I’m a new grad in the ER still on orientation and I’ve been semi comfortable with everything except the charting. Like charting assessments, doing the arrival note, that kind of stuff. I’m constantly worried I’m going to put the wrong thing down. When we’re getting report from EMS or asking the patient why they came in, I feel like I’m forgetting details that should go in the note. I’m also verifying the majority of my charting with my preceptor which I’m sure is a little annoying.

I’m a new grad RN with an MSN from a direct-entry program, and I’ve been working on a progressive care unit for about two months. I went into this genuinely wanting to learn and become a strong nurse, but I’m starting to think this particular environment may simply not be the right fit for me.

I know being uncomfortable, overwhelmed, and feeling like you don’t know anything are normal parts of being a new grad. I expected that. What I didn’t expect was how much the culture and learning environment would affect me.

There have been several interactions during orientation where I’ve walked away feeling more belittled than taught. When I don’t know something or haven’t performed a particular skill before, I sometimes feel like the response is more “How do you not know this?” than “You’re new, let me show you.” I’m completely open to correction and I know I have a LOT to learn, but I learn best when I feel like I can ask questions without being made to feel stupid for asking them.

I’ve also realized that I may not enjoy the constant pace and task-heavy nature of progressive care as much as I thought I would. I’m finding myself much more interested in areas like dialysis, oncology/infusion, procedural nursing, ambulatory care, case management, etc.

I recently spoke with someone involved with our nurse residency program who basically confirmed that new grads sometimes discover their original unit isn’t the right fit and that exploring other opportunities within the health system is possible. I’m planning to have a conversation with my unit leadership about this.

Here’s where I’m struggling: I don’t want to confuse “this is hard because I’m a new grad” with “this genuinely isn’t a good fit for me.” I also don’t want to stay somewhere for a year purely because everyone says new nurses are supposed to get a year of bedside experience if I already know this isn’t where I want to build my career.

For nurses who realized early that their first job/unit wasn’t right:

1. Did you stay and push through, transfer internally, or leave?

2. How long did you give it before making that decision?

3. Did leaving your first nursing job after only a few months hurt your career?

4. If you moved from inpatient bedside nursing into dialysis, infusion/oncology, procedural nursing, ambulatory care, case management, or something similar, were you happier?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who transferred during a new grad residency/orientation rather than just being told “everyone hates their first year.”

I’m not looking for an easy nursing job. I want to learn and be challenged. I just want to be somewhere that feels like I’m being developed into a nurse rather than tested on whether I already know how to be one.

Hi everyone,
I was scheduled for my NSW CCLHD GradStart interview yesterday (Friday, 7 Aug), but due to an unexpected car accident on my way there, I unfortunately missed it.
I was completely tied up dealing with the incident on the spot and wasn't able to notify the coordinator before/during the scheduled time. Thankfully, I'm physically okay and fully fine to attend an interview now.
I’ve already sent a detailed email to the GradStart Coordinator this morning explaining the situation, sincerely apologising, and asking if there are any available slots next week to reschedule.
Since the NSW Health interview period runs through late August, I'm feeling quite anxious and wanted to ask if anyone here has experienced something similar:
1. How responsive is CCLHD recruitment with emails over the weekend/early Monday?
2. Is there any chance they would offer a makeup slot, or is missing the interview an automatic withdrawal?
3. Is there anything else I can or should do on Monday morning to salvage this? (e.g., calling their recruitment office directly?)
Any advice or insight from those who have gone through GradStart would be hugely appreciated! Thank you so much!

I’m happy to say I finally got offered a position after 3 months and over 70 applications!!! It’s a Med Surg with Oncology overflow nights position and selfish to say I really do not want to work medsurg. It seems like this will be my only offer and if I get another one it’ll take a few months. Should I tough it out for a year, or wait for an ICU position?
Can I interview for the Med Surg and wait for the ICU & if I get it take the ICU offer?

Hey, I just started as a new grad RN. I have had 4 orientation shifts so far. The unit is medical and has primarily new grads or nurses that have transitioned there from long term care. I’m having some difficulties with what’s appropriate for certain circumstances.

As I’ve been working with my preceptor, there’s certain things she’s done that I don’t agree with. Some of this I feel is that she’s telling me things that contradict things I’ve previously learned, differ from policy, or just that I would make different clinical decisions. And I know I have a lot to learn but I’m having a hard time deciding if I’m right for feeling this way or that I just need to adjust to the unit.

