Ready 2 give up on nursing :*(

[rnoutlaw]

Hi folks - I'm so tired of not being able to find another nursing job, I'm losing my mind. I received my license in Nov. '08, and I went to work in a teaching Mag hospital for over a year. The unit I was on was rumored to be the worst in the hospital. Big CNA problems, our manager and DON were demoted, lots of right ups, no raises, lateral employee hostility that was at times physically threatening and physical - you name it, it happened on that unit. I was written up for things I didn't do. I actually tried to stay and work it out like an idiot rather than resign, and I was terminated. So I did homecare. It was okay, but some of these families didn't have lifts, and excuse me, but what nurse can lift 180 lbs. of dead weight? So I did what little agency work there was in doctor's offices. Then I took a job in a LTC. Omagosh. This was supposed to be a really good place, but after all of their cutbacks in staffing, it was 1 nurse for 35-40 patients!!!!! The whole shift is one big giant med pass! It wasn't even nursing, it was "conveyer belt med passing with no regard to when the meds were scheduled." The facility didn't care at all about our nursing licenses or the fact that state could walk in at any time while the nurse was overburdened. I told them I wanted to go to a smaller facility, but they said I hadn't been there long enough and that I would have to reapply. So they terminated me. After that I did seasonal flu shot clinics. It's a really good company, but it's not permanent.

I was so excited to be a nurse. I've been working since I was 13 years old - corn detassling, fast food, you name it, I did it, and I've never seen workflow/staffing/hostility/lack of professionalism ever like I've seen in a couple of the Nursing Jobs I've had. Are all nursing jobs like this? Or is it the economy? Will things get better in the future? Are there any good nursing jobs at all? I'm a hard worker and I'm over 40, but I feel as though these places are putting nurses and patients in jeopardy. I'm probably not the first to say this, but now I can't find ANY job - not in nursing, and not even at a gas station. They want 2 years of acute care experience for hospital, so that puts me out. The rope is short, frayed, and getting shorter...

[CuteNurseUnl]

*Hugs!*

I'm really sorry that all these things happened to you! But please don't give up - nurses like you are needed in this field. I work in a unit that can be pretty hostile too. To keep myself sane, I keep reminding myself that not all units are like this. I'm also learning to stand up for myself (slowly) and to document everything in order to protect myself. So please keep applying to the hospitals. Consider travel nursing too since it seems from your post that you have at least one year of acute care experience. Look also into school nurse positions. Just please don't give up!