How I'm Settling in With My New Job

Hello beautiful people! I am actually writing this article while I'm laid in bed with my legs propped up as they are pretty swollen and throbbing a lot from the long day of work. As many of you know, I just started with my new job last week after 4 months of unemployment and visa wait. After 6 years of nursing in different fields, I am pleased to announce that I am embarking again on a new journey on a new area of nursing and that is dialysis.

Dialysis is very new to me as I have either worked in the ward as a general nurse, a surgical nurse, and I also did a bit of aged care nursing. It is my first time to work in a specialised area of nursing and I have not a single clue about it. Luckily enough they gave me a shot and hired me despite my inexperience. I have been very transparent and honest to them about it but I did say I was very keen to learn.

Today was actually my 5th day of work and it's my 3rd consecutive shift of the week. Our shifts are quite long, lasting at 12 hours. But it is a lot less exhausting than ward nursing. I am happy and looking forward for tomorrow as it is my day off. I won't need to wake up too early. Yay!

I am happy to report that I have mastered lining and priming the dialysis machines! Yesterday we were short staffed, so although I was supernumerary they were forced to utilise me for drawing up intravenous drugs, blood pressure monitoring, cleaning the bay area, and documentation. It made me feel like I am a vital part of the work force than just a shadow or stick. I also had to baby sit a very confused patient who was trying to jump out of bed. Yesterday felt like war, but I felt like I won.

My preceptor was quite impressed with me and called me a fast learner. I am so relieved to hear that. I am a little afraid though, as she is trusting me way too much. Today she made me take off a cannula from an AV graft. Despite me not having my induction trainings yet. I have taken off normal IV cannulas countless of times and this is sort of a similar concept, but this ones are a bit special as they are known to bleed more. True enough I had a splattering of blood today. Thank goodness I had my personal protective equipment on, I did not end up having a blood bath. I was horrified but I hid it well and I asked my preceptor if I was doing something wrong cause it was like a fountain of blood and she said I did nothing wrong it actually quite happen often with grafts.

Anyway, she asked me if I was okay as apparently a lot of people gets put off after such event and I said I was coping. She then asked me if I want to take off another cannula for the day and I said yes despite my mind saying no 😂. The second cannula was an AV fistula and it came out beautifully with less blood. I was less shaky the second time too. I think I need to expose myself more to these .

So far so good I would say! I am enjoying the new job and learning a lot of new things from it. I realised that there are some things better learned experienced by hand rather than just by watching. I also learned that a hard job can be easier with the right attitude and mindset. Furthermore, I learned to laugh at my mistakes, take criticisms in constructively, and try again until I succeed. Lastly, I learned that it is never too late to learn something new again.