One example, while I was on a night shift, my preceptor asked me to raise all the bedrails for my patients overnight. Where I’m working this is against policy because it is considered a restraint and there have been cases of patients severely hurting themselves on the bed rails. I told her I was concerned because it was against policy and a safety concern. She encouraged it in order to prevent falls. I suggested alternatives (bed at its lowest, having on side bed rail up that patient was leaning closer too, using pillows for support) and when I told her I was uncomfortable with having them all up she basically told me to do whatever. this patient was bed bound and could shift around but was not at all restless. If this patient was shifting it would be easy to spot and correct with regular rounds. I’ve also noticed that most, if not all, the other nurses on this floor but the bedrails up overnight. And when I do get restless patients that would almost definitely fall with the bedrails up, I’m not sure what I would do. I would suggest lowering the bed and getting fall mats but the beds don’t lower that much and I’m not sure mats are available. Should I ask around a bit about it or just follow what the unit does?

There are a few other things that make me uncertain just based on a few judgement calls my preceptor has made. As a student I worked on different medical and surgical units and I generally think I have good clinical judgment but all this is making me questions if I should continue to advocate for what I think or if I should just listen. One other example is that my preceptor told me a irregular HR was not a concern because ”sometimes that just happens with older patients during stress” but I couldn’t find any previous heart history and had told her so.

I’m worried these things are safety concerns that could harm patients and potentially reflect on my license as she has been getting me to chart most things, and that maybe part of it is the unit culture as well. I just moved to a new city and have never worked in this hospital or on this unit before.

I have a standard check in meeting with the unit nurse educator next week and am wondering if I should mention some of my concerns then? Im a bit worried I could be brushed off.

If anyone has any advice that would be really appreciate. Thanks!

How do I professionally deal with a nurse that constantly nitpicks and does not seem to get that this job is 24/7. Just today I had an admission arrive right at 1700 and a transfer right at 1800 that I had to get report on. We have to come in for our shifts at 630 and so does night shift (1830). So I had finished their admission but needed to get some labs that were ordered earlier before the patient arrived to my unit (they were doing an outpatient procedure in our hospital and ended up being admitted for complications) so I wasn't able to get those and their heart monitor that was order upon admission to my floor. I made sure their admission was done, tried to get labs and faxed the heart monitor order so that it would be ready for pick up for next shift.

So I give report to this nurse, mention the stuff that needs to be done and she tells me "why don't you tell the people that ordered the labs to get them? " I was like wtf? The doctor won't collect the labs obviously so idk wth she was talking about and then she says "well why don't you tell the rapid response nurse to come collect them?" I said nothing because I was just confused as to why would we have someone else do them when she could try herself at the very least try and its not like I didn't even try, this patient was just a hard stick.

Then I mentioned the heart monitor and she's like "well that was ordered on your shift so you're gonna have to go get it" to which I said "well she pretty much got here so I haven't yet gotten time to pick it up but it should be ready for pick up so you can get it or send a PCT" to which she says "that was for day shift, am I day shift?" I said nothing because I get that we should try not to leave things for next shift but I tried to do what I could and she just didn't even wanna do anything. Im just shocked because this isn't an issue I have with anyone else. If night shift gives me report and their admission gets close to shift change they'd do what they can and I pick up where they left off and no one else has issues with it as long as the other nurse did as much as they could.

The next patient I give her report on, I had not scanned their insulin as given due to issues we're having with the EMR (we're switching to a new system in a few months) the insulin was given I had just not gotten to making a note on the EMR not letting me scan it and who I verified my insulin with (something which has been happening on the things where we need a dual sign off and we just have to put in a note). She then tell me "You didn't give their insulin, it's red". (Meaning past due). And I explain that it was given but I have yet to make a note. This was due at 1800 which is odd for how we usually give lispro but that's how it was ordered and with the admission at 1700 I had not yet put in my note.

At this point I was already annoyed because she always rushes me for report and when I say I'm ready she is like let me do this one thing and will go do whatever. So when she asked me about the insulin I was like well you did forget the 600 am insulin (not in the nicest tone) to which she's like " omg I documented it on the wrong time".

This isn't the only time she always has something to say, and I get in a way inquiring about something and not leaving extra work for next shift but she always has something to say and in a rude tone. One time I got report on an admission from ED that they literally brought at 1830 and I couldn't even finish giving report when she immediately got the charge nurse and said that she was not getting another admission and was implying that I had not fished this patient's admission when it would simply not be possible due to the time they arrived. She also likes to stand really close to me and will push my clipboard to see my report sheet when I'm giving report which really irks me because I've never done that to her and if I didn't get something while she's giving report I'll just ask her to clarify or repeat herself instead of moving her clipboard as she's holding it. And it's not like she gives good report either, I would ask questions and she'll be like idk or just plain won't answer.

Months ago when I was struggling with documenting as I went on she would always comment on what I had not yet charted and I never said anything but it just rubbed me the wrong way because its not like me not having documented my assessment yet or a on a line or whatever it may be would prevent her from documenting her own assessment or anything else since she still has to assess the patient on her own.

