i cant do this anymore i totally regret becoming a rn!

Advice:

New shift...

New unit...

New employer...

New specialty...

New career...

Just don't keep doing what you're doing...

Seek the employee assistance plan in your facility. Try to transfer to days. Ignore the quibbling as much as possible.

Oh erin. What can I say but send you a hug. I know exactly where you are coming from because you sound like me 12 years ago. Working on a major metropolitan cardiac sdu is tough especially in your first year, especially the first 6 months. I wanted to quit so many times, cried every day before going into work and just felt like I had no support and was scrutinized by everyone. The littlest mistakes I got terrorized about and frankly was ready to hang up the towel. I left... We moved to a rural area. The drive was over an hour.. that was my excuse to them.
I ended up working in a smaller community hospital with people that actually nurtured me and guess what I went back to my old facility around 5 years ago. All I can tell you is to either stick it out, things will get better once they respect you or find a position on a less stressful unit.

take it one day at a time. if you can stick it out a year, do it. a change from night shift to days maybe a first step? it will not be any less stressful, but as a former night nurse newbie, i could handle the stress better when i was on a regular schedule. i wish i could have adjusted to nights mentally b/c its a nicer time to be on the unit. too many people on days--too many docs taking up space! . for me nights never got better or easier to deal with. for some they wouldn't work any other shift. dont be too hard on yourself either. your family is what matters MOST. nursing is very important work, however find a way to leave the stress at the hospital. cardiac is a particularly stressful area. i wish there were a mentoring system in place for new rn's. i find most hospitals dont have any formal program in place. some do. even an informal group of newbie rn's on your unit to vent to may help?

it will take time to adjust to the whole ball of wax-the responsibility, the work flow, the shift, the meds you name it. people told me 'oh in six months you will be FINE'--dont' believe the hype! it took me a lot longer than that to feel 'less anxious'. i am never comfortable. always vigilant. hope this ramble helps.

What you're feeling is pretty typical for this point in your career. The first year of nursing practice, and making the transition from nursing student to practicing nurse, is notoriously stressful and difficult. It usually takes around a year to start to feel comfortable and competent. (People used to graduate from nursing school knowing this, expecting to be miserable through their first year, and not freaking out when that happened, but, apparently, no one tells nursing students this any more ...) You pretty much have to just hunker down, grit your teeth, and suffer through the first year, and you'll be okay after that. We've all been where you are now, and we've all survived.

In reponse to the advice that you switch jobs, I've often seen new grads switch jobs because they weren't as happy as they wanted to be where they were, only to find they were just as miserable, and the job was just as tough, in the new job. A lot of this is just a function of being a new grad. You're not going to be comfortable anywhere for a while. What helps, ultimately, is to get past the point of being a new grad, and if you change jobs a few times during the first year or so of your career, you're just postponing getting to the point where you do feel comfortable, because you pretty much start all over again each time you switch jobs. Also, switching jobs frequently early in your career makes you look like a bad bet to potential employers (a "job hopper"). Yes, switch to days if you get the chance, but I would strongly urge you to stay where you are for at least a full year, and then see what you want to do.

Hang in there, and things will get better. Best wishes!

Wow, I had to double check and make sure this was not a thread I started 3 years ago. Same unit, same shift, same misery. I got out and went into school nursing. It was a challenging switch for a relatively new grad, but I could not be happier with my decision. I always loved critical care when I was in the student role, but once I was in the RN role, un-uh, not for me. Nights were also a nightmare for my body. I am a morning person and like to go to bed at 9pm. I was fighting my biological clock and it just did not work.

I agree with the other poster who said try to change your shift, your unit, or something! Don't give up on nursing yet, there are many avenues to explore. Your first year is the hardest, don't give up!

I agree with the musical poster's response and I disagree with comments that you look bad to future employers if you do not stick out a miserable situation! There is something called quality-of-life and besides SLAVERY ended over 100 years ago! Therefore, New Grads do not need to remain where they started out just-because. In fact, if your reason for leaving has to do with health, poor management, a desire/passion to work in a different environment, family/personal issues etc. these are all good reasons to leave without it looking bad on your future resume. BTW, I took my own advise and recently left my prior employers and now work for a floor I desired (the ED) and with a group of SUPPORTIVE nurses at a different facility! First I tried to transfer and was twice denied.

Now, I am having a blast learning, training, and being treated as a professional! I do not want to take up too much of this thread complaining about my former employers or my horrid work experience but here is a thread started by another nurse that is in a similar situation to yours with responses that may help you out: http://allnurses.com/first-year-afte...ld-423726.html.

Hang in there. Do not give up on nursing; give up on your current situation and GET OUT!

Changing *anything* may be enough to help you feel better about your life and career. You may be suffering from burnout. Try changing shifts, units, or specialties. If you can't do it where you are, try looking for something in a different location. Maybe try home care or doctor's office, or school nursing or correctional nursing. You could even try agency.
Good luck to you!