[Tk RN]

Hi,
I am fairly new at nursing and I feel the same way that you do. CNA's can make or break your day. I have found that some are dependable and some are not....I could go on for days about my experiences, but I am sure you understand. I just wanted to let you know that you ARE NOT alone. As an R.N. I don't mind giving a bedpan etc.etc., but it is really annoying when CNA's take advantage.......I get so frustrated sometimes because they cannot do our job so we get stuck doing theirs and sometimes I find them standing around talking when I am answering call lights! That is a major pet peeve of mine!!!!!

[meme39]

hi there I know how you feel about staffing levels. It was not that long ago when I was a new grad RN working on a busy neurological ward. I felt so out of control at times simply because there was not enough nurses. We used trend care a system which works out how many hours a total patient load will be. When I looked up at the trends I used to be horrified that I would often get 16 hours of work to do in a 8 hour shift with only an EN working with me. I understand how you must feel. When I finished my graduate year I left there and did some agency work until I found a area that I liked. I am now in rehabilitation working for another hospital and I love it. I am amazed of how far I have come since finishing my degree and becoming a RN and yes even on this ward I still get busy for instance it is not unusal to have 15 patients to one RN and a AIN which I presume you would call a LPN and an EN but I love it anyway. All I can say to you is hang in there get your experience which will be good for your references, maybe cut back on your hours and do some agency work. I wish you well but remember never give up and keep smilling even throught the tough times.

kind regards

[bassgirl]

Rachel,
I just started as a new RN last August (05) and I too have been disappointed in the lack of staffing, unmotivated and unprofessional personnel, and just plain feeling unappreciated. I am not sure what advice to offer you except the piece I am giving to myself which is to hang in there at least a year and keep an open mind. There are many different areas of nursing and maybe it's as easy as working on a different floor.
Best,
bassgirl

Originally Posted by Rachel2004RN

Hi all-

I've only been working on the floor as an RN for a month and a half and I am already at the point of feeling stressed out, burnt out and disappointed....

Note: I had a big long rambling post here describing all the reasons I'm feeling frustrated with my job, but since 33 people have read it and noone has responded, I assume noone can relate and it's just me. *sigh*....Here's hoping I find my niche......if what I've experienced so far (lack of support staff to allow lisenced staff to properly do their job) is true of nursing everywhere I'm going to have a very short career.