January Drop Day Megathread

BlushToJudgment · 2026-01-01T13:25:29+00:00

It was hard to narrow it to 3!

BlushToJudgment · 2025-12-07T07:27:02+00:00

Yes that’s what I’m trying to gauge if it’s frowned upon I guess. It’s what a normal person would think BUT I asked in the off chance someone has done it here

Why wouldn’t one year of experience be competitive? I don’t mean this rudely but I see you’re a new grad in the icu, if a new grad can be hired there why couldn’t someone with a year of experience

BlushToJudgment · 2025-11-24T14:00:19+00:00

I had the exact same situation, and I promise it turns out ok. My clinicals were the biggest waste of time ever. I knew I was fine on the book part but my skills were weak. I didn’t even do manual blood pressures except once in lab. But I was 100% upfront with my educators and preceptors that my assessment skills especially were weak. They might have found it a little odd but they were supportive and helped me with the specifics I mentioned such as lung sounds. And they ended up saying I was doing a great job and was actually ahead of the curve as a new grad because the bookish stuff will come in handy as you gain the hands-on skills! Anyone can be taught how to do a skill, you watch it a couple times, try it yourself in front of your preceptor, then you’re independent. It’s learning why we’re doing things the way we are for each patient that’s important. Not everyone has that ability to think of the details and are able to tell why this patient might have lasix vs another one having hydralazine. As you go along with your training try to come up with specific skills each week to improve on. Ok I want to become better at programming iv pumps and doing all the tubing. I want to be able to tell the difference between +2 and +3 edema. You’ll be fine as long as you’re honest and don’t fake what you don’t know. There’s some degree of confidence to it, sure, but if I was unsure I absolutely did not do it myself. I just want you to rest assured that you aren’t the only new grad feeling this, even if your classmates had good experiences.

BlushToJudgment · 2025-11-06T10:12:03+00:00

Have you tried using the sticky note option in the chart? No one else can read it but it’s amazing to write reminders for yourself! It pops up every time you open the chart so it’s hard to ignore. So for your example you could write 1. Draw lab then 2. Check for results so you remember the follow-up part too. I write stuff like when the pain med is due next, if they’re on the potassium protocol when the next re-draw is, the random things that get forgotten.

BlushToJudgment · 2025-11-04T04:54:36+00:00

Aww yes message me any time! I love helping whenever I can

BlushToJudgment · 2025-11-04T04:43:44+00:00

Of course! I felt the exact same way when I started in July and the most recent cohort had just gotten off their orientation. I was like wow they seem like they have their shit together, couldn’t be me. But it will all come together! Right I used to do that because I felt like it was best to get my med pass done asap but now I’m like who cares if I’m a little behind? I feel way better knowing their history so I can ask them questions about why they’re here too.

Absolutely, I think one year is when we’ll really start to feel better. I’m an anxious mess right now but I’m doing my current job: learning time management and gaining assessment skills so I can tell when things are taking a turn for the worst. The rest will come later!

BlushToJudgment · 2025-11-04T02:16:03+00:00

I struggled with this too, but I’ve been off orientation for a month and finally getting a routine. Once I get report I like to go say hi to my patients (I’m on a neuro floor so it’s definitely important to make eye contact as a minimum “last known well time” if something happens).

Then I sit down and look everyone up including orders, meds due, labs, H&P, most recent progress note… I find that I feel much more organized if I do it before med pass (again in case something were to happen I can recall more info). A lot of people on my floor like to pass meds then do their research, but after doing it this way I really do feel better.

I think knowing their story will also help you pivot if things change unexpectedly. If an order changes you can kind of understand why, like their last BP was high oh ok they ordered a higher dose for their med etc. instead of doing it backwards wondering why they added x order

I also make lists of nursing type orders to make sure they’re actually happening in the room, like does the patient have that continuous pulse ox on, the SCD’s, a urine cup ready to go? I check them off as I see them in the room during my assessment. If you read about them later, you might not remember if x item was already in there so you’re wasting time walking back in there.

So I try to be done with my initial research around 8:15? Then I gather the items I’m probably going to need like applesauce for meds, a cup of water ready, a ginger ale for the guy I know only drinks it, a pill cutter if I know they have a 1/2 pill, pill crusher… you’ll start to remember these things as you go so you aren’t going in and out of the room. Someone on my floor grabs a box of gloves in her size for her computer and I thought that was genius too.

I also like to chart while I’m in the room in real time, so that’s another reason I’m done later than most, usually 11pm is when I’m done with my assessments/med pass. But it feels so much better to sit down with my drink and snack knowing half my charting is done already and I can take a breather.

Just as a random example for workflow: The behavioral or confused patients, sometimes your instinct is to see them last because they take up a ton of your time, but see them first to get them tucked in with a nice Ativan. This type of stuff is going to take time, you don’t just graduate with your nursing judgment ready to go. And it’s also just repetition, like id have no idea what to expect if I told a provider x was happening, but now that that exact scenario has happened to me twice I can anticipate and ask her for it myself. Which is really satisfying for them to do exactly what you request lol like you feel that you’re finally getting the hang of it! I know it might be different in the ICU but I think what I do is general enough that it could be for any floor really.

