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Discussion

Advice on changing floors

So I've been on a tele/stepdown unit for 9 months. I've switch from day shift to night shift in an effort to make the job better for me. I have no complaints about my coworkers or my manager, but I"m still having a hard time with my job. Everytime I make a change (ie going to night shifts) I feel better for a little bit but then start to freak out again. There are some days that I go to work and it's alright and there are some days that I go to work and it is a nightmare. Both kinds of days happen pretty frequently. I always thought that I wanted to do some sort of "exciting" nursing. Like working in the ER or Critical Care area, but now I'm thinking I'm not so sure. Actually I'm not sure what to think. I worked in a very, very large ER as a tech for 4 years before becoming a nurse and was able to handle it alright. I decided when I got my nursing license that it would be wiser to start on a floor and work my way up to being an ER nurse, which I still think is a good idea. But I'm not so sure my mind can take much more of this. I'm still having panick attacks before going to work....now I'm starting to have nightmares. Like I actually wake up in a panic because of a dream, which normally I don't even have dreams. I think that it has gotten worse since I started the night shift because my sleeping is all messed up. I'm not sure I can handle night shift. I like the work load better....well at least most of the time, but not seeing the sun is messing with me. Plus I have caught my self sleeping on my way home from work! That is scary.

I guess my question is for those of you who are managers out there. I haven't gotten in trouble at work and I don't think I'm allowed to transfer until I've been there a year, but I'm not sure I can make it 3 more months. I want to go somewhere where it is slow to almost boring on a day shift. Actually I feel like I could handle a moderate amount of stress, but this whole moderate amount of stress day, then 3 high stress days, then 2 moderate stress days is wigging me out. I feel like wanting something slower is being lazy and it definatly destroys all the goals of being some critical care nurse, but my mental health is fading fast.

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Wow, that kind sounds like my situation right now, and i'm not sure what i'm going to do either. Good luck to you.

Jessica

I started on my floor Nov 08 and feel at times the same way. I'm on medical telemetry with 7-8 patients. I feel overwhelmed mostly if my patient mix is heavy or if my partner is not helpful. I have had talks with my NM and found that my floor is not very supportive. I'm afraid to change to a floor that may be worse.

You mentioned critical care nursing. What about ICU where the ratios are 1-2?

Do you ask for help when you are overwhelmed? You said the floor was great. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I had a hard time with this because I was afraid other RNs or LPNs would think of me always "wanting something" or delegating tasks that I didn't want to do. Not true. If I got help with tasks I could chart. I have routinely been late clocking out every day. Just last week I did much better. I made notes on each patient's page what was done and what's left. All I had to do was check them off the list. For example: A.m. and Pm assignments, chart checks, I/Os, calls to Dr. all of these things were things I needed to chart throughout the shift but instead some weren't done until after I gave report.

What I am requesting through management are additional education classes that are offered. These are available for any nurse who wants to learn more in their specific specialty. I'm hoping continuing to learn and know the big picture such as certain labs and really knowing the meds, I will get faster at processing things and know what is a problem and that will really help boost my confidence.

The first year is the roughest. I try to look at it as a challenge. I want to conquer the challenge as other nurses before me and I am fired up each night I feel whipped. Keep the positive self talk. Get involved in something you like to do on your days off. Hopefully this will help your nightmares. Do you have a mentor at work like a previous preceptor that you can talk with? Utilize those that have been supportive for you during your training. They know what it's like to be a new nurse.

Good luck with your decision of changing floors.

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