Can't do anything right

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

Am I the only one who feels like I can't do anything right. Every day I go into work I'm reminded of what I didn't do right the day before. "you miss this" or "you didn't do this right" I'm really getting frustrated because I only got 8 days of training as a new grad. In nursing school we don't really learn how things work in LTC so I feel especially lost. And my supervisor keeps saying really loud (for everyone to hear) how this wasn't done right or this should have been done days ago. When you have 25 patients on a skilled nursing unit, there isn't enough time on a 8 hour shift to do everything. Usually an admission will throw off your entire shift and most people stay late 2-3 hours to finish paperwork. That day I had two admissions and I was on a side that I have only worked once before. 25 patients may be okay if you are familiar with them but it is almost impossible if you aren't. Most of the other nurses are very helpful and will pitch in if you are falling behind but I feel like the people in charge don't have any clue about how difficult our jobs are. When I was hired I was told to talk to them if I was having any difficulties but I'm worried about being labled a "whiner". I think my time management skills are really good. I was usually the one helping the other students in nursing school. Each day gets a little easier but I feel like I am being set up to fail. How are you supposed to know how to do something if they never properly trained you to do it? Anyone else going (or gone) through this?

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I am having the same problem!! I started working on my med - surg unit last November after about 6 weeks of training. I thought I was doing well until I made my first mistake (which was in no way life - threatning) and was inappropriately disciplined. After that, I was so nervous I kept making more minor mistakes. Finally, I was placed back with a preceptor and since then I thought I was doing well until, once again, I was unfairly reprimanded for something I could not control. It is very hard when all you get is negative feedback. I find myself questioning every decision I make and stressing about whether I remembered to do this or how do I do that. 4 years of nursing school and $80,000 + later I am also questioning whether I chose the right profession and its mostly because of how my nurse manager makes me feel. I know this post does nothing to help you solve your problem, but just know you are not alone!!!!

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I had similar feelings that both of you are expressing. I went through 3 different jobs before finding one that was a good fit for me. Now that I have some experience and have worked out my time management and organization, I no longer question myself on a daily basis. It does get better if you can hang in there.

OP, it does concern me that you got only 8 days of orientation. That just isn't enough time for any new grad. You may want to consider looking for another job so you aren't risking your license.

Janee, I felt the same way when I first started in the ED. I got 6 days of "training" which consisted of really no training at all. My preceptor didn't orient me to the department, nor did she orient me to nursing at all since technically I wasn't a new grad anymore and she felt that I was a nurse so I should know everything that I needed to. I felt like I wanted to quit for a few months, but eventually I worked everything out and I can run a team with the best of them now. Like I said, it does get better if you can hang in there.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

I've said this before, and I will say it again -- I totally respect anyone that can stay and function in LTC. Having 15-30 patients to me is ridiculous. I know that jobs are tight right now and that is becoming more and more the only thing that you can find out there that will hire. I have no respect for the owners of LTC companies. They only care about the bottom line and how much Medicare reimbursement they can suck up. They cut corners in staff -- which is why you always hear the horror stories about stuff that happens in LTCs (the patients that don't get turned for 2 days and get bedsores, the patients that don't get their dressing changed and treatments done because the nurse didn't have time, etc.) -- some of those stories are even posted on here.

I'm sorry this is demoralizing for you. It would be for me too, and I am nowhere near close to a new grad situation anymore. Please don't feel like it's you that can't do anything right. It sounds like a system problem. Staying 2-3 hours over an 8 hour shift is obscene and absolutely not in the realm of normal. I hope you are putting in for ALL your overtime and for your missed lunch break, if that happens to you too.

This is just me, but if I were you, I would keep looking. Best of luck. :redpinkhe

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YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Oh my goodness, I don't think I have ever done anything right in a year of med/surg nursing! Actually, I know that is not true, and I will explain why in a bit, but let me tell you that I FEEL your pain, just about everyday that I work.

When I started working, I had 7 weeks training, unfortunately, I had 7 different preceptors. Each disagreed with the last and I was often in trouble for following instructions of the prior preceptor.

So I get to the floor, and find that each of my preceptors was right about some things and wrong about some. The worst part was that I asked my manager, who was all sweetness and light in my interview, for an opportunity to do some additional training, that was my first mistake! How dare I admit that I dont know it all.

My next mistake was admitting an error, no one got hurt, it was policy rather than procedural, but when I learned I had done something wrong, I went to the mgr and told her. OH MY STARS, you would have thought I euthanized somebody.

