When I was 12, I decided I wanted to help peopleâ€, so I worked really hard to get into a nursing program. I, by no means, thought it would be easy, I just thought it'd be more rewarding.
I graduated last year, and started at a hospital. I trained for 6 weeks (as a new grad!) and was thrown into it. ThepeoplewhoarebuddieswiththeChargegetthebetterassignments. One day, I got 6 starting pts (everyone else got 4-5), 3 discharges, and 2 admits, while a nurse left and went to The Dollar Store. Yep, you read that right. When another RN, who was precepting, spoke up about my assignment, my charge came over and dryly said, If it gets too much, let me know,†and walked off. That's more or less what every day has been like.
Things you probably don't learn in school:
- Doctorsarea******s. You will get screamed at if you page about a slightly increased temp, and screamed at again if you don't page about the same temp later.
- Veterannursesareawfultonewnurses (but you will continue to bear the scowls and ask questions, because your patient's safety is more important than the rumor that you're an idiot). Oh yeah, nurses gossip a lot.
- Nursingis mostlyrobotic- hang IVs, medicate, document, rinse, repeat (unless you're in critical care/ED). If you get 5 mins to sit with a patient, the CNA will probably call you.
- Then, there are days where you see John Doe, who came in near-comatose, get up and walk, and it fills your heart with joy. But rewardingmomentsarefewandfarbetween. (You're mostly being screamed at because Dr. Awesome decided to taper their narcs, and neglected to tell them, or because dietary forgot their cookie).
- BTW, forgetthetermbreakâ€. You'll be lucky if you get a whole 30 mins for lunch.
I suppose it depends on where you work, what your team is like, and how resilient you are. I have cried a lot, put on my big-girl pants, and return every day. But if I were 12 again…
Now that I've blown off steam, I cannot commend RNs enough for what you do on a daily basis. You are all super-freaking-heroes in my eyes. And, no, I don't hate doctors, I dislike the rude, condescending ones, like the one who told me, I don't make mistakes!†and slammed the phone down when he ordered a med the patient was allergic to. WELCOME TO NURSING!
