I'm a new grad nurse and I started on my unit this past August. I've been off of orientation since mid October. On my unit there's a 4:1 patient ratio and I work the 3-11 shift.
Since I've gotten off orientation I'm really struggling. I find it so difficult to focus on what needs to be done and get anything accomplished because I feel like I'm constantly pulled in a million directions at once during my entire shift. Literally from the minute I start my shift to the minute I'm done, I feel like all I do is run around like crazy as one thing after another comes up. I know we are supposed to be prioritizing and planning what needs to be done during our shift blah blah, but I never feel like my plans to accomplish tasks actually work.
For example, I'll decide...I'm going to go see pt in 203 and take in all his meds, do my assessment, change his fluids, reposition him, assess for pain, and then get out. Well it just so happens this pt is in isolation and while I'm in there a doc calls to speak about another pt (who I haven't even seen yet) and now I have to leave this pt and talk to the doc. So then I get off the phone with the doc and then the NA comes and tell me pt in 204 has a BG of 70 and the pt in 205 is in pain and wants meds...and so on. This is what I deal with almost every shift and it drives me crazy. Throw at least 1-2 admissions/discharges into the mix and I think you get the picture.
Does anyone else feel like this? How do you deal with the constant chaos and everyone needing you? I just feel like I'm pulled in a million directions constantly. It makes it so challenging for me to focus on anything I'm doing and sometimes I have to stop and think, ok wait which pt is this again, what was I doing before? I'm so scared I'm going to make a mistake (like with meds or treatments) because as soon as I'm focused, it seems another issue comes up like the previous scenario.
I'm beginning to think med/surg nursing isn't for me. Maybe I would do better in an ICU where the ratio is 1:2 max and I can focus better on those pts?
Anyone else feeling like this or have any suggestions? Thanks!