I dont know what to do

ChiaLing · Dec 3, 2005

Hang in there, it'll get better!

I went through kind of a similar phase where I doubted my decision to go into nursing, but I pulled through it. I know I'll probably feel the same way again.

I suspect that once you're exposed to different units you'll start to see differences in nurses' behavior. There will be days when you feel so wonderful at the end of your shift, knowing that you were able to help a person in need. The politics, the rudeness, the impersonalness - I think this varies depending on the setting and the atmosphere or a particular workplace. I'm only finishing up my first semester, and already I've noticed some major differences in nurses' attitudes depending on the unit they work in.

Think positive thoughts these next two weeks of school! :icon_hug:

stressgal, RN · Dec 4, 2005

Only you know what you want to do. While you cannot change the attitudes and actions of others, you can control how you act as a nurse. Unfortunatly you will find rude, mean people and politics of work in any field, not just nursing. You are probably a bit overwhelmed by learning all the ways you can harm someone or may be liable for your actions if they aren't appropriate. This is due to just beginning the program. You will soon learn all of the good that you can do for a client and their family, just by being a caring nurse.

As the previous poster stated, hang in there. It will get better.

Maisie · Dec 4, 2005

I feel the same way. Every day I feel that I need to get out before it is too late. But I enjoy helping people and feel that God wants me here.

Maisie · Dec 4, 2005

I feel the same way. Every day I feel that I need to get out before it is too late. But I enjoy helping people and feel that God wants me here.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2005

There are politics in all professions and anywhere you work, so that is something that you are always going to have to contend with where ever you find yourself. Nurses do, primarily, help people. As far as instructors drilling caution with regard to lawsuits into the students, that is partly their own obsession with it and partly their determination to make students pay attention to how they practice nursing by accentuating mistakes others have made. They mean well, but it is kind of a negative approach. Don't let their anxiety over it become yours as well. Actually, over the 30 years I've been working I only know of two nurses who had to go to court to testify and no one who was ever sued by a patient. The nurses who went to testify were just confirming things they had seen and recorded in their charting. Both cases involved patients who had fallen. The media jumps all over horrific cases of malpractice, but the fact is that I've never seen or been involved in one. There have been a number of times when people were concerned about the possibility of being sued, but the fact is that as long as you are following hospital policy and procedures and practicing nursing the way you've been taught, you are going to be fine. While it's true when they say anyone can sue anyone for anything, it is also true that judges don't let stupid and frivolous cases into the courts. Lawyers recognize the difference between healthcare workers who are doing their jobs properly and those who have made a big boo-boo that they should have known better about. Take med errors, for instance, in the sensational cases where someone has died, if you read the specifics of the case you will often find that the incident would have never occurred if the nurse had followed correct procedure and protocol to double check the correctness of an order, or had been more careful about giving a medication they knew nothing about. In many of these cases the nurses did question these things, but getting no satisfactory response, made the very bad decision to just go ahead and give the medication anyway. What's with that? That's not what we are taught in nursing school. Try not to feel so scared about some of the things you are being told. The fact is that most nursing care occurs without malpractice. Much of it is very common sense based. It takes a big, big error in judgment to injure a patient. Major thing is don't give medications or perform treatments blindly just because you were told to without any knowledge about what you are giving to the patient or doing to the patient and you'll be just fine. When you start working you will have specific policies pointed out to you that you will want to take note of. Following those policies protects you from any possibility of something going wrong.

AnnieJac, RN · Dec 4, 2005

Don't shatter your dream because of other people. I was a teacher and it is the same there also. Just don't give into the gossip. I would just listen when people would do that and nod my head with a smile. I still got drug into things! You are there for you and the patient, not them. I have delt with mean nurses in my clinicals. I just smile and be sickeningly nice to them lol! I have also dealt with very helpful nice nurses. Just learn from the mean nurses how not to be. I agree with everyone else, it depends on where your at. You have to learn how to deal with women like that. Its everywhere. I have a wonderful instructor, so that helps. I was afraid of the suing thing also. But my instructor said, you can't nurse out of fear all the time. If you don't know, ASK. Don't every assume. Take what you've learned and go with it. Document big time. Thats what other nurses have told me. Documenting is very important. When I start working, I'm gonna be kind of slow, cause I"m gonna look up those meds and make sure I know them and question what I don't. If the doctor yells at me for calling or questioning, so be it. I'm not gonna give what I don't know about or not sure about. Most are pretty cut and dry. But I'm gonna look them up if I don't know them. Good luck in everything! I'm ending my first term. Its gonna get harder, and I'll have days like you, but we can pull threw it. This is a wonderful site we've found. I enjoy this so much, and thanks for the people who respond and make us feel better lol!

tx2007, RN · Dec 5, 2005

Thanks everyone for making me feel better!! I know when I get out of school things will fall into place I am just trying to get thru the next 3 semesters!! LOL!

vamedic4, EMT-P · Dec 5, 2005

I was really enjoying first semester until this past week. We have two weeks of school left this semester and I am hoping my feelings change before next semester. Right now I want to quit!!! I had no idea coming into this what all nursing envolves. I dont mind the long hours, care plans or taking care of the patients. I hate the politics of nursing and the RUDE nurses and the feeling of being all alone at work. I was doing really good in class I think I am going to finish with all A's!! But I just dont know anymore, I want to be anurse to help people but all we have drilled into us is you can be sued for this and sued for that so know I know why nurses are so impersonal, they have to worry about EVERYTHING!!! I just wanted to see if I am the only one feelnig this way?

:o DON'T QUIT DON'T QUIT!!!! PLEASE!!

I too felt the same way you did, only much earlier in my academic nursing career. 17 years ago I was a nursing student going thru a 3 year diploma program and my emotions mimicked yours - so I left nursing. I always wonder what could have happened...but that's history.

You have almost completed your schooling - STAY THE COURSE!! You can do it. Try to surround yourself with positive nurse role models. At my employer I am lucky enough to work with several good nurses..but I have no problem telling others where to get off. Treat your patients as well or better than you would your family if they were sick. You'll never go wrong there.

And don't worry about the politics...stay as farrr away from it as you can. The squeaky wheel may sometimes get the grease...but sometimes it gets replaced alltogether.

:)