Moving up in the world

Yesterday was my first day of orienting to charge nurse. Big deal...yeah, right. It is definitely not easy.  I knew I was dreading this moment in my career. Just seeing what everyone else has to deal with when in charge was not very appealing to me. We work in a very busy ICU. During the day we are dealing with trying to get patients out, getting surgeries in (if the unexpected e-team/code/admission doesn't take your open beds). On top of that you are dealing with different levels of doctors and some nurses that don't want to do what they're supposed to do. And then dealing with their personalities? Pfff...please.

And then top it all off with trying to remember all of the paperwork you have to go through.

Thank goodness we are getting not one, but two days to orient now. And I got to work with an awesome nurse who knows what she's doing. And thankfully the day was pretty steady, for the most part. I know it's one of those things that the more you do it, the better it will get. I just feel really uncomfortable and slow and annoying when I ask everyone all these questions. It will get better, right? I guess getting more responsibility is good. And with me being pregos, it's probably coming at the best time as I start getting bigger and can't do as much bedside care. So we'll see how it goes. I orient again for 8 hours tomorrow, then am on my own the last 4 hours of my shift. Then doing it all alone next Tuesday for 8 hours! Wish me luck!