I am beginning to think I chose the wrong profession- need advice (only have 7 weeks

[ARRR10]

^^topic^^. I just had my first NIGHTSHIFT preceptorship orientation today on the internal medicine floor and

it was way too overwhelming to me to understand what was going on. The preceptor I was with for the whole entire night kept on moving from patient-patient room, discharging a patient, admitting a new patient, patient ripping his IV out, etc (overall, she did not have a chance to sit down and have a break and was beginning to feel stressed out). My preceptor is really nice and all, but lately I am begining to feel anxiety because of the environment I will be working in.I chose med/surg for the experience, but after undergoing almost two semesters of med/surg already and disliking those experiences and seeing how this was going to be the same all over again, I feel like an idiot and I feel as though I want to bash my head against a wall for choosing this area again. I always keep on thinking if I work in this type of environment, there is a high probability that I might kill my patient and that really scares me. Seeing the nurses on this floor very busy and multitasking seems unsafe. A lot of the nurses I've worked with in the past told me to choose med/surg for the experience, while others tell me to truly pursue what I want. But, I don't know, I'm just really confused right now and also confused about whether I chose the right profession. I feel like an idiot, because I only have 7 weeks until graduation and I have already been thinking about whether or not nursing was right for me ever since I started nursing school. I just needed to vent and I need some advice if there are other fields that is not all about doing acute hospital care (i.e. tasks like what you see in the med/surg, ER, ICU environment- I had my clinicals here to and I did not like those experiences either) that do not require that whole year of med/surg, because I don't think I am going to go through it again after I graduate.

[Jules A, MSN]

Please consider starting in an area that you do enjoy. IMO nursing is not something you can grit your teeth and just push through each day. It can be very stressful under the best of circumstances so you need to love what you are doing. I totally understand the value of having good medsurge skills under your belt but I for one would not have even considered nursing school if that was my only option upon graduation. Loved ED and NICU but hated medsurge/tele. It just wasn't a good fit for me.

It has been my experience that many of the people that are the most adamant about doing the 1 year of medsurge are often people that felt pressured into doing it themselves. There are many excellent nurses that didn't buy into that train of thought and have worked safely, and happily for years.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

what you wrote is the reason why most instructors suggest starting on a medical surgical floor and/or going through nursing school as a nurse extern. from my understanding the feelings you have are fairly common of new graduate nurses with limited clinical work experience.

preceptors do not have the time to break things down as if you are in school, however while they are doing x,y,z they should be able to explain what he/she is doing when he/she is doing it ... also, you are new at this, so everything (the routines, tasks, etc.) is foreign to you... as time goes on (for me it was just a few days) you will see that nothing your preceptor is doing you can't do too. you will also see that there is logic to the madness.

my advice to you is to not give up.... if you want icu or er having a background in medical surgical will make you an ideal candidate. on the other hand, if you are scared and having too much trouble with this floor then try to start in er or icu. i personally doubt that you will feel less overwhelmed.... however, you may convince yourself that it is less overwhelming since those are your first two choices.

by the way, i used to hate medical-surgical clinical too, although i loved the school content. i always felt like i was missing something or i did not know enough to provide my patients competent care. i also did not understand how the nurses could feel and be so comfortable. after working on the floor as a nurse extern, i no longer feel this way.... i picked up a "system" that works for me. i also noticed that unlike clinicals, you do not have to be perfect to be considered good! you just have to know the basics and when to ask the right questions. i am doing much better then i did when i started. i am less overwhelmed though my patients are unique and very sick! i love this floor so much i am considering remaining once i graduate. gl!

-soon to be a new graduate nurse too!

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

Let me say that working as a CNA....my RNs were very supportive, and usually willing to let me observe/help with any kind of procedure that was going on if it was something off the beaten path....I remember many thorancentisis', some suctioning, etc....things I wouldn't be able to do as a CNA, but things that the RNs would describe to me while they were doing....

Overall, I chose to work on the same floor. I wanted to work somewhere where I knew the people, the docs, and the majority of cases....I'm scared, nervous, excited, etc....BUT I believe the feelings are normal for any new grad....I think that you should choose where your heart is for the first year....after all, you need to learn somewhere...and you'll probably feel overwhelmed/scared wherever you are....

Officially a new RN(sent my license fee off today)...

[GingerSue]

or try active rehab

[nrenteria]

IMO I think that any new career or area of work/expertise requires about 1 year to feel comfortable. If you can stick it out for that year, you'll have the experience and have passed the learning curve. It's the sticking it out for a year that's tough. You can do it. Many have already. Maybe do what some of the other posters have suggested - try a different department or area to work in until you get your feet wet.

Either way - good luck and :nuke: hang in there.