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This is a discussion on Quit nursing already? in First Year After Nursing Licensure, part of Nursing Career Advice ... Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital...
by jellybean16 Feb 21, '12Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital shift work thing). I like the community a lot more than the hospital, but as a new grad, I feel like I've done both my patients and myself an injustice. I graduated with excellent grades, and am willing to learn and ask questions, but I'm all by myself for the most part with the type of work that I do. Almost every day I am googling something medical because I am not familiar with a patient's condition. This leaves me so stressed out that I am actually feeling depressed. I feel like the company I work for doesn't care about educating me; they just want to fill their quota for patients seen. I sort of regret my career path and choices, and am embarrassed to admit that I am thinking of changing my career already just short of being a nurse for 1 year. I went for my degree looking for a challenge,wanting to help people, but I feel like this isn't me (I'm more the creative type and partially went into nursing due to family influence). Anyways, a lot of my patients like me, and most of the time I feel some sense of reward helping them, but I'm scared for them and my license (working on my own). I'm thinking about using my background of medical knowledge to get into technical or medical writing. Any suggestions or insight? It would be much appreciated...
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Feb 21, '12 by Hygiene QueenQuote from jellybean16At least you have enough sense to do some research to understand your pts.Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital shift work thing). I like the community a lot more than the hospital, but as a new grad, I feel like I've done both my patients and myself an injustice. I graduated with excellent grades, and am willing to learn and ask questions, but I'm all by myself for the most part with the type of work that I do. Almost every day I am googling something medical because I am not familiar with a patient's condition. This leaves me so stressed out that I am actually feeling depressed. I feel like the company I work for doesn't care about educating me; they just want to fill their quota for patients seen. I sort of regret my career path and choices, and am embarrassed to admit that I am thinking of changing my career already just short of being a nurse for 1 year. I went for my degree looking for a challenge,wanting to help people, but I feel like this isn't me (I'm more the creative type and partially went into nursing due to family influence). Anyways, a lot of my patients like me, and most of the time I feel some sense of reward helping them, but I'm scared for them and my license (working on my own). I'm thinking about using my background of medical knowledge to get into technical or medical writing. Any suggestions or insight? It would be much appreciated...
That's smart.
Too bad you aren't getting more support/education/training from work.
That's stupid. -
Feb 21, '12 by flexisealI still google stuff and I've been a nurse almost 7 years
Sometimes working in a hospital gives you more experience, just a thought.
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Feb 21, '12 by VioletKaliLPNIn a perfect world we would have all sorts of educational opportunities available in every workplace. REALITY is that as adults we are quite often in charge of our own learning. I constantly google concepts and new medications I an unfamiliar with, and I find that I can educate myself quite well. - Feb 21, '12 by jellybean16The difference with my position is that I don't have a colleague nearby to "come look at this wound," or what have you. I don't have the experienced eyes of a senior nurse, so I feel overwhelmed. Yes, I have considered working at the hospital. I hate it though. I have a medical condition that does not bode well with 12 hour shifts, chaotic environments, and night shifts. Of course, I didn't have his problem before going into nursing school so didn't think of this issue. Deciding what to do is overwhelming. I'm seriously considering throwing in the towel to become a struggling writer, artist, entrepreneur, etc. Whatever will leave me feeling content with my life in general. Such is life though.Guttercat likes this.
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Feb 21, '12 by Perpetual StudentYou might try looking for an outpatient surgery job. More support there, but typically less physically taxing than inpatient units and often there are 8 hr shifts. Same goes for various other settings.
I wouldn't necessarily throw in the towel if I were you, especially before lining up a decent job that will turn into a career. When I became an LPN I started off with a private duty agency and ultimately taught myself a lot as time went on, asking for guidance when appropriate (I was blessed with a supportive team--there was always a supervisor to call if necessary and several colleagues gave me their numbers and told me to call if I ever had questions).
No nurse knows everything. Every single week I learn at least one new thing (hence my user name). Know your limitations. When a lack of knowledge might lead to trouble, phone a friend or look it up.
Read this: http://allpoetry.com/poem/8460213-Th...bert_W_Serviceprettymica and lindarn like this. -
Feb 21, '12 by hey_suzThere is a creative side to nursing that can come out once you have a little experience. I applaud you for continuing your own education via the internet. Learning can't stop once you graduate. I think my first few years would have been a lot better if I had learned more, but the med-surg environment was very stressful and I missed some opportunities.
Can you send a cellphone pic of a wound to a co-worker for an opinion? Wounds are the hard. There is an experienced WOCN in one of my classes and she said she and the other WOCN's at her facility disagree about the best treatments sometimes, that's one of the things about wounds- a lot of different choices that might all be a right choice.
Also, all the creative entrepreneurs I know are reaaally stressing out and working hard to get gigs etc. The steady paycheck, while a grind, sometimes is the least stressful choice. - Feb 21, '12 by Yuppers21Of the people that I know that are either writers, artists, creative entrepreneurs, ect. some are not content with life because they really are struggling to carve out an earning doing "what they love". Most had to acquire 2nd jobs just to support the dream job, which has left little time for anything else. I agree with the others. There are so many different settings in nursing, I'm willing to bet you could find something that suits you well.I'm seriously considering throwing in the towel to become a struggling writer, artist, entrepreneur, etc. Whatever will leave me feeling content with my life in general. Such is life thoughpitaya likes this.
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Feb 22, '12 by woknbluesQuote from jellybean16Listen up! Usually, as in my case anyway, new nurses are followed around by little angels, protecting them from making huge errors. Keep looking stuff up, eventually you will be comfortable, and know what to expect. You can only be an experienced know it all nurse after you get more experience. I look stuff up all the time in my hospital job that you think you can't handle. You could, believe me.Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital shift work thing). I like the community a lot more than the hospital, but as a new grad, I feel like I've done both my patients and myself an injustice. I graduated with excellent grades, and am willing to learn and ask questions, but I'm all by myself for the most part with the type of work that I do. Almost every day I am googling something medical because I am not familiar with a patient's condition. This leaves me so stressed out that I am actually feeling depressed. I feel like the company I work for doesn't care about educating me; they just want to fill their quota for patients seen. I sort of regret my career path and choices, and am embarrassed to admit that I am thinking of changing my career already just short of being a nurse for 1 year. I went for my degree looking for a challenge,wanting to help people, but I feel like this isn't me (I'm more the creative type and partially went into nursing due to family influence). Anyways, a lot of my patients like me, and most of the time I feel some sense of reward helping them, but I'm scared for them and my license (working on my own). I'm thinking about using my background of medical knowledge to get into technical or medical writing. Any suggestions or insight? It would be much appreciated... -
Feb 22, '12 by Always_LearningQuote from woknbluesGood Lord, isn't that the truth. Thank heavens for new nurse guardian angels! :bowingpurUsually, as in my case anyway, new nurses are followed around by little angels, protecting them from making huge errors.
