Already Tired of Bedside

[Cruzan_RN, ADN]

Before I begin, let me just say I love my unit & my patients and the majority of the staff I work with is amazing.

Idk if it's a first year thing or what, but I'm so exhausted. Bedside is very overwhelming and I often feel like I have to do my job tasks and then the tasks of other disciplines as well. It's really taking a toll and I'm not even 6 months in and I know I can't do this forever. I do feel like if staffing was better not just with nursing but with aides and other support staff/disciplines I would probably love bedside.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

That first year is miserable. Let me say it again -- that first year is miserable! You are tired all of the time, you're overwhelmed and feel stupid. Everyone around you seems stupid, and it seems that the CNAs spend entire shifts hiding. The first year is miserable. That's a really, really common thing.

Somewhere around the first year, you'll start to feel confident, more sure of yourself. Your job will start getting easier and your coworkers will start pulling their own weight. Or perhaps it's just that after a year, you start seeing how big and overwhelming THEIR job is, too.

Give it time. We all had to get through our first year. The only way to get through it is to go through it. We all went through it. You can, too!

[Iwillsurvive]

I feel you. I work on a heavy oncology floor where the patients are super sick and go down quick. I’ve been a nurse for a year and a half and nursing school did not prepare me enough for “real nursing.” Im tired all the time, my days off are spent sleeping and lot of responsibility falls on the nurse and when other disciplines don’t do their job somehow it falls on us still. I understand your frustration completely. If you feel the same after a year, I suggest looking for another job. No job is worth your risking your health and happiness.