seriously need advice

[BrandyBSN]

I have been working in ER for one full year now. I love my job, but i do not love my coworkers, schedule, and staff members that just dont work well together.

I love the patients, the codes, lavages, and psych patients but i have to drag myself out of bed to go to work, and as soon as I clock in I can't stop counting me minutes until I can clock back out.

I switched from nights (i loved the night crew) to days, and I am definately not part of the "clique" and I refuse to talk about my fellow coworkers behind their backs which makes them even more hostile to me. they talk about EVERYONE when they are not there.... not a pleasant working environment. I can't go back to night shift because I could never get enough sleep and hardly every saw my husband.

So here is the option i am considering. There is a circulator position open in the OR. 7am-3:30pm Monday thru friday, no weekends, (well, on call every 5th weekend) no holidays (on call one holiday a year). Its more money, and i would be on a set schedule every week.

Conflict is, i love what I do. and i really have no idea if I would like Surgery or not. I scanned the OR forum, but didnt find what I need. Advice... so here I am. Whatcha think?

[Cynthiann]

If I was in your situation I would try out Surgery while I looked for a ER job at another hospital. Who know maybe you'll end up liking surgery or you'll find a better paying ER job with great people to work with. There is no way I could stay in a situation that makes me unhappy.

Good luck to whatever you decide to do.

[moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS]

I don't know Brandy. If you really enjoy the patient care part of nursing OR might not be for you. You can always interview for the position if it doesn't sound like it would appeal to you, you can turn it down. If it were me, I would give the girls in the ER a little more time to come around. Kill them with kindness and see what you get.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Brandy - Been there done that bought teh T-shirt and the hat. I had to change jobs because of Bullying. I stuck it out far too long as I loved my job but the cost was horrific. It begins to wear you down and slowly. so slowly you do not see it your confidence errodes and you end up stressed, depressed, introverted and just plain screwed up. Get out, try something else. remember one door MUST close before a new one opens.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Brandy I say try the OR. You have a full year of experience now so you have "paid you rdues" and have the right to be happy in what you do. I was a circulator a long time ago and I'm sure it has changed. When it was good it was verry, very good, and when it was bad it was horrid.

Good luck in making the decision.

[RockieSis]

Brandy,

I too have the Tshirt and Hat. I worked ER for 4 years and loved every minute of it. However I always wanted to do Hearts. So 2 years ago I left and went to the OR. I love it too. Try it. If your staffing is like ours, they will always welcome back experienced help in the ER if it dosen't work out. But be aware that "cliques" are in every department. Keep your head down, work hard, and prove yourself as a team player.

Hope this helps

rockieSis

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Gwenith said:

It begins to wear you down and slowly. so slowly you do not see it your confidence errodes and you end up stressed, depressed, introverted and just plain screwed up. Get out, try something else. remember one door MUST close before a new one opens.

This has been my experience with bullying also. Why is this phenomenon so endemic to nursing? Why, it's even reared its ugly head with my current job as a nurse educator.

I don't have a whole lot of advice, except only you know how much abuse you can stand. We all crave acceptance and support. Some of us are better able to stand a hostile and toxic work environment than others. Please, please, don't let it destroy you. "They'll steal your soul if you let them, just don't let them..."

[yannadey, LPN]

Brandy I say try OR for a while, & continue to scan the ER forum as you say you dislike your current schedule & coworkers. dragging yourself out of bed & counting the hrs. until shift end is no way to spend your time at work eventually it will stress you out.

Ask your self this will the new schedule of 7-3:30 mon-fri. with no weekends or holiday & don't forget more money suit you better & I'm sure hubby will love having you home in the evenings & on the weekends.

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

I don't know what it is about day shift that turns nurses into monsters (no offence day people). I usually work at night but filled in on days when someone had surgery, I've never heard more whining about nothing in all my life. If you wanna get the low down on your coworkers, all the bad lowdown, days is the place to be. Even the ER docs were so aware of the bad attitudes that when we (the night shift) came in, they would practically applaud. So, IMHO, going to another part of the hospital may not be the answer, going back to nights could be.