Am I supposed to hate my first nursing job??

GaleSRN, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

The beauty of nursing is the diversity of jobs. Talk to you DON. Not every body is suited for ICU or ICU step downs. My friend in nursing school felt pressured into taking a job in ICU and she hated it. I loved it. She moved to the unit where "not so high risk" infants were and loved it. Please talk to the DON and get a reassignment

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 4, 2016

I hated my first (and second) nursing jobs. I used to cry all the way to work and halfway home most shifts. In the first one, I knew I was just inexperienced and ignorant; that I had a ton to learn. I buckled down and learned it, and sometime after the first year, things started to get easier. When I started becoming more self-sufficient as a coworker and less of a pain in the ass, my colleagues got nicer, I started to learn teamwork and things got to be enjoyable. When I left that job after two years, I was sad to go -- but my husband had a job 1000 miles a way, so I sort of had to.

The second job was miserable, too. I think a good portion of that is because I'm an introvert and I didn't do the work necessary to get to know my coworkers and to let them know (and like) me. Again, after a year it got better.

Your first nursing job is likely to be miserable. Read the first year after licensing forum for awhile and you'll see. You can make it easier on yourself by studying at home: meds, policies, the disease process -- anything you're struggling with at work. Getting to know and like your colleagues helps, and being a likable person (so that they like you) helps. I wish I had known how important that aspect of the career would be in my first couple of jobs.

Stick out your first year, then decide whether you hate your job or not.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2016

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.

Not everyone is cut out for critical care. I know I am definitely not...

However, I'd give it a year to see if you hit your stride and fall into a competent groove. The anxiety you feel as a new nurse often dissipates with the passage of time and accrual of experience. Good luck to you!

floridaRN38 · Jun 5, 2016

My first year I worked on a tele floor. I hated it. I only stayed for a few months. I knew it wasn't for me. I quit. Which was not the greatest idea back them Bc I cannot work for that hospital system again. (That was 10 years ago). I went to the ER. Which I always wanted to do. Did a new grad program and loved it. I have other side jobs as well in nursing. But I remember I did not like the first year. Now I am happy in setting I'm in. I would try stick it out if u can. Since you are contracted. Once your year is up start looking for another position in what u want to do [emoji3]

Innocent2021, ADN, BSN · Jun 7, 2016

I can relate. I hated my first nursing job. We actually had cna's at that time and a couple of orderlies! They put me in charge right out of nursing school, 30 beds and I had to keep up with the cnas as well. I would cry every day at 3, at shift change. I hated day shift. Now I work 12 hour shifts, only at night in ICU. It is difficult, but the great nights make you remember why you do it. The bad nights make you want to quit,and stress you out. The friends you make are precious. I love having such a wide variety of co-workers from all different kinds of backgrounds and cultures. I wish you all the best.

Innocent2021, ADN, BSN · Jun 7, 2016

Yes, I would try to stick it out, keep the money. I have no doubt its hard, that's why turnover is so quick. I hope you have peace about whatever decision you make. Once you decide, stick to it, no going back.

diana2011 · Jun 8, 2016

Oh how I wish I can get into ICU :-) Being a new nurse with no contacts, it is difficult. :-(

Biologist2RN · Jun 13, 2016

So glad I came across this! I am a new grad as well who just quit my first job as an RN on an ICU step down unit as well! It was terrible. The same ratios you mentioned, very very sick patients. Though I felt much more comfortable towards the end, I was dealing with some additional problems causing them to really treat their employees like total crap. I remember coming home from the interview and saying "theres NO WAY I would work at that place" (the manager ended up saying something really not nice about the "types" of patients that they encounter-- well, they called back offering a total of $6 more per hour base pay with an additional $1.50/hr more due to it being a critical care unit.... Being a broke just out of college student, I took it! Anyway, needless to say, I cried every night, even on good nights! I really did well there, and everyone even said it, but I just felt that I wasnt treated right and bottom line was- I was unhappy. I thought about work on every off day, counting the days I had left. I was miserable! So miserable that I prayed every night asking for a "sign" (im not extremely religious, it just took a toll on me that much) and then out of no where I got a call from an old professor offering me another position at a very laid back hospital that she works at PRN and that I did a clinical rotation at. I actually officially start there tomorrow! So you know what, maybe not every nurse can say they hated their first job, but I say, hey, its okay if you do!!!! I did, and I quit! And its been the best thing I've done thus far. A literal weight off my shoulders. Im so much better physically, emotionally, and mentally. Do what you feel. Life is too short to be miserable, even if it is only for a few more months or one more year.

foggnm · Jun 14, 2016

I wouldn't say everyone hates it, but many people find they don't like med/surg job types. I started on a unit just like you and it is a grind. I actually enjoyed it but it did get old and I moved on to ICU and eventually other things. I think the thing to ask yourself is what are your next steps? Grad school? CRNA? Outpatient? Case Management? Focusing on the next or different thing can really lift your spirits because you will not feel stuck. As far as the anxiety goes. That is really just inherent in the job of nursing. That is, you essentially have a job you come in to every day to deal with a variety of unpleasant situations and often, even if you're good, don't feel like you got everything done. Start working on a strategy for anxiety reduction such as exercise, good sleep, good diet, more education so you can feel more confident, etc. Set yourself a strategy that you can feel in as much control as possible in a very uncontrolled situation. Because on a step down unit, you will NEVER been in great control of everything going on around you. Identify they things you can manage and let the other stuff happen. No one expects you to be supernurse.

HJaneF · Jun 21, 2016

ahh im so scared i will hate it too....

paidmydues · Jun 24, 2016

My dear one:

Life is too short, even at your age, to let a job make you sick emotionally and physically and to suck your spirit dry. What you are experiencing can cause PTSD. As a new grad perhaps a good med/surg unit might be more appropriate. Sorry, but your mom who says to just, "suck it up..." is a battle-scarred old battle ax nurse who is willing to sacrifice her daughter to the machine. Queen of denial! Denial is a major feature of PTSD by the way. Same goes for posters above. Pay the hospital back their lousy frickin' 4K and get your butt outa there into a job that works for you. Nursing is a second career for me and I have never seen such mean, nasty, ugly co-workers and managers as I have seen in nursing. I work in a nursing job I can tolerate, I take excellent care of my patients, I am grateful for the great paycheck and I develop rich hobbies and interests outside of work to make my life rich, purposeful and deep. I plan for a future outside of nursing. TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE!

Let the old Nurse Rachetts go on a feeding frenzy...you build a rich, meaningful and satisfying life for your sweet self (and stop listening to mom and start listening to your own heart and believing in yourself). (((((HUGS)))))

Larry3373 · Jun 25, 2016

My 2 cents is this. If you stay for a while you will get better and your anxiety level will go down. That being said, there are plenty of other areas in nursing that you would likely enjoy more. The problem is that most of them require a good bit of experience, and the easiest way to get on of these positions is to stay in that hospital and transfer. Outpatient surgery and pacu in particular is low stress in my opinion. Interventional radiology or cath lab both seem cool and not particularly stressful. I personally enjoy the ICU, because once you know what you're doing it can actually be pretty fun with the added bonus of only having 1-2 patients to focus on. Peds is easier imo because the parents do most of the adls and are always in the room. I wouldn't apply at med surg or telemetry if nurse patient ratios are a concern. In any case, the experience you are getting now sounds like it will look good on a resume and help you to land that dream job. Hang out a year if you can, but if you can land something better (where you know you want to be long term) then go for it.