what should i do?

ChasingRain · Apr 29, 2010

:redbeathe:redbeathe My heart goes out to you......

I can't offer any "real" advice b/c I'm only a student( and that's not until next week), but I can imagine posting this same thing after I graduate and get my first job.

I think it's natural to feel a little overwhelmed with any new job, but esp. with a job that deals with taking care of people. You've only been there 3 weeks so maybe you should give it a little more time before quitting. But, you could always try a diff area of nursing if this one isn't working out. Whatever the case I would be sure to give plenty of notice rather than just quitting so it will look better on your job history...Good luck :redbeathe

LouisVRN, RN · Apr 29, 2010

It's definitely understandable that you are feeling this way. I would be worried about any new grad that didn't. That being said it does get better. I am sorry you don't feel like you have the support you need. Have you tried talking to the nurse educator? I'm assuming you are still on orientation, have you talked to your preceptor or charge nurse about your concerns? People may not realize you are having as much difficulty as you are. :hug:

Unfortunately without some experience getting a non-bedside nursing position will be very difficult, near impossible from my understanding and if you do manage to wrangle one it will be equally difficult if you ever want to transition back to bedside nursing. Even transferring to a different specialty like CC or ICU you may have fewer patients but you have a lot more things to be cognizant of. In the end its your decision as to what will make you happy, but if you stick it out it does get better.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 29, 2010

Nursing is tough. I went thru some of the same things you have described and many others have as well. Before you make yourself sick consider transfering to another dept, asking supervisor for a mentor, or moving to another area of nursing. This feeling is so common that the majority of new grads change jobs within 2 years - I suppose they think it will be different somewhere else but rarely is. You just need to find your niche and get comfortable in your own skin. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Pegasus65 · Apr 29, 2010

Hushpuppy I totally understand how you feel. I turned in notice last weekend to the LTC facility I was working at. It really galls me to have to give up on anything, but when it gets to the point you dread even going in.. well life is too short for that. I had high hopes for working at this facility.. had a weekend position, which would have worked out well for me to return to school for my RN and also be here for my mom. She is 85 and lives with my husband and I.

The first place I went to work at in November of last year was terrible and I feared losing my license..I didn't stay there long. I thought I was doing okay at this new facility until a new DON took over and she seemed to want to tie me to the stake and light it up. She wrote me up over a form I didn't fill out (I didn't know I was supposed to) and put in the write up that if my documentation didn't improve when she re-evaluated in two weeks I should be terminated. I worked there for three months before she came and nothing was said about anything I did. I put forth my best effort despite being a new nurse with a ton to learn and not a very good orientation. The workload was astronomical and many days I was so overwhelmed. It just killed me because as I am signing meds off in the MAR last weekend, I notice there are huge gaps of days where NO ONE signed that anything was given. It seemed to be just me she wanted to target for some reason. So I quit..... basically because I figured she was going to fire me anyways.

I am not working at any more LTC facilities. I am waiting now to find out about a part-time position at a methadone clinic. If that doesn't pan out then I don't know where I will go but it won't be another nursing home.

Only you can decide what is best for you as far as quitting. I wanted you to know however, that I understand 100% how you are feeling. I asked a ton of questions too.. some of my co-workers were helpful, but many simply didn't want to be bothered unfortunately.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide and don't beat yourself up over it. Have a great evening!

TabithaB · Apr 30, 2010

I cried for 6 months straight when i first started out..........i would break out in hives just walking into the hospital! It does get better i promise! I cant imagine anything else now......hang in there kiddo.......and if you decide down the track that it isn't for you, then thats ok, it happens! *BIG HUG*

shuubie · Apr 30, 2010

thank you everyone! I always hear that it will get better.......but I don't even know how much longer I can last. :crying2:

GoECU · Apr 30, 2010

I totally understand. I was a new grad last year and I worked in the hospital for 6 months...I was stressed out and miserable. The good thing about nursing is there are so many areas you can work in. There is life (and jobs) outside the hospital! You just have to find what works best for you! You are definitely not alone in how you feel. Whether you decide to stick it out longer or look for something else I wish you the best of luck! :hug:

nursealisa · Apr 30, 2010

OMG! DO NOT give up! You work your butt of in nursing school, sacrificing everything just to make it through. All that does is simply prepare you for what you will learn in the hospital. 90% of everything you learn will be on the floor. No one can be expected to know everything fresh out of college. I cannot count the times I sat out on the back dock of our hospital with my head in my hands bawling wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into. Now, there is nothing that I'd rather do. So far, you have been taught how everyone else does everything. Now is the time for you to find your own niche and perfect your own routine. Hang in there. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

barlowjb · Apr 30, 2010

Try hanging in there a little longer maybe say an additional month and see how you feel. When I first started (ortho/neuro and general medical) I felt unsure of a lot of things and documentation took forever. I began feeling a tad bit ok after 8 weeks of orientation, fairly ok after 4 months and now that i'm at the 6 month mark i'm feeling pretty good although I still have a lot to learn. The first few weeks as a new nurse is tough for most, plus working 12 hour shift does not make it any easier. I don't know whether or not you will still feel the same way after an additional month or two, but at least give yourself an opportunity to find out.

