Graduate Nurse in ED Needs Help

[mgmurgatroyd]

Hi everyone, I've turned to this site because I don't know what to do or where to go from here.

I graduated nursing school in May 2016. I landed my first job in the busiest Emergency Department in the state of Wisconsin. I was super excited to begin nursing. I felt my orientation went well, my preceptor was amazing and I learned so much.

When I first started off on my own, I was nervous but ready. Things went pretty well at first. I did make a medication error and was very disappointed in myself, but took it as a learning opportunity. The past couple of weeks however, I've been having some serious anxiety issues at work.

I don't know what exactly has me so up in arms, but I hate going to work now. I love my coworkers, and I greatly enjoy the experiences I am gaining in the ED but I am starting to hate the patients! It just seems like 95% of people who come in are so rude and demanding and inappropriate. And half the people who come into the ED are drug seekers or really should be going to an Urgent Care or their PCP. Its a novelty when I have a patient come in who is truly sick but also very kind. And don't even get me started on the families.

I have been in Nursing for only 8 months and I already want to give up. I knew I wasn't going to spend me entire career in the ED, but I thought I would work there for a couple of years to get some good experience and then move on to something else. But I feel so anxious about going into work, and I just stay inside on my days off so I don't have to go in public and deal with people. I am ready to give up. Please help me out guys, I would really appreciate any advice.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Sounds like what we used to call reality shock. The first year of nursing is the most difficult, as you transition from "I'll ask the nurse" to "I AM the nurse!" The vast majority of us have experienced the symptoms you describe. I was anxious, sick of dealing with people, overwhelmed with the schedule and it's rotating shifts. I worked eight hours and it was impossible to get two days off in a row. I felt as though I was at work ALL of the time. I cried all the way to work, cried all the way home and sometimes cried in the bathroom AT work. I hated my job, was sure my co-workers hated me and wasn't even sure I liked the patients. The families, in those days, were the best part of the job. They were invariably stressed, but polite, respectful and often interesting and likable. But I digress.

Hating nursing and wanting to quit is pretty much a rite of passage of your first year. Don't give up now! You're almost through it. Most of us found that once we had some experience to draw upon and adjusted to the hours and the responsibility, something "clicked" and we enjoyed our jobs after all. I'm hoping you experience your "click" and learn to enjoy nursing!

[NurseHeart&Soul, MSN]

I agree with RubyVee. You're in a tough spot...it will pass. Been there too!

I would suggest you analyze how you are living and working. Are you working a lot of overtime? Are you getting exercise? Doing other self care things? I remember saying to my husband at one point "I go to work for 12 hours and care for patients, care for family members, care for my co-workers. I come home and care for you, care for the kids, care for the pets. WHO THE HECK IS CARING FOR ME???"

Caring for the caregiver is so important. So if you aren't doing things for you...just for YOU...start TODAY! Sit in silence. Get a massage. Go for a walk. Read a good book. Ditch the overtime for now if you are working any. You sound like you're suffering from burnout. Take time to reflect on why you went into the ED, what you love about the ED.

Remember that the ED sees all walks of life....you need to accept that to be at peace in the ED. Leaving all judgments behind will also make you a better nurse and will decrease your chance of getting burned out and burned by making a mistake. Don't get sucked into assuming that people are drug seekers. Sure, they exist, but others with real issues that need attention get judged often too quickly and don't get the care they deserve. Those demanding and irritating people...look at them as people in crisis. They have come for help. You have a great opportunity to lessen their stress.

I had a mental turning point when I started looking at each patient and family member that arrived as arriving for "their emergency". Once I looked at things in that light, it again became easier to show compassion and empathy and provide loving care during their vulnerable state. Sometimes simple words are all that was needed to relieve them of their stress.

I hope you can get back to that spot of enthusiasm. Best of luck!

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

Aside from all of the stress, do you enjoy the work? Either ER nursing is for you or it isn't. You have to figure out if it is the work, the position, or nursing all together. The first year of nursing is very hard as well and you can overcome some of the concerns you have with time.