New nurse giving up on first job in med surg after 7 mos.

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

I think I have reached my physical limit and need to resign my first nursing job in med surg but would really appreciate some help from all you you guys. I am a new LVN (49 years) old and have been working in a telemetry med surg unit for 7 months now. I am also going through menopause. I am having panic/anxiety attacks every morning when I go into work to my job. My heart is pounding, can't breathe, get an instant migraine and can never sleep the night before I go in. I am so overwhelmed on my floor. I work team nursing and have 11-14 patients. Most mornings I go in and have 9 out of the 11 or more with accuchecks and need insulin with breakfast. I immediately panic as to how I can get them all done. Then I am two hours late with all the other patient's meds because each of them has 3 - 5 pages of meds (very ill patients on our floor). I have told them I think I need to quit and they just say hang in there. I cry every night and am not there for my family anymore as I am so overwhelmed. Also I am finishing my prereqs for the RN program (3 classes to go). This job has made me question if I can even be a nurse. But I love my patients and have been told them appreciate how I have been so caring to them. If anyone has any advice, I would so appreciate it. I have to make a decision soon. I went to part time (2 12 1/2 hour shifts a week) and it still seems to be too much for me. I needed to stay a year and get experience, but I'm not sure I can handle it anymore. Thank you in advance for any help or advice. You are my heros.

Specializes in med surg, telemetry, stroke.

Hi Q12RN, my doctor gave me xanex and I am going to try taking it (even though I don't want to) to help me get through the next several months. Thanks for the advice. Our CNAs in Calif. are not allowed to to accuchecks or any kind of meds.

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Specializes in med surg, telemetry, stroke.

Thank you all so much for your support. This is where I come for strength. I know it is not just me even though I have only been an LVN for seven months, all our nurses are leaving or want to. I have lost three of my RNs gone to UCLA. Most of the LVNs want to leave too. They won't get more nurses. One more LVN on our floor would help. I love my patients but cannot monitor 11-24 adequately especially because they are so ill, tele unit with more ill patients. I have been looking and have interviewed at the only other hospital in my town, hoping I can get a spot there or do registry but not sure I have enough experience for that. I am so overwhelmed with these med passes, insuls (9 out of 12) and people with three to five pages of meds I can't practice my IV starts or learn new things I need to in order to become more proficient. Well thanks for listening. You are all great and I appreciate your support so much. Don't know what I would do without this website. We have no support where I work (new nurses I mean).

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Sounds like you are the team in this "team nursing model". CNA should get accuchecks, give a list of findings and YOU and the RN split the coverage. I assume she has to assess these patient anyway, so this would be a start of her assessments.

I hope your situation improves soon, the stress load you are carrying is too much. Brain storm with someone you trust to see if they have any ideas on how to reduce your demands. Part-time work comes to my mind right away. You would still be getting experience and a salary. Good luck.

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Oops! Did not know CNA was not allowed to do accuchecks. RN should be in there helping then. Also, could night shift do part of them and give coverage and day shift do other part? Or at least do some of the checks?

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Specializes in med surg, telemetry, stroke.

I know, but some of the RNs I work with are focused on their own stuff and do not want to help me with my workload. Some days I want to give up being a nurse all together, because I did not know it would be so overwhelming. I do not have time to learn the new things I need to, practice IV starts, etc. because the med passes, insulin needs are so great and take my whole day. The patients on my floor have so many meds (3-5 pages) and that multiplied by 11 or more plus their dressings, and other needs. I'm trying to hang in there till I can find something else. P.S. I have already gone to part time. (2 shifts a week)

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I'm wishing you all the best. That's definitely a lot of patients for you to handle. :o All the best to you.

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Specializes in ED/Trauma.

Wow,too many patients

Of course your director says "Hang in there",if you left she would have to find someone else.

First thought would be to go part time or prn. Maybe work in a Docs office or clinic.

Exercise,if you don't already.Some time by yourself.Take a walk,bike ride,something for YOU.

I'd personally avoid Ativan,Xanax etc.First off you couldn't take them when you needed them.eg,before work.

Good luck...Find something that fits YOU!!!

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I have to agree with the other posters who have advised you to look for another position with a more managable patient load. I did team nursing with a patient load of 12 patients, difficult and stressful, but managable because we worked together as a team. Now, it seems that team work, like respect for your fellow workers and patients is fast becoming a thing of the past. I am not suggesting it is all the fault of the nurses, no it is a combination of many things. I just hate to see or even admit that nursing, once a profession of caring and skill, is sinking into a more negative level than many of us want to admit.

Please remember to attempt to practice the golden rule. Good luck in school and with work.

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I understand how you feel. I have been on the med-surg floor for 1 year now after graduating. When I first was hired our patient load was 7-8 patients. Now they have done away with the CNA's and went to primary care nursing. We were informed that the patient load would be 4 patients the most on rare occations 5. During the last 4 months I might have had 4 patients half a dozen times. Usually run 5-6 with total care. Being the only male on the floor night shift charge nurse assigns the heavyest my way. I am going to be 50 soon and it is starting to wear. We have lost half of the nurses that was there when I started and have a lot of new fresh out of school. Med-Surg is a great floor to work for gaining knowledge. I love what I do and going to see what will happen in the future.

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