Am I supposed to hate my first nursing job??

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 30, 2016

Why do you hate it?

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 30, 2016

I loved my first nursing job. Not all the time, not every minute, but overall. Please share what you hate about yours. Is it something over which you have any control?

StevietheRN · May 30, 2016

The critical level of sick people. We average 4-6 codes per week, it's a mixed bag of pulmonary, chf, and dka pts. At night we have 4-5 pts and they are very sick. I didn't realize this (my fault) when I accepted the position. We also have a 4 bed icu pod....I never wanted to be an icu nurse and do not thrive on the constant codes...it's more intense than I like and though the training is adequate I just have a sick feeling every time I go in. It's one of the fastest paced units and the turnover is extremely high in the unit.

StevietheRN · May 30, 2016

I expected some bumps in the road as a new RN and some bad days but I just totally hate it....my mom told me to suck it up but I don't know if I cam go in somewhere for 1-2 years that I feel this sick over

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · May 30, 2016

Wait til you have a year of experience and then reassess. The first year of nursing is tough.

Emergent, RN · May 30, 2016

The critical level of sick people. We average 4-6 codes per week, it's a mixed bag of pulmonary, chf, and dka pts. At night we have 4-5 pts and they are very sick. I didn't realize this (my fault) when I accepted the position. We also have a 4 bed icu pod....I never wanted to be an icu nurse and do not thrive on the constant codes...it's more intense than I like and though the training is adequate I just have a sick feeling every time I go in. It's one of the fastest paced units and the turnover is extremely high in the unit.

It sounds sucky with lousy ratios. Go to your interview and see what they have to say.

You get what you pay for. A unit with high turnover, that is willing to foot the bill for your education in exchange for indentured servitude, is probebly a crummy place to work.

PS - I didn't hate my first nursing job. It wasn't bells and whistles, but it was tolerable

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · May 30, 2016

For a solid 6 months I wondered what I got myself into at my job and dreaded going to work. It got better and better each day. You need a good attitude, though, or it won't. Think of it as a good learning experience and an excellent resume builder.

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 30, 2016

I just have a sick feeling every time I go in.

I think this is fairly "normal" and reflects a level of anxiety because you're new. I won't say a "healthy" level of anxiety, though it might be ... things might get better as you get stronger in your nursing practice. But if it's literally making you sick to the point where it interferes with your life â€” can't sleep, spending days off worrying about going back, etc. â€” it might be wise to consider other options. Critical care anything is tough for a new grad! Are you off orientation already, I take it? What is the other job you're looking at (just a general idea, you don't have to get too specific if you don't want to, of course).

loriangel14, RN · May 30, 2016

That's ridiculous. I loved my first job so much I am still there after 9 years.

StevietheRN · May 30, 2016

It's a medical decision unit....basically an observation unit to decide if people will be admitted or not so not as sick patients like mine as mine were mostly admits to the icu.

And yes just got off a couple weeks ago. Our level of care with assessments and treatment is similar to icu but with double the patient load...

StevietheRN · May 30, 2016

I keep telling myself if I can handle this I can handle anything and it will be awesome on my resume. Trying to be optimistic and upbeat. I actually normally am a rather even person who tries to find the good in every situation. I keep telling myself it will get better and I will feel more confident. Just hate this feeling where I dread it i