Hello all. I graduated last May and work as an RN on both the m/s and the tele floor. I work part time, 3 days per week, 3-11. I am experiencing tremendous regret feelings for having become a nurse. I went from first feeling the whole 'new grad anxiety jitters' to now (though I still feel anxiety at times of course) the feeling I mostly have is dread.
Right now, my hospital is really understaffed and it is also the busiest it has been in a while. On my 3-11 shift (which is a very med-heavy, admission heavy, busy shift) we have 9-11 patients each. To me, this is a pretty absurd patient load. I feel like I am totally shafting my patients in terms of giving quality care and attention. But there is really not much I can do about it seeing I have up to 11 people to care for and do everything for within an 8 hour shift. I feel like it is such an injustice to them. And in terms of myself, feeling like that and being so overworked... not being able to take a break and having to stay 1 to 2 hours extra every night to chart...it's really draining me emotionally and physically. I am only part time...I can't even begin to imagine how the full-timers must be feeling!! I've noticed more mistakes are being made, details unattended to, documentations lacking, all because we have so many patients (day shift has been having 7-9). People say the busyness at a hospital is like a roller coaster (up and down), but we are starting to wonder...will it ever come down again?! We are becoming so tired and aggravated (that's an understatement) with the situation. People are calling in sick more and more(can you blame them???) but then the rest of us are even more short handed.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to get at here other than venting a bit and looking for some support. Is anyone else dealing with this right now? I wish I could like my job and not absolutely dread going there. I wish I could feel like I am making a positive difference, but I honestly just feel like I can't give quality patient care with such a heavy load and it's really burning me out . I'm not sure if I would dislike the career in any situation or if it's this situation that's ruining it for me. I want to stick it out for a while here, and I know from personal experience that the grass isn't always greener.
Any suggestions? Or uplifting motivational speeches? hehe. Thanks so much for listening:)
. I'm not sure if I would dislike the career in any situation or if it's this situation that's ruining it for me. I want to stick it out for a while here, and I know from personal experience that the grass isn't always greener.