With Freedom comes Responsibility

Last night was the my first shift off orientation, a few shifts earlier than anticipated. Orientation is a period of 6 weeks where we still work 'underneath' another RN just for the extra guidance and support so we can get used the ward and the systems and thinking like a nurse. I'd been having 3-4 patients during orientation, and last night I had 7. I had done the night shift the night before, and it was chaotic and very tiring, and even though I had slept for 10hours straight when I got home, I was slightly apprehensive before starting last night's shift. However, last night went very smoothly and although we had 3 admissions, nothing drastic happened and I managed to get everything done. I also felt completely awake and on the train and bus home, was able to keep my eyes open. I also only slept for 6hours, a more reasonable amount of time, and was awake throughout the evening to see the sun.

It is quite a big step no longer being in orientation. It means that I am no longer extra hands on a busy shift, but instead required to do my bit and it's all my responsibility. That's one thing that I have really started to think about, everything I do, whether it a mistake or the best thing to do is my responsibility and my decision. My registration and colleagues and my patients rely on me doing the right thing, and not making any drastic mistakes; and in healthcare a small mistake can be drastic. 

Nursing isn't about us, it's about our service.

In the line of healthcare professionals, nurses are often the last one in the line when it comes to decision making. The doctor can prescribe a medication, the pharmacist can deliver the medication, it can be checked by two nurses if required, but the nurse administering the medication has the full responsibility that it is the right thing to do. With this responsibility there are safety precautions to help including the 5 Rights of Administration, where you check it's the right drug, dose, time, route and patient, but even then mistakes can happen. 

Part of my new graduate year requires me to attend study classes and undertake a postgraduate paper. One of the things a speaker said was not to focus on patient centred care, but instead strive to be the best nurse I can possibly be. I've really taken that statement and applied to my nursing, thinking about what I could do to ensure it's the best for my patients. This includes correct infection control, accurate documentation, effective communication with the team and any referrals to offer specialised individual care; and then also thinking about my patients as humans who require food and drink and sleep and comfort and someone to talk to when their scared, someone to laugh with and someone who is honest. As exciting for me as nurse to be able to do all these tasks, it really all falls back onto the small acts and the attitude I hold towards my patients and my nursing care. This is how I will strive to become the best nurse, remind myself that they're human and not just another body in a bed. 

The title of this post With Freedom comes Responsibility portrays exactly how I'm feeling as a new graduate, especially now that I'm no longer in orientation. I am free to make my own clinical judgements, to work as I deem appropriate, and to become the nurse I strive to be, but I also now hold all the responsibility for the actions I take, and for my attitude and my nursing care. I am definitely supported by the team I work alongside, but as part of the team, I must play my part and provide competent and effective care.