Lost newish grad

Nurses New Nurse

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Hopefully my story does not have too many identifying details, but I am wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar to me? Sorry for the length in advance.

I am a new graduate RN. I graduated at the beginning of May with my BSN. All I ever dreamed of was hospital/med surg nursing..... possibly ICU eventually. The same day I passed NCLEX, I was offered a position on a neuro med-surg floor at a fairly well known hospital that I had interviewed at. I was THRILLED. I started that job about a month and a half later (I had to move and transfer my license, which took some time....), anyways, about two months into the position, i was starting to have management talk to me about some concerns that they had that I was not really progressing as fast as they would like/need for me to go. These went on for about another month, with me trying to fix what they were asking as hard as I could, but alas, eventually we came to the conclusion that this was not the best floor for me to start my career with. The acuity was way too high. I was discouraged/frustrated/angry, ect..... but I decided to apply to the hospital across town.

That hospital was smaller and had more of a general med surg position available. I interviewed, loved the managers and shortly afterwards, got my new job. I was super excited as this position was going to allow me to learn a few more skills than the last place (IV starts, central lines, ect....) Things were going great! at first...... but shortly after my first review (about a month in), preceptors and management were again beginning to bring up some of the same concerns that the last place did. I was angry, heartbroken, ect, but I again put my head down and threw my self 200% into the job to try to fix their concerns. Again, it was not enough, and I again had to resign from my second position in order to avoid termination.

At this point, I am numb, angry, scared, frustrated, and probably a whole host of other emotions. It seems as though at this point, I will not be able to handle hospital nursing which hurts sooooo bad. That is all I ever wanted to do, and honestly the pain that nursing has brought to me these last few short months has made me consider walking from the profession completely. But I LOVE nursing. I honestly don't know where to turn. Currently I am also working PRN at a nursing home, but am looking for other possible areas. I don't know where else to go. Nothing else really interests me, although I have looked into possibly infusion nursing, but I don't know enough about it.

Specializes in LTC.

What problems were they finding?

I have posted above

Random curiosity: Any chance you are somewhat an introvert or quiet "thinker?"

Specializes in Case manager, float pool, and more.

While I am sure it affects your confidence level, Meriwhen offered some good advise/words of wisdom. I am sure you have not posted everything and that is ok. Totally understand why.

Here is the thing: two separate facilities have given you feedback. Now you have to decide what you will do with it. Just because you may be off to a rough start does not mean you won't have a great career ahead of you. It means you will have to work hard to acknowledge the feedback and constructive criticisms no matter how hard it is to hear right now. Honestly, I know you've heard it before but that first 1-2 yrs is where the real learning begins. Best wishes, it gets better.

Specializes in ICU.

I would love to help you out if you'd like to bounce some specifics off someone. You seem open to coaching and I think that is so very important. PM me if you want to chat and discuss. Maybe I can give you some pointers/resources? I was a tele nurse prior to my job in ICU and remember how stressful it was starting out and feeling a little lost. Get in touch :)

Do you get the same feedback at the nursing home? I mean, I feel like LTC nurses are expert at time management and delegation. You don't want to get into too much detail, which I understand, but that leaves all of the introspection to you. I would stop and consider why you may be lacking in time those skills in acute care but (seemingly) not in LTC. That could help you identify exactly what's going on and how to remedy the situation.

Best of luck to you.

That's very funny that you would ask that. I think that fits me to a tee! One of their concerns I think is that I don't ask enough questions, but I think that's just because I process things quietly. I don't always have questions to ask.

Do you get the same feedback at the nursing home? I mean, I feel like LTC nurses are expert at time management and delegation. You don't want to get into too much detail, which I understand, but that leaves all of the introspection to you. I would stop and consider why you may be lacking in time those skills in acute care but (seemingly) not in LTC. That could help you identify exactly what's going on and how to remedy the situation.

Best of luck to you.

I haven't gotten the same feedback at the nursing home. In fact I have been told that they are proud to have me on their team. I only work PRN there, but.....

I would love to help you out if you'd like to bounce some specifics off someone. You seem open to coaching and I think that is so very important. PM me if you want to chat and discuss. Maybe I can give you some pointers/resources? I was a tele nurse prior to my job in ICU and remember how stressful it was starting out and feeling a little lost. Get in touch :)

Thank you! I will consider it. Don't know if I can use the PM feature yet. To be honest, my chance of acute care at this point is slim to none. I would have to move as I have exhausted the hospitals in the town I live in. I may move eventually, but not for awhile

Hi! I'm a new grad RN as well and like you, I feel quite a bit overwhelmed at times. I made a thread not too long ago wherein I vented about my thoughts and feelings when I had to work on my own for the first time (off of orientation) and reflected on things that made me struggle: "First day as an official RN: Reflection" https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/first-day-as-1142530.html

I empathize with how you feel and you're certainly not the only one who is struggling right now. My professor once told me that it takes a new grad nurse 2 years to begin feeling comfortable in their career. My take is that, the two poor performance evaluations you received from your previous employers may have negatively affected your confidence and that's only a natural response. But if you truly love nursing, use that as a motivation to better yourself. You already have an idea on what you need to work on. Reflect on the factors that contribute to what you're struggling with and brainstorm some ways on how to deal with them. Refresh yourself with basic nursing concepts if you have to and don't hesitate to ask for advice from your more experienced co-workers/supervisors/former professors. I've yet to receive my performance evaluation, but I thought reflecting on my every work day has helped me improve, especially with my time management. Never again did I go home at 9:30 in the evening (not yet again so far, at least!)

Thank you. Yes, my confidence is completely gone. Right now, I have no idea when or if I will be able to return to acute care. It's my heart and dream, but with what I have gone through, I just don't know.

I suggest thinking back to your clinicals. What allowed you to be successful in that realm? I know you were successful becasue you graduated :). Was it the smaller patient load? Having someone to process/think out loud with? Confidence?

That's very funny that you would ask that. I think that fits me to a tee! One of their concerns I think is that I don't ask enough questions, but I think that's just because I process things quietly. I don't always have questions to ask.

Yeah, I had a feeling based on some things in your OP.

So, in addition to whatever skills or prioritization critiques they have given you, I would consider the idea that they are also free to question your knowledge base...because they can't get a sense of what you know or what you're thinking.

Introverts can be misunderstood. Those looking on don't have a ton to go on to help judge "where you are" in it all. If you take two people, one very much a verbal processor and out-loud thinker, and the other someone more like yourself, well even if the performance of each are somewhat similar and they are at similar places in their course of learning, the outgoing one may come out ahead by asking questions and verbally displaying interest, enthusiasm, knowledge progression and critical thinking to those in a position to observe. I have seen introverts get the shaft when they are quietly getting the work done and/or progressing just as well as others but aren't outspoken.

Going forward, you have to show interest in terms others can understand and possibly just as importantly, you have to force yourself to interact more in order to build some relationships. Let others know a little bit about you. Exchange pleasantries. ASK QUESTIONS! You have to be willing to speak up just a little to show others that you want to learn and are, in fact, doing the critical thinking.

I suspect some of this has had a fair amount to do with your experiences so far. You can turn that around. You have to "get out there" just a little bit.

Don't despair!

Good luck ~

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