Asking for advice

There are a couple of issues here.

First you are a new grad, and you're going to feel overwhelmed wherever you start out.....that's a given. Renal patients take tons of meds and get very sickly, etc. etc. and those floors can be very stressful. Transferring to another department, probably isn't going to change things either.

Second, you've given them permission to not listen to you by not demanding that they listen to you tell your side of the story. Also you've given the charge nurse permission to bully by allowing her to. These kind of people need to be spoken to about how they make you feel at the time, or very soon after. You should never be reduced to tears, swallow it up and say nothing. Her behavior in talking about you loud enough for your husband to hear is not acceptable.

Perhaps an incident report should be written about the delay in patient care over giving the cardizen drip to the patient in need.

You are going to have to be your own advocate here and start speaking up for yourself. It's not easy for a new grad, so choose your battles and be strong.

Hang in there. :)

I agree with most of what Tweety said, but I disagree that this is happening because you're a new grad. Not all new grads get raked over the spikes when a mistake is made. There are places that are supportive to new grads; while you have to take ownership of mistakes, they are willing to help you learn how not to repeat them. Humiliation is not the way to do it.

I agree with most of what Tweety said, but I disagree that this is happening because you're a new grad. Not all new grads get raked over the spikes when a mistake is made. There are places that are supportive to new grads; while you have to take ownership of mistakes, they are willing to help you learn how not to repeat them. Humiliation is not the way to do it.

I didn't mean to say new grads are raked over the coals.

I meant to say it's a near universal experience to have feelings of being overwhelmed with that first position. The orginal poster would have been having typical new grad feelings of being overwhelmed no matter where they started.

sorry to hear you are having a difficult time adjusting. i am also a new grad and new to telemetry and it is giving me a run for the money. i have made mistakes too, but that is a part of nursing. i also get overwhelmed on a daily basis. just when i start to feel more comfortable, i get sicker pts and then i am back in the high stress zone. it is very challenging when everything is new, and i can only imagine being in a new state. yikes! :uhoh21:

i was wondering if you have discussed any of this with your clinical manager? the charge nurse who yelled and publicly criticized you to others was out of line. even if you made a mistake and something horrible happened, that doesn’t warrant poor behavior. i had a terrible incident that was not my fault (can you tell it is still a touchy subject?) involving a charge nurse yelling at me, and i was so devastated that i wanted to quit. i had a few days off, and then when i went back to work i was still devastated so i scheduled a meeting with the clinical manager of my unit. she was very upset that i was treated the way i was. we reviewed the incident, as well as the incident report. she wanted me to do an incident report on the charge nurse for my public flogging, but i didn't want to. it is possible that your manager is not aware of the charge nurse’s behavior. try to be strong and view it as an opportunity to give your side of the story. it is also important to let them know how you are feeling. you could use support from the staff.

is there anyone on your unit that you feel you can talk to? maybe your preceptor? what about other new grads that you went to school with? for me, it really helps to have other new nurses to talk to. i don't feel as isolated when i talk to them. many of the nurses on my floor have been nursing for years, and it is hard for me to see them be very great nurses while i struggle with the heart rhythms and medications. i chose to work on the telemetry unit, and it is still very overwhelming. my renal pts give me the most run for the money. they are very sick, have tons of medications, and the funniest heart rates/ rhythms that i have ever seen. however, if that is your interest, i would pursue it. it is important to get experience, and i think that even if you started on the renal unit you would be challenged (it is a very demanding job!).

i was unsure as to why you could not give the cardizem. however, it would be very important to determine whom you are to go to as resource for duties you cannot perform. ask your clinical manager about this. are you allowed to push atropine/lido? who will implement the tele orders in an emergency? i am very concerned about this…hopefully you know or plan to find out? delays can be costly to the pt, and high unstable heart rates often lead to codes.

just wanted to let you know that i know where you are coming from and to remember that you are definitely not alone. i am in your shoes and it is not easy. every new nurse i know has had problems and conflicts. i will be thinking about you. i am sure you are a great nurse. have faith in yourself and be patient. please check back in and let us know how it is going for you! good luck!

It's usually better to try to work out your problems. I agree with most of what has been said up to this point, but I would add that you need to get your ACLS like yesterday. That extra training/knowledge decreases your fears proportionately and, of course, provides you with tools for better patient care. I can't stand nurses who bring their issues to the floor, but they have their needs, too.