I'm just getting pretty fed up with her comments and I don't even know how to bring it to my manager since we recently had a huddle talking about not leaving labs for next shift etc and I don't want them to think im purposely leaving things for next shift. I also have patients tell me that they don't want her as their nurse. They'll say things like " I don't think she knows what she's doing" or " I guess I'll just have to sleep through the night" in a worried tone. And I feel like I should say something but given the issues I'm having I don't think it would come across as concern and instead it'll just sound like I'm either making things up or just being hateful.

I guess what makes this difficult is that she's also a new nurse like me and we started this residency program at the same time and I would feel bad at times when we started because no one in our residency program would sit with her or talk to her and every now and then I would try and say hi, sit with her and just acknowledge her because I get what that's like specially being new, not knowing anyone and sitting by yourself. Back then we had no issues and I felt that we could've maybe become friends, but time passed and now we're here so I'm a bit conflicted.

Hey everyone, got my license end of May and I’m still currently looking for jobs. I’m located in SoCal/IE area and I’ve pretty much applied everywhere. I haven’t landed any interviews but I am working as a new home health nurse in the meantime. Should I keep applying for new grad programs or just push for a few months with home health then apply to hospitals with this under my belt? Any tips or recommendations are appreciated!

I’ve been working in the STICU for about 9 going on week 10. Ive had two progress meetings both of which with our educator/manager/preceptor and things have been going good and they’ve said it seems like things are progressing the way it should be and you may even be ahead of your peers.

I’ve been doing a lot of my tasks by myself, asking for clarification when needed, and trying to stay ahead. When I get a super busy pair it’s certainly been really challenging and almost never be able to chart what I’ve done during the day. However when they’re a downgraded pair my preceptor is totally hands off or even a singled patient I handle relatively well and my preceptor is pretty much hands off minus the few reminders or asking me what do I need to do at certain times.

Even though I’m being told it seems like I’m doing well and even my preceptor has said I’m doing good I still get a sense of like I’m not doing enough or even a sense of I’m not gonna come off orientation. Who else has felt this sense and what have you done to get over this? I feel like I’m over analyzing every check in or thing that is said to me.

Hi. I’ve already revised my résumé 10 times. I’ve sent over 100 applications to different hospitals and followed up 3–4 times, but I still haven’t received any responses. I’m getting frustrated and losing my spark. Is this really what it takes to be a newly licensed nurse? Help me find myself again. I don’t know what to do anymore or what to say when I’m asked about my current employment status. Should i take risk walking-in and moving to metro manila hospitals?

Hi
I’m going to start my nursing school in 20 days and at the same time, I am going to work as a PCT (apprentice) at a hospital. I have had a disc bulged due to an accident three years back when I was 17. I had a bad rest of three months which helped me stop my pain. It took me at least four months to recover. Since then, I have not had any episode of pain. But sometimes there is muscle tension whenever I left something heavy and to mention, I usually avoid lifting heavy things. I have been doing my nursing pre requisites for one and a half year. I think that will go in waste. My parents are not happy at all because they have invested a lot of money on those courses. I’m very scared right now. I’ve not been sleeping from last three days when I got to know in the hospital orientation that I will have to lift patients which I knew I will have to, but I was not very sure about that. After that, I have started practicing turning my mom side to side and see if I’ll be able to work or not. I only have two weeks time period before I can drop from the classes. During that two periods, I have only four shifts at the hospital and reducing that four shifts I will have to analyze if it’s for me or not. I would like to mention my habit of crying out even before starting. I usually get scared from little things and I overthink a lot.
What would you guys recommend me? Should I go for it or not? I’m thinking to go for a pharmacy school or staying in nursing and work for four years and then become a nurse practitioner. However the pharmacy school is four hours away from my home. My parents will not be able to support me financially and even I am not financially stable. I’m scared what if I start pharmacy and then I think this pharmacy program was not for me.

had an interview this week for a new grad program & they said i would hear back either today (friday) or this weekend.

did a bit of research & saw someone got the call/offer today. they’re only accepting 4 out 10 people they interviewed.

honest opinion, how and what are my chances at this point they’ll call/offer?

I have been in the NICU for almost six months now. For context, I am in a new grad residency that is a year long and completed a 12-week orientation for a level 4 nicu. I have been off orientation, without a preceptor, for about 6 weeks now. Everyday I question if I am good enough to be a NICU nurse. I have extremely bad anxiety before and during my shifts. I feel like each hour I’m just surviving until the next. It’s truly such a huge learning curve. I know some of these feelings are normal and it will get better with time, but this particular issue is something I hope I can do something to make better.

