What do I do now? HELP ME, PLEASE

Nurses General Nursing

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I graduated last December with a BSN, supposedly from a very good school. I will throw in that I graduated at the top of my class, Sigma Theta Tau and yada yada yada...Yes I know, (and can prove) that doesnt amount to a hill of beans in the real world of nursing.

I just failed PBDS for the second time (there are multiple tears in my beer this afternoon). I am the worst nurse in the world, (no, I havent killed anyone yet). My preceptor says I am too dependent on her (only because I dont know what I am doing). I absolutely hate floor nursing. I really really suck at it. I am on my second job (because I thought the first wasnt a good fit)...only to find out my problem isnt the hospital, it is me. I am not nursing material. I struggle with it everyday. It isnt coming to me. The people I tutored in nursing school are doing amazingly great, and I come home crying everyday. I have always been one of those people who could walk into a job and 2 hours later will be performing like I have been there for 20 years. I adapt and learn very quickly, dont know how I went so wrong with nursing. I love the science. I love my patients, truly love helping them.

I want out of nursing, but dont know exactly what to do with a $40,000 BSN degree. I am at my wits end. I havent won the lottery yet. Debating on hitchhiking through South America but dont think I can do that for the rest of my life. So what now?

Most education positions require years of experience. I dont know that I am qualified to do anything else nursing wise. And I really dont want to go back to waiting tables. I worked in Medical billing, coding, medical insurance, workers comp before...but I was barely making enough to cover my student loans.

I am open to any ideas. sorry for the long rant...I just dont know what else to do.

Thanks

Specializes in Telemetry.

The nurse-patient ratio really isnt bad. I really have to say the hospital does pretty right by us. (atleast at night where people dont call in, a few times on days they have had so many call ins that nurses were getting 12 patients!!, but only until help arrived a couple hours later...but YUCK)....On nights we have about 5 or 6, even 4 occasionally....4 and 5 I can handle....but the magic number six is a deal breaker. or 5 with two totals, that can be a sticky one as well. So, i really cant complain about patient care ratios. that isnt the problem with me.

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Thank you so very much morte!

I started out as a new nurse with 6-9 pts on a given day...now I only have 3-5! Much better even for an experienced RN! I can actually take time and really investigate and spend time with pts! That is always better for pt care! Being new...12 pts??? Too much! How can you focus on anything to learn about!

Take away the boundries to learning...make goals...seek help...and be proactive about yourself! Sounds like the boundries you are facing now are facility probelms with scheduling and either talk to your charge or administration on how to overcome the barrier, or look for a new employement opportunity that doesn't have such barriers to illict learning!

Specializes in Telemetry.

Order Clarification (which is my new specialty, teaching hospital with residents on call...that is a blessing) LOL

I have NEVER had 12 patients...it would take me two hours to assess them and get vitals done!!! the most I have had is one time (and one time only) 7. usually it is 5 or 6. The unit manager is a great guy and has no problems staffing us well. The only reason they had that problem on days is because so many people called in. and this happened like two days in a row.

Have you thought about getting a job in research? I think we are so programmed in nursing school to become floor nurses we may overlook where we are truly meant to be. You are obviously a very intelligent person and just because it is not wokring out for you on the floor doesn't mean you won't excel in another area of nursing.

There are some really good tips on this post as how to become a better floor nurse, but if you know in your heart that is not where you want to be why not give yourself permission to go out and find your niche. Life is too short to be miserable every day!

Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

Do you not have patient care techs where you work? 6 patients with no additional help would leave one overwhelmed & struggling to keep up.

don't throw in the towel just yet..you have a lot of knowledge rolling around in your head...you ae capable of using that knowledge..

med surg isn't for everybody...sometimes you got to look around and find your niche..

ltc

psyche

dialysis

agency

clinics

group homes

lawyers office

doctors office

etc

etc

GOOD LUCK

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