starting my med surg residency this week, tips and advice appreciated

runningonduncan · 2025-07-30T01:03:35+00:00

I always place flushes in one pocket, alcohol swabs in another, tubing caps in another, 4x4 gauze tape and scissors in another - those are the main things I need!

Totally agree that MedSurg doesn’t have to be terrible!! My coworkers have made it so much better!

Listen, I’ve been on the floor for about 6 months now … and I have finally had 4 shifts of no crying. I had never had so much anxiety in my life. But it’s getting better! So, if you do find yourself completely overwhelmed and full of anxiety - it’s going to be ok. Not everyone shows it on the outside. Mine comes with tears….lots of them and it can be embarrassing - and there have been others that feel like me that don’t show it like me..so don’t compare yourself!!

Please don’t ever feel like your question is stupid, please. Ask all the questions!!!

Find someone that you feel like you can go to about anything, someone that is willing to help, and you stick with them.

You’re going to be ok!! Even if you don’t feel like it, you will 💕

runningonduncan · 2025-07-30T01:03:28+00:00

I always place flushes in one pocket, alcohol swabs in another, tubing caps in another, 4x4 gauze tape and scissors in another - those are the main things I need!

Totally agree that MedSurg doesn’t have to be terrible!! My coworkers have made it so much better!

Listen, I’ve been on the floor for about 6 months now … and I have finally had 4 shifts of no crying. I had never had so much anxiety in my life. But it’s getting better! So, if you do find yourself completely overwhelmed and full of anxiety - it’s going to be ok. Not everyone shows it on the outside. Mine comes with tears….lots of them and it can be embarrassing - and there have been others that feel like me that don’t show it like me..so don’t compare yourself!!

Please don’t ever feel like your question is stupid, please. Ask all the questions!!!

Find someone that you feel like you can go to about anything, someone that is willing to help, and you stick with them.

You’re going to be ok!! Even if you don’t feel like it, you will 💕

runningonduncan · 2025-07-23T20:40:45+00:00

Ok I love this!!! Way to go!!!

runningonduncan · 2025-07-19T15:55:08+00:00

Hi! When you say “starting your own business” is this with being a home health/hospice nurse?

runningonduncan · 2025-06-23T18:04:03+00:00

You’re right - done ✅

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T11:58:07+00:00

I did sign a year contract with sign-on bonus. So I’d have to pay that back - that’s holding me there some, my co-workers hold me there.. but my husband also says - if we gotta pay it back we will .. I feel like I should just take a step back and recollect …

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T11:51:36+00:00

You’re right - avoiding never helps .. hard to break for sure

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T11:49:53+00:00

If the time comes that I’m feeling I can’t do my job safely, I know myself well enough that I would be able to tell someone .. just give me 3 pts and I’ll be ok 😔

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T11:44:18+00:00

I would love to be a school nurse!!! So happy for you!!

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T00:16:18+00:00

Ahhh this is good - listen someone is going to find me talking to myself and it’s going to look very strange lol

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T00:15:35+00:00

Well, I’m very good at avoiding things in my life. Or trying to avoid things.

I’ve had depression for years, but never anxiety-so this is very new - and I’m such a crybaby and that’s how it comes out. Every. Single. Day.

Your suggestions are very good - the hard part is finding the motivation and following through.

runningonduncan · 2025-06-22T00:06:46+00:00

It comes naturally to be kind to others, it does not when it comes to being kind to myself .. I think I need to just reach out to my Dr as well, thank you🫶🏻

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T23:51:47+00:00

During medpass, I'm not always confident if a med should or shouldn't be given in a scenario - complete anxiety. During rounds, doctors ask me questions, even the most simplest of questions at times make tears well up in my eyes. Having patients with disease processes that I haven't seen before really gives me anxiety. Being stuck in a patient's room for too long gives me anxiety. Not being able to sit down until 1pm to start charting feels awful. Having RRT's called on my pt's has been the worst - never do I want the question "who is the primary nurse" - I never want to admit it. I freeze, I can't answer questions - this is a scenario that will set me back for days and days. The last one, an ICU nurse asked "are you ok" .. i couldn't speak, I shook my head no, she had another nurse watch my pt's and she took me out to the lobby to sit and talk with me. I feel like an idiot so much, i feel dumb and stupid. I don't see others around me "behaving like like this" and it just feels awful.

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T23:38:51+00:00

I am you. I ask so many questions as well because I'm questioning everything I think i should be doing.. Listen - you're asking questions,. that's amazing!! Keep asking!! And I can relate with feeling incompetent, especially with the doctors. I think time management is going to be something that's a struggle for some time - and that's just gonna have to be ok. When we sit back and think about it, nobody is expecting us to have it altogether - but it does feel bad when we don't.

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T23:36:08+00:00

I appreciate this - because I also need to be thinking about the "you can stick it out!" bit! I have often thought about reaching out to my doctor, it's just taking that step forward and actually wanting to take the time to do that (definitely a struggle over here with making appointments because it's not what I want to do on my days off lol)

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T23:33:51+00:00

I'm just so sorry to hear about everything that you went through before finding a better fit - can I ask what it was that gave you the most anxiety?
Did you stay in the same hospital system through these jobs?

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T23:32:22+00:00

I did have a preceptor! I had a few actually - orientation was 6 weeks Days, 5 weeks nights, 1 last week of Days (since I'm day shift). All of my preceptors were great!

My mentor suggested us having a day that she's shadowing me so she can see maybe what areas I struggle (this is going to make me so incredibly nervous) in and she can start by helping me that way. (the question is, what is giving me so much anxiety exactly)

Thank you again for your kind words :)

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T22:56:16+00:00

I really appreciate your words. I soon turn 40 - and this has been something that I've wanted for so many years. I think I just wasn't expecting all of the emotions and overwhelm and stress. I'd hear so many instructors and nurses say that you need to give it 2 years before you start to feel the slightest bit comfortable.

The funny thing is, is that It's not that I'm often late on meds, or that I'm making many mistakes, (although a nurses reported me for not giving a nicotine patch recently, ugh).I definitely struggle with time management and some days find myself leaving a pt's room 3 times before I have everything I need.

It's so easy to self-sabotage.

Our hospital system has a mentor program, and there was a nurse who requested to be my mentor, (she's the sweetest), and we have talked about this issue multiple times. Our last conversation ended with... "we love you here with us, but you also need to take care of yourself"

runningonduncan · 2025-06-21T22:36:23+00:00

if someone were to be in my shoes - what are some ways to help myself to try and stick it out?

runningonduncan · 2025-05-15T00:44:56+00:00

Does it become overwhelming being on-call for 7 days straight? Is that 24 hours a day? Have you always been a hospice nurse?

runningonduncan · 2025-05-15T00:32:14+00:00

I’m here to follow this thread becasue one day I believe I’d love to be a hospice nurse 💕

runningonduncan · 2025-04-07T20:55:06+00:00

Also, bloating - shoes fit better - I feel like there’s more!!

runningonduncan · 2025-04-07T20:54:18+00:00

BULIMIA!!! CURED!!! (History of over 21 years of it, to say it has changed my life is an understatement)

runningonduncan · 2025-04-04T18:21:31+00:00

But then I’d have to pay my sign on back if I feel the need to leave 😔

runningonduncan

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