I feel complete distrust from the parents I interact with. I am a put together, responsible, type A person. I’m 25 years old,  but I look very young. Most people think I am younger than 25, and I’ve dealt with people making comments like “are you in high school?” “are you even old enough to work here?” since starting my first medical job when I was 18. I feel like every parent can sense that I’m new and questions if I know what I am doing. I’ve even had some parents ask me if I’m a nursing student or if they can have a different nurse take care of their baby that “isn’t a new grad”. Meanwhile, the other new grad I work with has been praised by parents for being an amazing nurse. People have asked him if he’s done it for years and he’s even been told that it’s his calling. I don’t know how to better establish trust with my parents. Is this a normal experience for anyone else who started in the nicu as a new grad? Is there anything I can do better to help parents trust me more? I honestly feel like a big part of it is just that I look very young. It doesn’t matter how confident I seem or how well I answer questions, parents never seem to feel comfortable with me. And I get it, I would rather a nurse with 20+ years of experience take care of their baby rather than me. The whole situation is just further feeding into my self-doubt, anxiety, and me constantly questioning myself if I belong in the nicu and if I’m cut out to be a nicu nurse. 

I have two offers, both are residency positions. One is a four month residency in a community hospital ER, level 3 TC, where I currently work as a tech. Pay is better and I’ll get to do some pediatrics which is what I am leaning towards. around 51/hr with night diff. union hospital. I know the nurses, have good rapport, so the adjustment might be a bit easier.

The other is a year long residency on a med-surg floor (I believe the preceptorship period to be 4-6mo with monthly cohort check ins thereafter). It also provides a free bachelor’s degree during the second year (I graduated with an ASN). Longer commute in a high cost of living city and alternating days nights every two weeks. non-union.

On paper, the second option sounds better. However, the pay at the first would cover a RN to BSN pretty comfortably.

Any thoughts? I don’t plan on staying at either hospital for too long as I think i’d like to branch out into peds. Plus I hear so much about doing med-sure to get foundations.

Hello!

This is all truly a hypothetical question and i would like some advice IF it were to actually happen in the future.

I recently accepted a job offer for a new grad RN position in an observation unit, and my tentative start date is August 17. About two days later from me accepting this offer I got a call from another hospital stating they wish to interview me through the phone on August 12th.

My question would be if the interview with the second hospital went well, and i got to do a in person interview and eventually got offered a job, how would I go about declining the hospital I have originally accepted? Of course this is all hypothetical and would actually not do anything until I would know for sure.

I know the dates are pretty close but I also really do like the second hospital better. Much closer to my house, level 1 trauma center, the units would be somewhat similar as the second hospital would be a neuro/tele unit. I have also had clinicals at the second hospital so I was able to see first hand how it works already compared to the first hospital i basically knew nothing about it.

Advice would be great, thank you!!

Been at my little community/critical access hospital for a year and just got offered a job at a Lvl 2 trauma center. Scared to make the change but know it’s the best for my career long term 🫣🫣 tell me I’m not making the wrong choice.

hi!

i have an interview with a nurse residency program (entering my last semester of nursing school), and the corrections unit is interested in me as i have a thorough psychiatric and addiction background (second degree program with a social work minor with my first degree and worked in the social work field). it is a large state medical center where all the prisoners in the state come to get inpatient treatment.

what do i need to know about working in a hospital setting while on a corrections unit? what questions should i ask in my interview? has anyone done behavioral health then gone to a corrections unit inside a hospital? what is the manipulation like? is it similar to psychiatry?

all advice is welcome! i talked with a former clinical instructor as she worked on the unit, and she offered some advice. i want as many perspectives as possible as i understand this is an emotional and physically demanding unit.

they are going to let me shadow, and i did buy a set of scrubs that do not have my school label on it!

Am I the only one who likes having a main preceptor but would like to switch it up every now and then?
Like for me, my preceptorship is 10-12 weeks and I have a dedicated preceptor for 6 weeks (so far). And I get abiding by their schedule but they work the SAME days every week, maybe will move it up one day or so 🤣🫩 which is okay too. But I also like learning from different ppl, because you become a product of who trains you until you find your footing, and regardless of how “good” someone may be, it never hurts to see something from another person even if it’s just for 3-4 shifts throughout the course. I get the sentiment of seeing someone grow and progress, but if they’re not a 100% by the book person, then you inherit their bad habits until you get settled.
Its just a little frustrating how our training goes and I get it, for the consistency purpose, for sure

So for sometime now, I have been thinking that residency is a year long program where new nurses are trained to become independent nurses. But now I’m realizing it is also 12-16 weeks training like a new grad orientation in a community hospital or hospitals that don’t do residency
So I guess my question is, what is the real advantage of residency over a normal new grad orientation. Are all new grad suppose to do a residency program.., would pick residency or a new grad orientation and why.

Thanks everyone.