Hi all, I recently switched from acute care after 5 years to outpatient PACU. It's less stressful although I am nervous giving so many narcotics. It's a bit routine and I don't get to do IVs (only remove), draw blood, foleys, IV pumps, wounds, etc. I emailed my former manager about coming back per diem. So far I haven't heard back but I heard she's out on family leave. All the patients, nurses, and doctors I worked with complimented me on how I did my job, as did my boss, but my boss and close friends commented that the job seemed to stress me out too easily.
I never freaked out in front of patients, but sometimes in break room or nurse's station I would talk about being overwhelmed, wanting to cry, wanting to quit... I know, not professional. Maybe to do with bipolar disorder and anxiety. But it never affected my job performance, just my own mental health. For this reason I'm not sure if my boss will take me back and if I should apply per diem at another hospital (lots of hospitals hiring.) I still have bad dreams about my hospital days... last night about a time a patient needed a second IV for antibiotics because other IV used for bicarb drip. My floor was so understaffed, no one free to help. I tried to help but missed 3 times, pt's nurse couldn't do it and we had to pause the bicarb for 30 mins =( This was 4 years ago. Why does it still come into my mind?? Are these dreams and my coworkers' feedback a sign I shouldn't ever do acute care again? They all want me to come back. Does anyone think they personally aren't mentally fit for acute care? Not as in can't do the job, just that it affects you too negatively? Thanks