New Job Stresses and Doubts

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi Guys! I recently started a new job in an ambulatory unit, first job in a "medical" hospital since graduating 2 yrs ago. History in psych nursing and physician office nursing. I changed to get some experience and still maintain some degree of a normal life...(good day time hours). Today is my 4th day and already getting frustrated. I've had a great teacher but she is not my assigned preceptor and I have to go with my preceptor who is not very helpful at all. More than anything, I have yet to see any organized way to receive patients and their charts and dealing with their paper work as we do outpatient procedures for outpatients and inpatients. This is a very busy unit and it seems no matter who I ask, there is never specific answer. I guess it will just take time to figure out how it all works but coming from a very organzied office to this is so overwhelming. There's not even an extension # list anywhere in the dept...but yet I hear people calling all depts all day..yea they have them memorized but how in the world do they expect me or anyone not familiar with the #'s to function as independently. Part of me likes what I have learned to do so far but I am soooo overwhelmed over so many things and my preceptor who is very very eager to dump the things she dislikes doing on to me but doesn't do squat to help me learn....i'm just supposed to know. It's one of those days where I'm starting to ask myself if I belong in nursing or if I want to be in nursing....look at the crap already being dished. Anyway...thought I would vent and see what you guys have to say. Thanks for listening.

Maia -- Hang in there!! It will get better. Is it possible to ask

for a different preceptor or could you let your current one know

what you need from them to learn the job properly?? :idea:

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

1) be very clear with your current preceptor exactly what you need to know and what experience you need to have (preceptors usually are not good mind-readers)

if you don't get it, and quickly,

2) request (from the DON, office manager, or whatever you have there) a more appropriate preceptor, someone you choose yourself (as I did in my first RN job at the end of the first day, and got the overworked and busy person I chose--we are still good friends)

Remember:

Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

I carry a little notebook in my pocket and write down phone numbers and extensions. NEVER stop asking questions! Good luck!

Maia,

Hang in there. I also just started a new job. I've been in the unit for 2 days so far. Change is always hard and it takes several months to adjust. The job I left was very comfortable for me and it was hard to leave, but I wanted to return to a more challenging area. I know there will be times when I will want to run back to my comfort zone, but I know with time that things will get better. I think it is especially hard for nurses to be out of their comfort zone.

I admire you for taking on this new challenge in your career. I agree with the above posts about talking to your preceptor or requesting a new one and write everything down!!! Hang in there and remember it will take time!!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

You're sounding completely normal. Happens to even experienced nurses who start new jobs, but essentially it's almost like your a new grad nurse and you're experiencing what you are going to feel no matter where you go.

Do what sjoe said and what the others have said about hanging in there.

Originally posted by sjoe

1) be very clear with your current preceptor exactly what you need to know and what experience you need to have (preceptors usually are not good mind-readers)

Remember:

I ask very specific questions and get vague answers if any at all. I end up turning to any other nurse around to get the answers I need. She's not open to anything I say....she just wants me to do the stuff she doesn't want to be bothered with but doesn't show an inkling of concern when i say, "I don't know how or will you please talk me thru it.... I just want to scream "hellloooooo, any body in there?" as she looks at me with a blank stare.

It's attitudes such as hers that made me stay away from hospital nursing...it's either cut throat or the seasoned eats the new. New people need to feel welcomed and supported...thats why new and old nurses leave. Before nursing, I worked in another medical field and then a totally non nursing field and never felt as "shit on" as I do since being in nursing and it's mostly because of how nurses treat the new employee nurses and not necessarily just new out of school just new to the facility. Granted there are good nurses I have met that treated me well but it's been too few.

Anyway, today was a better day....done several IV's this week with sucess and thats good for me since I haven't done one since school 2 yrs ago.

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