Overwhelmed new nurse, ready to call it quits!

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in Mental health, psychiatry.

I have only been at my first nursing job 3 months. I'm basically a a charge nurse at the facility I'm in and deal with people who are suicidal but not bad enough to be hospitalized. Our program is a residential voluntary facility with up to 8 residents. There is only 1 RN and 1 aid on and we only do 12 hour shifts which are really getting to me. I usually work 3 days on, 4-5 days off which is now but the work is so busy I'm constantly running on adrenaline for 12.5 hrs. My next schedule has me working 12 hr shifts: 3 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 3 on, 4 off . My friends keep telling me to suck it up and get my year experience and look elsewhere afterwards so I am trying and so far I'm tired all the time, grumpy and have no interest in going to the gym anymore. I have 2 kids and a husband who has no idea what I deal with daily. I'm lucky if I get out of work on time too. How do you handle stress? I usually make jewelry but have no inspiration lately.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

The first year of nursing is miserable. You just have to get through it. Changing jobs only prolongs the misery. Your friends are right; suck it up and stick it out.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Try to stick it out for another 3 months if you can, but in the meantime, look at other employment options. Life is too short to be perpetually stressed out. You have a family and you cannot "pour from an empty cup," so to speak, meaning you must take care of yourself to be able to care for others. I was in a similar situation when I was a new nurse, and just looking for other job opportunities made me feel better. I stayed at my first nursing job for 18 months before I realized I didn't have to feel tired, miserable, depressed, and overworked all the time. I found something that paid less, but was far less physically demanding. Take care of yourself! Good luck!

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My experience is almost exactly that of fawnmarie. worked a year in a miserable job. The job I have now has it's days but I don't want to cry every shift.

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It actually doesn't sound bad, in the not so grand scheme of nursing.

Please describe your duties.

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Specializes in Mental health, psychiatry.

I'm trying to stick it out, I am trying to look at things differently. The work is not too bad. I come in and get report, ensure orders, take vitals, and pass mess between 8-10. Then start on my notes, and other paper work. During all that I have patients coming in wanting to talk, therapists coming in, maybe discharging someone, completing an intake assesemt or whatever. Intake assessments take 2-3 hours to complete so those can be quite tedious when combined with all other duties. Then if someone is in a crisis I would need to deal with that. Just seems like a lot of responsibility to put on one person. Probably no different than the hospitals but at least They have 8 hr shifts. I guess I really don't like the 12 hrs all the time.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I don't know of any hospitals in my area that have 8 hour shifts these days. It's pretty much all 12s except for the occaisional senior nurse who was grandfathered in to 8 hour shifts. I don't even know anyone that would seriously WANT 8 hour shifts! At least not anyone who has actually tried them.

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Yeah. Most places are 12-hour shifts. I like it. 4 days off a week. Using less gas. I couldn't stand just having 2 days off... especially with an incredibly stressful job as nursing.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Can you adjust your schedule so you have more stretches of 3 and 4 days off at a time? That should help some. 2 days is not enough to recoup from 3 twelves if you're newer and already stressed.

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I'm in the same boat as you -- I just reached my three month marker working in my first acute care position, and i'm so miserable. Makes me wonder weather i'm in the right field. But can't expand into different nursing fields unless you have that 'experience.' What i'm telling myself is to just give it three more months. If I feel the same way after six months of working here, then I will start looking for new employment. It takes a lot of mental fortitude to go into work -- just take one day at a time.

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Specializes in Mental health, psychiatry.

Its almost 6 months now and I still do not like it there. I get screamed at by patients all the time because when people are Mentally Ill and in Crisis they are very stressed etc and moody. I know these people need help but I am tired of getting yelled at by people I am trying to help, it makes for a stressful day and I just don't want to deal with this population in this setting anymore. I am hoping that 6 months experience can get me in somewhere else. I honestly think its the fact that its a residential place. I think if I worked in an outpatient office I would be ok with it. There is an outpatient clinic but no openings. So frustrated. I have been doing the 12's and I'm on my 3rd day off and finally got around to cleaning today. I go back tomorrow. I just don't like 12's because they tire me out too much.

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Being a new grad is stressful, so please give yourself time to adjust to your new job. We have all been in your shoes. It is so important to separate nursing from your time off. Create a stress management program that supports your relaxation. Find a way to burn off your stress whether it is kick boxing or yoga, do something physical that you enjoy. Take up a hobby that you enjoy also. Since you like jewelry, see if there are any classes near you that may interest you or go onto Pinterest. Do what it takes to get your mojo back.

Good luck!

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