I see a lot of threads in here about people hating their first year of nursing. I know that right before I graduated, and right after I passed my NCLEX I was constantly in here worrying myself silly over how many people seemed to be dissatisfied. I thought I would turn the tide a little bit.

I started my job as a Psych RN at a private facility in Feb. it is now March and I've been on my own for about a week and a half. I LOVE IT! It was a big learning curve as it is all paper charting. It was challenging, it was hard, and it was the best time of my life! I love work. I love knowing that every night I get to go in and see my patients. I actually look forward to going to work, and on weekends where I don't have anything to do, I'll even WANT to go in! I love making mistakes in report, because it gives me something to work towards the next day. I love my co-workers and have been blessed with amazing staff that are helpful and kind.

I have also met those that eat their young, and I get a kick out of doing my job, and doing it well, and killing them with kindness. It's absolutely wonderful. Are there bad times? OF COURSE! But this (Psych Nursing) is what I wanted to do, and I can't be happier that I'm actually getting to do it!

So for those of you who were like me, going through the threads, getting more and more discouraged, I thought I would put out a little hope!

Mashira, thanks for posting this! I'm actually one of those people that have started some "bitter threads", sharing and venting about my bad experiences in my first year of nursing. But you are right about making mistakes--its something to learn from and improve on for the next work day. And any place one goes, there will always be someone that's rude and not a team player. Its good you "kill them with kindness"; my attitude is just ignore them and do my work (but still vent elsewhere), since I have little patience to bother with the "kindness" part (even if that sounds mean).

I still don't like my unit (psych) and continue to question my place in nursing, but despite the "bad stuff" it sure has taught me a lot. Things like, learning about the kind of nurse I DON'T want to be like; increasing my self confidence (although I still have a lot to work on, I have to say, it has taught me to be more vocal and put my foot down with patients--I work in psych too--even show some wit towards a difficult doctor to get him to order an IV for a pt who wasn't eating or drinking much the past several days. When he didn't want to order the IV, I still can't believe I "talked back" and said, "well, if you want the patient to get more dehydrated and more confused, don't order an IV". Sure enough he did and the pt became much more alert); even teaching me things about myself, like certain qualities I need to improve on (like patience with myself and others).

Like any job, and life in general, nursing has its ups and downs. But its so much easier to focus and remember tha bad than the good. Its time to focus more on the good and the happy :)

P.S. I'm glad you seem to have found your niche right away. I think part of my problem is that I haven't found mine yet. I start a new job in a new unit soon, so hopefully it will be one step closer to finding my place in this big nursing world.despite all the times I've questioned continuing my nursing career, I guess I haven't quite given up on it

Good for you!! I'm so happy that you are enjoying your job and learning from each new experience. Try to minimize contact with those who enjoy eating their young. (Maybe they really are miserable in their own lives but try not to let them get to you). Find an experienced person who you're able to trust, and learn from them. Watch their interactions with patients and staff. Pick their brain at every opportunity.

I worked in psych for over 20 years and loved most of it. I also found that those things I had the most problems with at the time, were the things I learned the most from in the big picture.

A new job is exciting and you're especially lucky to be working exactly where you want to be. I hope you're always able to keep that enthusiasm.

(And "Little Mouse", I hope your situation gets better too. I'm so glad you are able to learn from the situation. Good luck in your future too. Find something that you love)

Good luck and Congratulations!!