So basically, the only time my mgr has spoken to me in the last year was to admonish, criticize or complain. I cannot express how excited I am that my annual review is coming up shortly. I am sure that it will be terrific!:uhoh3:

Now, on to the part about how I know I am not the worst nurse in the world....Early on, I decided to keep a journal of sorts, to write down the nice things patients said to me. I did and still do (though not as diligently as I used to). I have to tell you that there are days that I read the entries and they are the only thing that gets me back to work. I know I have made positive impacts and helped my patients, even if my "superiors" do not realize or acknowledge it. I was meant to be a nurse.

Hang in there, not every place is the right fit. Look around and while you are waiting for the right job, remind yourself that you are a good nurse and getting better everyday.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

Everyone has this feeling, especially in the beginning. I never worked in LTC, but I imagine it's worse than where I worked. If no one was harmed, just let it roll. Efficiency comes with time. Nursing schools like to say they teach you time management but it doesn't really happen until you are working for a while. It will happen again when you change jobs. Just not knowing where stuff is slows you down tremendously.

If someone points a mistake out, especially if it was clerical, sleep well. No one was hurt and I assure you that they all make mistakes. I use to be ******* at for the stupidest things. What was the worst was when people would say "so and zoo needs to be done, but if you get too busy I'll get it tomorrow" and get all agitated when I actually get busy and leave it for them. Lord forbid that the IV stays in one more night and I don't wake them at 3 am when I finally have time to change it.

By the time I left my unit, I was so tired of people acting irritated when I didn't tell them which nare the DHT was in, I just said the first thing that came to my head. What are you going to do if I say left and it's in the right? Trend track me? Call the doctor and say somethings wrong because the tube is on the wrong side. But if I say to the older nurse that suctioning with saline has been discredited in studies then woe be unto me!

Sigh, I'm digressing. My point is get the important stuff done too prevent bad outcomes and no one can touch you. Not charting that you performed patient education on a busy night shouldn't get you fired. Maybe a less than stellar evaluation, but you helped the patient in ways that matter so be proud.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

For me the " I never get anything right " thing goes in cycles. I'm not sure why. I may go weeks and feel on top of the world. Wonder nurse. Then I fall off my pedestal, and lay in the floor feeling worthless for several weeks. Eventually I'll morph back into Wonder Nurse. I just endure the feeling stupid, I know it's transient.

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Honey, hang in there. It takes at least a year to feel comfortable and even then you have days where you think you're the worst nurse in the world. I started a thread like that just last week.

I AM sorry that you are being treated badly. Being a new nurse is terrifying and you need support, not criticism. Unfortunately, that isn't always the way it is.

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Specializes in ICU,ER,med-Surg,Geri,Correctional.

It just seems that this is a steady trend in the feeling we go through as nurses. The main thing is to in all your efforts think pt first'Do no harm, or as I say do not intentional harm, as a old nurse in the career. We all can recall several therapies and tx that at the time was #1, only to find out later that in deed after later research that we were wrong. And as an old example in my 1st ACLS you gave amps of bicarb like it was water, and now look you use only under certain situations. (please this is not the issue just an example). It seems that nursing skills and ideas are very regional at times. You work with nurses who all come from the same schools, and you will find a lot of unflexible ideas. Be good to yourself respect your skills and your desire to be a nurse. We are doing and working in conditions that the average person avoids and has no idea what we are about....

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

Don't worry when I started in LTC nursing I got my first UTI! Didn't go the entire shift, because I was too busy trying to figure out what to do.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.

I'm having the same problem, though I had 6 weeks of orientation at an LTC facility. Because of my poor paperwork skills, they put me back on orientation for 2 weeks. I hope that helps since I suck at admission paperwork. Take the time to talk to your supervisor in that way they would see that you are having a hard time. And tell them that you don't want to sound to be a whiner nor a complainer but you just wanna do good in your job.

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

Thanks everyone for the support! Even though I don't want anyone else to feel bad, it makes me feel better that I'm not alone. Today was MUCH better! Part of it is getting to know the patients. It seems almost impossible to pass meds for so many patients in 2 hours. I start 9a meds at 7:30 and usually don't finish until around 11. I know that is not in the window of time that they are supposed to get them but I usually get stopped 10 times to do something else. At 11 I have to do accuchecks and then start passing the 12 and 1p meds. Today I only stayed 30 mins over which was better. We get paid overtime for anything over 8 hours (not counting lunch) so that makes it a little better. I have learned to "force" myself to take bathroom breaks.

I think part of the problem is that some nurses try to make other nurses look bad in an effort to make themselves look better. I have been lucky in that most of the nurses I work with are willing answer questions I have. I don't know if they talk behind my back but then again I really don't care ;) Thanks again....you guys are the best! I don't know what I would do without this site!

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