Advice to a new nurse wanting to quit...

[rnang123]

I am so frustrated! I am almost 6 months in to working on a cardiac floor...and have never been so down on myself! I remember feeling shy and unsure of myself...in high school. 10 years later I feel like this AGAIN ever since I started my job.

I got my review...some of the comments were from peers...nurses that followed me during my orientation...the one that got me was "she seems like she is a slow learner, slower than most..." I worked more than 40 hours a week AND still did well in my classes in nursing school...and also have a four year degree in another field. I thought it seemed more like a mean, back biting comment, not necessarily something that is going to help me. A few of the comments were nice, but seemed to lead towards one thing...she's not cut out for this floor.

Cardiac is tough! I run around like a chicken with their head cut off...getting people ready for tests, carrying out orders, and basically feeling like I can't do enough all day long. I hate it!! I've lost weight...having little appetite, get tongue-tied, feel unsure of myself, throw up before work...I don't know what to do. I guess it's interesting, to a certain extent, but having a four year degree in Psych, I originally went into nursing to do psych nursing. Everyone's said you should have a year of floor experience. I don't think I can stand this though...I feel flustered/nauseated/tongue tied ALL THE TIME. I feel like I'm pissing people off...and I feel like I am holding people back.

My boss has said that I have made great improvements, but the truth is, I just want to quit. I love the patients/families...and could spend all day with them...I need a slower pace, I think. I just feel like my confidence is completely gone...I used to work at a place where everyone was very friendly...it's not like that on the floor, it almost seems like a sorority.

[rnang123]

Cardiac is a completely different language...so you are basically having to learn 2 languages on top of your first language!!! Not a slow learner, quite the contrary, most other nurses don't have the language barrier!!! It may take you more time, but you've gotten this far!!! We are new at this, and we need to find what works best...whether it be cardiac or something else...

[oldiebutgoodie, RN]

Don't let the peer review comments get you down! My floor also had "peer review", in which a committee selected by our boss got in a room to do "peer review", which seemed mostly to involve handing out snarky comments. Some of the comments about me were:

"Sometimes seems condescending"

"Gives pain meds only when feels like it"

"Leaves loose ends for next shift"

What!!! (especially the pain meds thing--I am religious about that). When I asked around, everybody else got negative comments like above. One of our best, most committed nurses also got the "doesn't give pain meds in a timely fashion" comment.

So, just ignore it, especially the slow learner comment. That was from just one person, you've been on the floor 6 months, and you are progressing fine. Reviews always have some negative comments thrown in with the positive. Some are good for learning, but some are just nonsense with no basis in fact. Don't worry about it.

But, if you really like psych, by all means, go do psych.

Best of luck to you!!!!

Oldiebutgoodie

[chrisg0705]

I know exactly how you feel! I also work on a cardiac unit and I hate every second of it. Every day I have to fight to keep from quitting. I am so stressed out and have lost all confidence and self-esteem. To make things worse, I ended up making a mistake today - I infused blood a little too fast on a fluid overloaded patient and they sent me home - I am assuming of course that I will be fired.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Not everyone decides to do med-surg, or floor nursing immediately; some go straight into their niche without apologizing. I really enjoy working in the clinic, because I admit that I am spoiled with weekends and holidays off, but also, I enjoy teaching. I do plan to work per diem in med-surg as soon as they show me how to navigate their computerized documentation of medications, but that is just to have the experience under my belt, not to make a permanent move there.

Go where you want to, and give yourself some peace! Nursing Orders (smile)!!

[MoriahRoseRN]

I am also a new nurse. I started 4weeks ago in telemetry unit. I am totally understanding how you feel. It is very hard for me too. I feel like I don't know more than I know. There is a big difference between nursing school and a real nursing job. I am really miss my nursing teachers. I just came home from my job, I am very tired. I feel that I am very slow learner, but I like cardiology very much, I just not at the same level as other nurses are. Also, english is not my first languge and it is very difficult for me. I am trying very hard to learn and act as a nurse on telemetry unit. I guess it will take some time. Well, I just want let you know that not only you feel down it is difficult for me too as a new nurse, but I don't think it will be easier anywerealse. At the beginning it is hard but hopfully it will get easier for you. I hope you will able to understand what I wrote.

Nice post!

It is really hard being a new nurse, and mean ppl do not make it any easier. Keep your head up, and Good luck!

[lorabel]

Hi. I felt almost the same as you. I say go with your gut! If you are not sure this is where you want to be...why torture yourself? I was in the same boat. the floor i worked had many nurses that ate their young! I just quit my first job. I graduated in May 2007. took my first job on an oncology floor. I worked there for 4 months........sept-jan. It is an extremely busy floor and the acuity of the patients is high. We get fresh post-op patients nearly every day. As a new grad nurse i had lots to learn. It was too much for me in the long run. i was learning but not as quickly as they wanted...I think. I was told I had the best bedside manner of any nurse they ever had. However, many of the nurses I worked with turned out to be backstabbers.....They would run to the director with petty, and i mean petty little things......such as not checking the unchanged/changed box at the end of shift...(paper charting) that is something I saw every single day.........Point is I'm not the only one that ever got busy and forgot to do it at end of shift.....everything else was charted on. I was getting to the point where I had absolutley no confidence left. I felt like I was under a high-powered microscope. So....I handed in my resignation on friday. i'm done! I did my best but that floor wasnt for me. As a new grad I need something a little slower paced, where I can continue to hone my skills and gain confidence. I dont need backstabbers causing me to lose the confidence I was trying to gain. Apparently i'm not the only with a problem on that unit. I was the 6th nurse in 2 months to quit that unit! so...where's the problem? Part of the problem was some patients wanted me assigned to them...the one patient told me i was his security blanket and he knew he was in good hands when i was his nurse.....other nurses did not like this so they tried to find little nit picky things to complain about me for.......I got to the point where I had enough and I quit! If you're not happy where you are.........move on! go with your gut. there's no good reason to be tortured every day. i'm currently looking for a new job. I have no idea where I want to be or what is available for nurses.??????? Good luck and do whats best for YOU!