When in nursing school, I heard of a statistic that 50% of new nurses burn out within the first 5 years and now I can see why. With the large number of patients that we take on and their acuity, it makes for a stressful situation. I'm always afraid that something isn't being done or that some patients aren't watched over as carefully when one patient takes up all my time.
Does anyone else who's a first year nurse feel the same way?
I just completed my first semester of graduate school and have decided to go FT at this point (even while working FT) just so that I don't have to work as a floor nurse forever. The next two years are going to be the hardest ones ever knowing that I won't be a NP until then.
I hear you on the burnout thing. I'm in my 4th month as an RN, starting NP school in August. I'm SO GLAD to have this experience... but for awhile there, I was wondering if I was going to be part of that statistic. The days were long. The patients were many, & sick. The politics were unbearable. The other nurses would backbite about the other orientee in front of me. All of the mistakes me made. How stupid he was. It was so discouraging! I pondered quitting & leaving nursing at least once a week during my first two months.
But I'm sticking it out. I found that if I focus on my patients & the little things I do each day, it's alright. I read Suzanne Gordon's "Nursing Against the Odds" and it helped me gain some perspective. If I step back & look at what I'm can do now vs. my first day, I'm amazed at how much I've grown... the patients & the challenges keep me coming back each day. Also, being independent helped me feel less frustrated, because I'm not working alongside nurses who may not handle things appropriately. That would always make me feel so awkward (ie, arguing with the patient.) Nursing is hard, but it's SO GOOD... you just have to focus on the positive (& be assertive about protecting your license!!!)
I feel the same way. I am going into my second year of nursing. I spent 8 months in long-term and I will be in med/surg (part-time) a year this Oct. Too many pts. and not enough staff. I went into med/surg so that i could keep my skills refreshed. I only work a few days a week so I am still learning the routine but the more experienced nurses have lost thier patience with me except for a couple. I'm beginning to feel like nursing isn't for me. When you are not doing the things they do on a regular basis no one will have this stuff down packed. Depending on the census I may not work for a whole month. Its ok for me to come when someone wants to be off. I don't like long term anymore. Everyone and anyone shouldn't be a nurse. I have worked with nurses who curse at the residents, leave work to meet there boyfriends and leave the CNA'a in charge, drink on shift, ignore a resident's fall (what incident report?). I have worked with some of the most heartless people. Iwatched one of the nurses that oriented me tell a resident "I get tired of you hollering why don't you just go ahead and die" This nurse happened to be the administrators pet so who was there to tell if I wanted to. One thing I have figured out in long-term as long as it looks good on paper and blame is placed on no one you are valued doing what's right doesn't matter.I hope someone can change my mind about nursing because right now it's depressing to go to work.
VivaRN
520 Posts
I hear you on the burnout thing. I'm in my 4th month as an RN, starting NP school in August. I'm SO GLAD to have this experience... but for awhile there, I was wondering if I was going to be part of that statistic. The days were long. The patients were many, & sick. The politics were unbearable. The other nurses would backbite about the other orientee in front of me. All of the mistakes me made. How stupid he was. It was so discouraging! I pondered quitting & leaving nursing at least once a week during my first two months.
But I'm sticking it out. I found that if I focus on my patients & the little things I do each day, it's alright. I read Suzanne Gordon's "Nursing Against the Odds" and it helped me gain some perspective. If I step back & look at what I'm can do now vs. my first day, I'm amazed at how much I've grown... the patients & the challenges keep me coming back each day. Also, being independent helped me feel less frustrated, because I'm not working alongside nurses who may not handle things appropriately. That would always make me feel so awkward (ie, arguing with the patient.) Nursing is hard, but it's SO GOOD... you just have to focus on the positive (& be assertive about protecting your license!!!)