[newflgrad]

Hi, I just graduated in July and started working at a hospital as a CNA until I took my boards and passed. I passed my boards and have been orientating as a new nurse on the Med/Surg floor and so far I don' t like it at all. The staff I work with is great and everyone is extremely helpful, but the 12 hour shifts that really turn into 13-14 and being a single mom haveing no energy when I come home and feeling like I am not giving the time they deserve is getting to me. I have only been orientating as a nurse for one week now but kind of dread going back next week. Prior to going to nursing school I worked in a Peds office and loved it! Did all the back office work that went with it and also was the Authurization person who fought with the big insurance companies to get treatments and surgeries authorized. I just wonder if I have given it enough time to know that bedside nursing is not for me? Any advice or comments I would love to hear from anyone else on this..........getting discouraged.

[HONEYBEAR]

Hi there,
Some nurses are just not meant to be for med/surg.......After graduating I worked Med/surg, (for 2 yrs).....and I hated it.......everything about it, especially the fact that working from 7p-7a turned into leaving at 8-9a.......I even tried ICU.....loved this but....the unit ended up stopping the use of LPN'S. So, I thought I would go into a totally new direction....I am currently working in a SNF, have been with this job for nearly 2 yrs......and I love it......everyday is different. Maybe you should try a new area, and see how it goes. Keep your chin up, you will find your spot.

[shellylaverne]

Oh, I just feel for you so much, that awful feeing of not wanting to go into work, ish!!!

Have you only been working for a week? Take my advice with a grain of salt, but try to give it at least 7 or 8 months. I quit my first several jobs too quickly, I think it takes almost a year til you feel really comfortable so that you can see the situation for what is is.

But you have to trust your gut, if you can't stand it, you can't. Maybe 12 hour shifts are too much. Around here in Minneapolis, I don't think they start many people on 12 hour shifts, even if someone really wants them. Good luck to you!!!

[ERNurse752]

Could you get a job on a Peds med/surg floor? You already have some experience with that population, which can help.

It's really hard to be new. You have all the job duties to learn that are totally new, plus the staff and the docs, etc. It sucks big time!

I would tend to say you haven't given it quite enough time yet, b/c you haven't had time to get into a "groove" yet...but...sometimes a place/specialty just isn't a fit. You'll be the best judge of that.

Something to think about would be what clinicals did you like the best in school, and where do you see yourself going in your nursing career? If med/surg doesn't fit into either of those categories, I personally wouldn't waste too much of my time there.

Good luck and take care of yourself as much as you can!

[CrunchRN]

You can always go back to peds clinic work, but you may not be able to get back to a hospital later if you want.

Any new job sucks for the first couple months. Everything is new and different, and difficult. No buddies. If you can try to stick it out for a while and I think you will feel better. Consider it an investment in your future.

If you really cannot stand it - get out. Life is too short to be miserable!

[newflgrad]

Thanks everyone! The problem is this is a small town and the closest Peds' hospital position is an hour away in the big city. I am thinking that the hospital thing is not for me because of the hours. I see my nurse career going further than what I am now by takeing more courses and makeing it to RN status with possiblity of management or some type of specialty, I don't see myself at bedside nurseing. I like to do things that Everyone doesn't do, some little niche that not everyone likes but that I do, I just thought if I got a bit of Med/Surg under my belt it would look good on my Resume for future jobs to show I Have done it all! Especially being on that floor! But life is to short to be miserable to plug away at it!