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Author	very nervous about starting grad program
CrazyCat (offline) Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 30	Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:07 pm Hi, I will be starting my grad program on 7th August in Cardiothoracic Surgical Ward. I am so nervous about it, like all my clinical placements I finished late last year and spent another 6months of study to complete one last subject at Uni. It just feels I know nothing about nursing now. Am I worried for nothing? Any tips that you can share to help me alleviate this anxiety?

Jellybean (offline) Joined: May 2006 Location: Posts: 4	Jul 05, 2006, 04:39 pm Hi Crazycat! I'm half way through my grad year, and it's tough. Tips? Use a cheat sheet all the time, helps with time management. I designed my own, so I can add info for handover time. This really helped me. Take time to check your drug charts before handover. I have missed giving drugs 3 or 4 times, and felt so bad when I was told the next day. Lots of nurses want you to take short cuts like they do. I have had to be very strong to stick to what I know is right eg not giving drugs if the order is not totally legal or correct. Protect yourself, even if it means things take longer (and they do!). Find a good role model, a conscientious co worker with a good knowledge base. Show the staff that you are a willing hard worker. Nurses can't tolerate lazy people, especially with wards being short staffed everywhere. Ask thousands of questions. Never give a drug if you don't know what it is. When you get on the ward, you will know a lot more than you think, and your confidence will grow week by week. Good luck. You will be fine. Jellybean

sassygirl (offline) Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Posts: 41	Jul 05, 2006, 05:20 pm HI Crazycat, as a manager of a ward it might help to know that we understand that you are nervous. If you have any supernumery time make sure you use it wisely - get yourself familiar with the ward, the emergency codes, the resus trolley, the ward routine, and the layout of the hospital (ie where pharmacy, pathology, x-ray, reception). Make sure you know how to use the paging system. It might help to ring your manager before you start to ask about shift times, uniform requiements, if you get a mentor, if you can see the ward before you start. Even knowing the layout of the ward will help. If you do get to see the ward before hand ask about the types of patients they have, the common illnesses (it might help if you can spell some of them!!) The patient care will come easy... I'm sure that's why you chose to become a nurse. Jellybeans advice is invaluable - never take shortcuts, never give a drug out you are not sure of, and ask lots and lots of questions. Experienced nurses do take lots of shortcuts, and not always for the better, and if they do something you don't understand - ASK. But most of all, enjoy yourself. You have reached an amazing milestone, and the rest of your career is ahead of you. Good luck and let us know how you went.

CrazyCat (offline) Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 30	Jul 21, 2006, 11:05 am Thankyou Sassygirl and Jellybean I have taken your advice and will utilise once I start. Still am nervous and will report back once I am in the ward to let you know how I am doing. regards Crazycat

priscillasmum (offline) Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 36	Aug 17, 2006, 07:49 pm Hi CrazyCat, Well, it has been two weeks since you started your grad program, how are you finding it? Anything we can help you with? Remember, we have all been beginners too. Joanne

CrazyCat (offline) Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 30	Aug 19, 2006, 05:02 pm Thanks for asking Priscillasmum, it has been hectic on the ward. I have alot of ups and downs, so much to remember on the ward. I am hard on myself if I have to keep asking questions, as I can tell when people get bothered with me. To me I have to ask, as this is serious work, dont want to screw up. I have to learn to take it day by day, breathe and reassure myself I will get there. I am feeling incompetent with this ward that I am at as I am unsure and wary with using PCA machines too and heparin infusions. I know I can always go to an experienced nurse to get help with those two things and many more areas. Handovers are my weakness especially to tape, I rather person to person . I will keep you posted in how I feel in the next two weeks. regards Crazycat

KingAaron (offline) Moderated by: admin Joined: May 2006 Location: Adelaide Posts: 51	Aug 20, 2006, 08:40 am Last edited Aug 20, 2006, 08:40 am update #1 Hey Crazy Glad to hear ur finding ur feet, Cant speak from experiance of having a GNP to complete, as Iam not a nurse YET :P, but Ive worked around the traps long enough now and have friends doing and have done their GNP, and one thing they remembered all the time, is no ones perfect, and u dont learn everythink ur ment to know in 3 yrs of uni, its going to take time. What ward u on atm ? Best of Luck :) Az modified: Wednesday 04 April 2012 11:54:52 pm - admin

KingAaron (offline) Joined: May 2006 Location: Adelaide Posts: 51	Aug 20, 2006, 08:41 am Cardiothoracic Surgical Ward answered me own question.. sorry 12 hr nite shift last nite off to bed Good luck with the rest of the yr :P

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very nervous about starting grad program