For me the biggest hurdle was getting comfortable with the other nurses. I had to develop a very tough skin very fast and practicing to not take certain things and attitudes toward me personally was the best thing I ever did for myself. There were times I would just go home and pray for God to help me deal with certain individuals regardless of how stupid I felt around them, then I would just buck up and face another day again. The irony of it all is that now i feel pretty comfortable with most of the other nurses - who knew?.

I am aware that sometimes there are places that are really just bad and dangerous places to work no matter the situation, and but based on the info you posted, I would encourage you to give yourself a little more time before you make your final decision.

I wish you all the best regardless of the direction you eventually decide to take

May God Bless your efforts much sooner than you think or expect!!!

Best Wishes

AugustRain · Apr 30, 2010

It's totally normal to feel overwhelmed when you're first starting out. Three weeks can seem like forever when you're nervous everyday, but give it a shot. It may not be bedside nursing that you dislike, it may just be that you don't like being new and overwhelmed and disoriented - who can blame you? That goes away with time. Three weeks isn't enough time to be good at anything yet. I've only been working as a nurse for five months, and I can tell you that the difference between my first month and now is huge. You could very well discover that bedside nursing isn't for you, but at least if you stick it out for a while, you'll be able to make a more informed decision about what you like and don't like, and gain valuable experience to take with you to your next job. It takes some time to find your footing, but you can do it.

Reigen · Apr 30, 2010

Once you’re out of school and the reality of your chosen profession hits you, it can be quite overwhelming, no matter how thorough your schooling was.

So what can you do to survive (or better yet thrive) during your first year out there?

Here are some tips to get you started:

Be patient with yourself. You’re just starting out. Take time to learn and gain experience. Most seasoned nurses agree it takes a good year to become somewhat comfortable and two years to be able to handle most situations. Go easy on yourself and think about how far you’ve already come. Even the most competent nurse once started out exactly where you are now.

Focus on the positive. While it’s human nature to dwell on the negative, if you focus on the positive, that will become your reality. At the end of each day, reflect on what you learned and on at least one good thing you did for someone. Write it down, look at it, and fall asleep with that thought in mind. Keep a positive journal of the times you made a difference or helped someone, including any nice things people say about you. Review it often.

Help others. It’s never too soon to lend a helping hand to a coworker. You might even learn something in the process. Show your willingness to help, and others will do the same for you. Be sure to extend yourself to students and other new grads who follow you. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Align yourself with positive, competent people. Experienced and friendly people are all around. Buddy up with those after whom you’d like to model yourself. A person doesn’t have to have the same title as you for you to learn something from him or her. Many RNs have told me they learned everything they know from an experienced LPN.

Show some initiative. Don’t wait for someone to tell you to do a procedure. Seek out opportunities to get the experience you need. If certain procedures aren’t done with any frequency on your unit, talk to your preceptor, unit educator, or nurse manager about getting that experience elsewhere. If a certain procedure is going to be done on your unit, see if you can participate (or at least observe). Show your willingness to learn.

Build good relationships. Don’t wait for others to come up to you. Introduce yourself to coworkers on all three shifts, to physicians, and to others. Have lunch with someone you don’t know, and get to know him or her better. Learn others’ names, and use them. Say good morning and good night to everyone. Become part of the team.

Keep learning. Use your drug reference guide, the Internet, policy and procedure manuals, and other resources. Ask questions, observe experienced people, and ask more questions. Remember — you have to do something for the first time only once. Then it starts to be old hat. Do your homework at the end of each day, and look up things that are new to you. Remember — this is phase two of your education.

Join professional associations. Become a member of your state nurses association and specialty association. These affiliations help you stay on the cutting edge, provide sources of support and help, offer educational programs, and give you a forum to share ideas, and so on. Don’t stay isolated within your department and your facility. Become part of the greater whole, and develop close ties with your colleagues on state and national levels.

Track your progress. We all have a tendency to look at where we are now and where we still want to go. We lose sight of the progress we’ve already made and keep making. Consider starting a log. Record your accomplishments periodically, including any new procedures you do. Start with what you’ve already done, including getting through school ready to take the boards, and keep adding to it. Review it on a regular basis to see how far you’ve really come.

Manage your stress. Stress is not something to be tolerated; it should be managed. Everyone has stress in his or her life. As caregivers, we’re particularly susceptible. Make time to socialize, engage in leisure activities and hobbies, exercise, meditate, and so on. That way, you’ll have more to give your patients, your family, and yourself.

Stay focused, and keep moving forward. With the passage of time, you’ll become more confident and comfortable in your new profession. You can do it! How do I know that? Because I was once right where you are now. Who knows? Maybe someday you’ll be giving advice to new grads or writing a career advice column for nurses. I’ve come a long way since I got out of school almost 23 years ago, and you will, too. Hang in there. It’s definitely worth it. You can do it. I know you can!