
I have never worked in the medical field, but I have been a patient. I'd sure like a nurse like you who's constantly learning and trying to do things better. I think you just need to take a couple of deep breaths and let yourself do what you really know how to do. I was only a lowly computer programmer, but I know that learning to trust yourself with new knowledge can be tough. And the added responsibility of a patient's well being would make that even tougher.
I'm glad there are nurses like you who really care about the patient.
I think you are a wonderful caring person. You have a very tough job being a nurse, but I have faith that you can accomplish anything you set out to do.
It is reassuring that you admit you are still a student, I'd hate to have a nurse looking after me that thought they knew everything! :)
You sound like the kind of nurse I would like to take care of me. Nurses are always learning new things. Don't be so hard on yourself. It comes with time as you know from working other units. One of the dear docs I used to work with used to have a saying, "No pain, no gain." I have often thought of that saying while learning new things. The most inportant thing is that you want to learn and that you don't think you know everything like the last person said.
I feel ya sista! It scares me sometimes.
I am getting ready to start a new job and there will be tons to learn. My brain hurts now just thinking of it. Having Adult ADD does not help!
I don't think you can say that a nurse is a nurse anymore than you can say that of any other profession. We all stamp our personalities on what we do and deal with the work/people in different ways. Even the personality of a checkout operator shines out and can make a massive difference to my shopping experience.
You were the second name picked in my contest! Come by when you can!
someone once said: live like there's no tomorrow and LEARN like you are gonna live forever...
I admire your courage. for me, nursing is out of the question, cos too much blood gives me dizzy-spells.
You are an intelligent, wonderful, caring individual and it will all come to you in time. Don't beat yourself up....after all, Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was the earth created in a day. It took time and you will get it all down pat soon enough. I agree with Life in Westcliffe, I would rather have you for a nurse than anyone else I know!
It scares me, though, to think of them eliminating the paper trail. What happens if the computer crashes? I would want a way to gain access to the needed information right away........
Hugs, my dear friend!
Good post Mary Anne. While it is true that you are feeling like a fish out of water you are making a huge effort to learn and one day, sooner rather than later, you will be comfortable in the job but you will never stop learning I am sure. I'm sure you also appreciate the regular hours (apart no doubt from the odd call out.
I am impressed by anyone who can excel in such a demanding field.
Good luck with the learning curve.
Something tells me you will do just fine.
On a completely unrelated note, I just did a post about Meloncutter. After his worrisome recent post, I emailed him to make sure he was ok.
As per his request, I'm letting people know.
I'm visiting everyone he's linked to in his sidebar, to help spread the word.
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