I am a new nurse. I graduated in May 2008. English is my second language. I speak English well in normal conversations but I get tongue tied when speaking with doctors by phone or in person. I forget everything and my mind goes blank and frankly feel like I know nothing. I feel overwhelmed by everything. I feel I have to ask about everything. I feel so uncomfortable when speaking to the doctors that sometimes I freeze. Recently, I had to give the phone to my preceptor so that she could speak to the doctor on the phone because I could not get the point accross to the doctor and she was getting upset. Could you give me any tips on how to overcome my fear?
The other situation that I am confronting is my preceptor. My preceptor is very knowledgeable; however because of my inexperience I frustrate her. She tells me that she wants me to figure things out on my own which is fine. On the other hand I feel that I need her guidence. I notice that when she feels frustrated she goes ahead and does whatever tasks or assessments and then tells me. However, I would prefer for her to at least ask me to be in the room with her when she does it. We have talk about it. I have even requested a different preceptor but my request was denied.
Now I am experiencing an inability to sleep at night and dread going to work. I am so afraid and feel that I will never be ready to take over my patients on my own. At this point, I am seriously considering looking for a new job because when I am home I am constantly thinking about work.
If anyone has gone throug a similar situation, I would like to hear how you overcame your fears, or can point me to any other resources.
Thank you,
Marta
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October 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Hi Gosh I remember being a new nurse, It was so terrifying. It must be a little harder for you, having English as a 2nd language too. I really admire and respect multi-lingual people. Go you!
But I feel your pain. You need to do several things.
Talk to your preceptor and tell you how you feel and ask her how she feels. Perhaps she feels she is “protecting her patients” by doing this she feels you aren’t capable of yet, or perhaps it is a time management thing too, or she might even feel she is doing something nice. Either way, you need to talk to her in a nice, professional non accusatory manor, to let her know how you feel. Perhaps if it is her feeling more anxious about your level of experience, she can watch you over your shoulder a little more closely. Invite her to do this, and be prepared to just deal with that. OR if she feels you are doing something incorrectly, be prepared for that too. Always tell her to correct you if you are incorrect in something. Make sure you make it a point to say, you can’t learn if no one corrects you. Say it daily if needed. Even after nursing for over 7 years I STILL don’t mind anyone correcting me. And I don’t have a problem professionally correcting someone else (gently!) Always be open to learning new things even “tricks” but make sure they aren’t violating safety in any way or policy!!!!! I can’t stress that enough!
Really strive to keep your lines of communications open. Also be sure to ask her if she LIKES preceptor. Many nurses don’t, or don’t get asked, they get assigned a new nurse and feel resentful.
There is a certain amount of anxiety that goes with being a preceptor…Having someone watch you very closely (even though you are just trying to learn) is well, to verb a word nervousing. (that isn’ a real word by the way) Also if you make a mistake, your preceptor often gets dinged for it too. That alone can make them on edge.
As far as talking to the Dr. Make sure you do a full assessment. Then write it down! Write it in English and be very clear and concise. Write down a list of symptoms or questions you have. Be sure to spell drug names correctly and have correct doses written before you talk to them. Go slowly even if the Dr. is nasty or tries to hurry you. It is your license, your patient. Be very thorough. And remember, doctors are human too, they also make mistakes and get tongue tied. When possible, attempt to meet the Dr.s in person so they put a face to your name and voice and likewise for you to put a name, face and voice to them. Once you develop a relationship with them, it gets easier.
I also recommend sounding confident- even if you aren’t it goes a long way.
Good luck. And remember, every nurse had to be a new nurse at one time too.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I was a new nurse, and worked for the number 1# internest in Richmond, Va. I found he was very willing to explain what I didn’t understand so. If I was frank and waited until he has a moment I got the answer I wanted, and he would explain why.
They are doctors, but the are just people. Coming across confident is good, but remember not to sound cocky.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I want to share my own experience with you, since I can relate, even now, 2 yrs into nursing.
I speak Spanish as a second language, but have lived in the USA for over 20yrs. When I graduated from nursing school, I was lucky to get a job at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, in Cleveland OH. My preceptor was great, knowledgeable in every aspect, but when it came to me starting to get things done on my own I would freeze, I would shake and sweat when I had to speak to MDs, and worst of all, some of my own coworkers would make fun of me. My confidence level was very low. Until I decided to work somewhere else. I went to a nursing home, where you see doctors maybe once a week, and if you talk to them it’s over the phone, which gives you time to write down what you have to say, and have charts ready for when the MDs ask questions you are ready to answer. Some doctors have their own issues with English being their second language, and they become frustrated as well. I agree with the reply above, they are just people, and. If they have a problem communicating with you, and your receptor has a problem teaching you, then she needs a receptor and the doctor needs to go back to school and take a course on communication skills. Good luck and trust me it gets better!
November 14th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
My advice for talking to Dr’s would be to try and have informatin they’re going to ask about ready. For example, if you’re calling about a high blood pressure, make sure you know what they have been running for a BP, any meds theyve been given for BP, if the pt is symptomatic with the high BP, if they have a history of hypertension, if they might be in pain, etc etc. I know it sounds hard, but try and predict what kinds of questions they will ask before you call them.
I am a fairly new nurse too (graduated may 2008) and I used to have to practice what I was going to say with my preceptor before I would call and there are still times when I hesitate to call Drs who I know are impatient, but what you have to know is that youre just trying to do what is best for your patient and if you get yelled at dont take it personally because they dont know you!!!!
I also know the feeling of dreading going to work and losing sleep because you’re so worried about the next time you work or are busy over-analyzing days that have passed at work. I think this is a prefectly normal feeling, especially when you just graduate! nursing is an intimidating field, theres a LOT to know and most of it you don’t learn in nursing school.
Hang in there!!! They say it takes a year before a new grad starts to feel competent. You can do it!