In school, I realized that nursing might not be for me, but i persevered. Now i have been working for 3 months. 2 in ED (but after 5 weeks of orientation and i was not proficient, they booted me to another dept.) 1 in ICU SD. My first month on ICU SD was days and it was almost tolerable, but on nights (the only opening) any shred of "that makes it worth it" is gone. Pt interaction is nothing except to wake them during the five minutes of sleep they might get. The nurses are almost always complaining. The nurse pt ratio is anywhere from 1:5 to 1:7 ON ICU STEPDOWN!! with maybe 2 CNAs, who arent allowed to do anything,for 50 pts. So when, like last night i have a pt c BG of 20, a pt c no BP even after we have her on levophed at 50 hespan W/o and dobutamine at 5, two new admits from ED and an ICU transfer, all about at the same time i am so busy to scream, but then once finally settled nothing happens for hours and my brain shuts down so that i forget to take off my nitro pst before stress test, etc. I need help. I dont want to be a job hopper because i am sure all places are the same. I seriously never want to go back again, but have a family and a house payment.
