Monday, December 19, 2011

Knowledge and experience

You know, I recently had a series of rather interesting things happen in my work life, which has resulted in me taking a part-time charge nurse position in the ER (um, holy crap!) and various factions of the trauma surgeon department thinking I know what I'm doing 99% of the time.

In reality, I am quite overwhelmed. I don't know how I went from shiny new nurse to okay nurse to preceptor to prn charge. I really feel like most of the time I'm just winging it and I've got everyone fooled. In fact, I remember writing about that exact thought not so long ago. Funny thing is I really haven't come far since that particular moment, at least in my own opinion.

To sum it up nicely, this is exactly how I feel:


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5 comments:

  1. Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O)December 19, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    I have a ten-year old grandson and still think I am faking it sometimes and how can anyone trust me !~! but year after year we have remained steadfast (you and me, I mean here) and been able to sustain the illusion long enough that it has become reality. Good for you, Sunshine, Hugs aplenty.

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  2. Solitary Diner (Also Known as The Frugalish Physician)December 19, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    I read the cartoon before reading your post, and it completely reminded me of my experiences as a ward senior right now. I think the feeling of being overwhelmed is pretty universal in healthcare!

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  3. Jessica EllisDecember 20, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    Fake it 'til ya make it, eh? Yeah, I'm with you. I think most of the confident-appearing nurses really have a constant secret pucker-factor going on. I've been in nursing 12 years now, ER, CVICU, NICU, ECMO...all hard-core....and I still don't know what I'm doin'. Cheers--here's to learning something new every day!

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  4. DanaDecember 25, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    New nurse or not, I think not knowing how you got "there" (wherever that may be!) is something that describes nurses everywhere! I graduated and will go from PICU RN to PICU APN in the new year...and I CERTAINLY don't know how I got there! Oh boy!!! Here's to "faking it" together though!

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  5. MabelJanuary 16, 2012 at 10:24 PM

    I'm in nursing school and this is how I feel every day! I can't imagine when I start working X.X

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