So I am a new grad working on the floor at a small local hospital. I am a week away from finishing orientation, and I'm already ready to get out! I can't decide if it's really that I don't enjoy m/s, or if it's that most of our patients consist of nursing home residents and drug seekers. Sorry, but neither is my cup of tea if I'm honest.
My constant question in my head lately is, do I REALLY have to do a whole year of this? Do you think it would help if I tried for another hospital, or is it like this on any m/s floor? I think I'm just getting restless, feeling like I'm ready to move on.. wondering if I can make it until at least the six-month mark.. would it be any easier to branch out then (job-search wise)?
I love the other nurses here, and the support is great for the most part. I'm now carrying five patients and some shifts get an admission as well. But I feel as though I was pretty much thrown to the sharks from about the fourth week on, and I think that's another reason I have a bad taste in my mouth.. hopefully for this hospital only and not for m/s in general.
So would I be doing myself a disservice if I went ahead in my search for a new area? Are there any others who have had success getting a new gig WITHOUT a year of m/s under their belt? My gut says I should stick it out, but my heart just can't wait I guess, lol. Although, I have no clue what my "calling" is, I don't feel like this is it and I don't want to feel dread every time it's time to go in, you know? I would love to have a job where I feel like I'm truly needed and learning something new every day, instead of one where I feel like I'm just a drug pusher to people who (mostly) don't even need them and are never satisfied.
I have been working as an extern in an ICU and am transitioning into a GN position before start a NOC RN position. The education and support has been fantastic. I have a wonderful preceptor who says she can train a monkey to do skills. Starting an IV or hanging blood is just a skill set. The important things to factor are what are you looking for when you hang blood, adverse reactions? labs? fluid overload? When you start an IV, what are the implications and side effects of the meds you are hanging? Those are the things that I try and concentrate on when I'm working. The actual skills will come with time, maybe focusing on the "critical thinking" (remember that phrase? ) will give you more satisfaction with where you are and what you are doing. You might even become a resource for the other RN's you work with!! Good luck to you.
I graduated May of 2009, got my license in July of 2009, and started working in early August of 2009.
In nursing school, I HATED med-surg. HATED! My senior year of nursing school I was originally assigned to a preceptor in the ER, and I was so excited! I work great under chaos and pressure and thought the ER would be a perfect place for me. A few weeks before starting preceptorship, one of my teachers told me that my preceptor had backed out due to family issues. She found a new preceptor for me, except this preceptor was on a med-surg floor. I cringed internally, but was determined to make the best of it.
I've now been working on that med-surg floor for 6 months, and I love it. Some days its a bit much, and slightly repetitive, and on a slow day I don't feel like I do much more than assess and hand out pain medication. However, I take great pride in saying that I can juggle 9 to 12 patients and I have learned so much in just 6 months.
I would encourage you not to judge your future experience by your orientation experience. During my orientation I hardly did any "skills", and now I can place Foleys, hang blood/platelets, and do countless other skills in my sleep if I had to.
On the other hand. I would never encourage anybody, ESPECIALLY A NEW GRAD, to stay somewhere where they are completely unhappy. If you dread going to work everyday, its time to start searching for a new floor or a new hospital. As a new grad you are at such a high risk for burnout, and there is no better way to expedite burnout than to be totally unhappy and feel totally unfulfilled where you are. You will eventually start resenting everything and you will be no good to anyone.
I do not expect to be on a med-surg floor forever, but for now I am happy where I'm at. I may eventually make it to the ER, and if/when I do, I know I will be completely confident in my med-surg skills set for the time I have spent on my unit. IF you can find the silver lining, I encourage you to stay, because if nothing else you'll become pretty good at starting IVs and giving pain meds. However, if you still find yourself totally dreading going to work, and totally unhappy while you're there, I encourage you to move on to somewhere else, for your sake and your patients' sake.
Thanks SO much everyone for the great advice and replies.
I am happy to report that- for whatever reason- this weekend went GREAT!! Maybe I was just psyching myself out during those last couple weeks of orientation, or maybe it was just a fluke weekend.. either way, I am feeling much better for now.
Friday night I had six patients and it went very well. I have definitely gotten my time management under control now... though I won't say it's flawless, it's certainly adequate for a night without any major upsets.
The following night (my final night of orientation) I started with six patients and got an admission after MN. Of course, the timing of the admission helped A LOT (better than an 0530 right?), but either way it was a really good transition from six to seven.
As I clocked out Sun morning, I was asked- since I was off orientation now- "wanna come in tonight?" :batting eyelashes: (LOL- you know the look). I agreed and went home for some sleep. Last night was the best yet. SO relaxed, and I had the same six I had been working with the past two nights (plus one very low-maintenance new admit) so I had things pretty much down to pat. Made a couple of med-holding decisions for one patient that I felt really good about, especially when the supervisor agreed (even on one that she originally thought might be safe to give, once I gave my reasoning she agreed ).. had plenty of "bonding" time with my patients since I didn't have to use so much time scheduling stuff. AND I was done with report prep, chart checks and all patient care by 0630. Gave report and clocked out before 0730. Wow, anyway.. it was a good weekend.
So maybe this thing won't be so bad after all! I will try and keep updated on my progression, but as of right now I think I can make it to the six month mark, EASY. Of course, there will always be terrible shifts, but that's with any job.
However, if you still find yourself totally dreading going to work, and totally unhappy while you're there, I encourage you to move on to somewhere else, for your sake and your patients' sake.
).. had plenty of "bonding" time with my patients since I didn't have to use so much time scheduling stuff. AND I was done with report prep, chart checks and all patient care by 0630. Gave report and clocked out before 0730. Wow, anyway.. it was a good weekend.
rotteluvr31, ADN, RN
208 Posts
I have been working as an extern in an ICU and am transitioning into a GN position before start a NOC RN position. The education and support has been fantastic. I have a wonderful preceptor who says she can train a monkey to do skills. Starting an IV or hanging blood is just a skill set. The important things to factor are what are you looking for when you hang blood, adverse reactions? labs? fluid overload? When you start an IV, what are the implications and side effects of the meds you are hanging? Those are the things that I try and concentrate on when I'm working. The actual skills will come with time, maybe focusing on the "critical thinking" (remember that phrase?
) will give you more satisfaction with where you are and what you are doing. You might even become a resource for the other RN's you work with!! Good luck to you.