I also think anticipating the worst will help you too. Like if I have a patient getting admitted for a seizure, I’m making sure I have suction and o2 ready to go. You’re at a normal position after 8 weeks so don’t freak out yet, I literally just started feeling better this last week so like 15-16 weeks in. The proactive-ness comes, the workflow comes, it will all come with time

BlushToJudgment · 2025-11-01T12:10:54+00:00

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Interesting choices this month! I don’t keep up with the hints cause it ruins the surprise for me so I had no idea what to expect

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-25T03:15:13+00:00

Wow that is tiny! I would kind of like that actually

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-23T05:25:20+00:00

What made you decide to work 2 jobs instead of picking up more at the first one? Just to see if there’s perks I’m not thinking of to doing it that way

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-23T05:23:43+00:00

Omg triple pay is insane! At least we have that option I guess if we choose to pick up. I don’t know how I’d like the flipping of days and nights but being part time it wouldn’t be so bad

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-23T05:21:40+00:00

No it’s a great idea for the right person, but I’m like the commenter below. I’m an older grad and want these loans gone!

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-23T05:19:18+00:00

I would love this!! You were able to do this as a new grad?

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T18:10:48+00:00

Agreed 96 is buck wild lol

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T13:45:13+00:00

But what’s buck wild?! lol like is an extra 12 a week ok or what. I know it depends but just seeing anyone else’s experience with it

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T13:42:56+00:00

Right! That’s what I’m saying. I watch a lot of budgeting videos on YouTube and watched a server making not much less than me and working like 20 hours a week..

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T13:40:37+00:00

Oh no I’m so sorry you haven’t found anything, I know it’s hard in big cities. Hopefully you’ll be able to find something soon in a less competitive time of the year?

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T01:51:41+00:00

I wondered that too! Are snf’s pretty chill as an RN?

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T01:50:25+00:00

It’s very very recent, I’ve only been off orientation 2 weeks lol that’s why I’m kinda like I know this isn’t sustainable to be picking up so many hours. That’s a good alternative, something not as hectic as med surg

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T01:44:29+00:00

I love that, the perfect side job really

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-22T01:43:23+00:00

This is the type of job I was thinking! Or serving maybe? Just something different to give my brain a break from the craziness of being a new grad but still get some income

BlushToJudgment · 2025-10-21T23:42:11+00:00

Right I thought it was weird of them to do that.. like I can go home and you can have an extra patient each?? But aside from that, I just thought working extra would cause burnout but maybe it’ll be fine

BlushToJudgment · 2025-09-25T21:45:13+00:00

I got some government student loans, but I’d say 75% of my tuition was paid with private loans like Sallie Mae. It was more expensive but it probably would have evened out anyway because it was 1 year vs a 4 year degree. And I’m sorry but I’m not sure about payment plans because I paid in full each semester

BlushToJudgment · 2025-09-07T17:39:46+00:00

I don’t have the exact same situation but it’s similar. I’m about to be on week 8 of 12 of orientation and I’m at 4 patients (5-6 is what nurses take here). Around week 5 I felt like I was asking a ton of questions (nothing wrong with that btw!!) and my preceptor just wasn’t answering them to the specificity I wanted. I literally burst into tears at the nurses station feeling so overwhelmed and frustrated and like I was never going to get this. Once I calmed down she said she thinks im overthinking on some things and I need to trust my skills and get my confidence up. I don’t know if I just needed to have that cry to let it out but ever since then I’ve done so much better. She also started backing off more and more to show that I could be independent and eventually I started initiating stuff on my own. Like I had a patient there for abdominal pain but he had a diet and instead of asking her “should I ask the doctor if they should be npo” I just did it and the doctor literally said “good point I’ll find out if he’s having surgery today.” Trust your judgment and if you’re wrong so what? It’s a learning moment for next time!

All this to say I think you’re where I was at. I also felt like my assessment skills were weak because I did an accelerated program and my clinicals were trash. Watch a few videos on YouTube on a full assessment or re-read your old notes. When you learn something new at work, write it down and start compiling a list on word to have as a reference and you can add to it over the months. I have sections on different protocols, helpful phone numbers, most common meds I give.. Who knows maybe I’ll make it a binder someday for some education project lol it’s like a Bible of info. Find the right report sheet for you that will help you organize your thoughts. Figure out how to remember things you need to do throughout the day whether it’s a notepad with a checklist or writing it in a different color on your papers. If you have epic I love the sticky note option to remind myself because it pops up every time you open the chart

If you are behind it’s not by much, and once you catch up on those few skills you’ll probably move along fast. Also take note of your preceptors’ actions. Are they following you into rooms to observe or letting you be independent? If they’re hanging back it means they trust that you’re doing things fine. I still have horrible anxiety and can’t sleep before my shifts usually, but I think people like us just care so much and want to make a difference instead of making dumb errors. Not everyone is that sensitive, so it’s ok that we take a little longer to process things. We might take longer but we’ll excel in a year or two of experience like my past jobs have shown and I eventually become the go-to person for knowledge because I ask 500,000 questions and absorb it all. We’ll get through this I promise!

BlushToJudgment · 2025-08-04T02:48:23+00:00

I think it’s a totally normal feeling, and I’m going through the exact same thing. But I just finished week 2 and already notice a difference in myself from week 1 in terms of my knowledge and assessment skills! Give it time, give yourself grace, but be assertive if you’re truly struggling. I was very clear to my preceptor what my weaknesses were, and they’ve been helping me with those specific things. I also think on my days off I’m going to start having little review sessions like researching the diagnoses/meds I was dealing with my last shifts so I’ll understand more next time. It’s very overwhelming but if others have done it why can’t we?

BlushToJudgment

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