Learning new names
I recently poked fun at this very phenomenon on my personal blog in a post called Me and the New Job. Sure, all the employees have ID badges; heck, you have one too. But how in the world does a person remember 20+ new names a day?
Needing a GPS
Bed 3456 on 13SW. Take the north elevator down two flights and make a right. Follow that hallway down the ramp and take the last elevator up to the 10th floor. Once you get there, bear right immediately at the nurses station and take the next elevator to the 13th floor. Follow the winding loop of a hallway until you get to the T, where you’ll want to take the second left…(does any of this sound familiar?)
Learning tradition versus protocol
We all learn the hard way that most nurses follow protocol…buuuut sort of don’t. I don’t like to call them shortcuts, but let’s be honest here: We all use them. We’re not breaking any state laws or compromising patient safety, but we all find ways to expedite a process. Just be sure you know what the official P&P is before you accept a shortcut as a standard.
Avoiding Sybil (AKA coworkers with multiple personalities)
How in the world can a fellow employee be your best friend one minute and treat you like his or her mortal enemy the next? This goes for all health care workers, not just nurses.
Walking on eggshells
We all know there are some nurses who don’t play well together. Or certain nursing units don’t jive well with other units. Learning these “schoolyard rules” at your new workplace can be exhausting.
Getting used to a whole new phonebook
I don’t know about you, but the operator becomes my best friend at a new gig. Eventually, the phone numbers will click…but it takes awhile!
Transitioning out of the honeymoon period
There seems to be this transition when, all of a sudden, certain employees show their true colors. They go from being inviting and positive to burnt-out harpies. What the heck happened, I will never know. But your work environment goes from being the greatest place known to man to something much less inviting. The honeymoon period length varies every time.
Evaluating your choice
Ultimately, a new job always ends in a decision. Did you make the right choice? Will this job be a good fit? Will you continue? Or will you set your sights on somewhere else? I feel that everyone should wait a minimum of six months before making that decision. You’d be surprised what you may discover.
In the end, it’s just a job–it’s not your life unless you make it your life. Make every attempt to have the two mesh well; just be sure you know where your priorities lie. Best of luck!
When we discuss students, we always mention their qualities. Those qualities show what they are…
If you or someone you know is juggling mental health issues alongside substance abuse, understanding…
For the last couple of weeks, the Israel-Hamas conflict has taken over the news cycle.…
Our eyes are invaluable, serving as our windows to the world. The ability to see…
Undoubtedly, one of the most demanding and challenging professions is nursing. Nurses work long hours in…
Echocardiography, or echo for short, is a key diagnostic test used by cardiologists to assess…