Can't find a home in nursing

LittleWing21, RN · Apr 8, 2009

I'm in the same position as you. It seems like this is pretty normal....I mean, you don't marry the first person you date right (ok maybe that analogy came from sleep depriv.)? lol As a new nurse, I feel like its so hard to figure out what your "home" will be. Explore & good luck. As I've said before, life is too short to be that unhappy!

elkpark · Apr 8, 2009

There is a lot of discussion elsewhere on this site about the stress of the transition from being a nursing student to being a nurse during the first year or so of practice. It's always difficult, stressful, and frustrating, for everyone. New grads tend to assume that the problem is the setting they're in, so they sometimes move to another floor, or another job -- but then find that they feel just as anxious and uncomfortable in the new job. The reality (most of us experienced nurses feel) is that you won't really feel comfortable and competent anywhere until you get "over the hump" of being a new grad, and the best thing to do is hunker down, grit your teeth, and suffer through the first year or so in one place/position.

Hang in there -- you'll get through this, just as all the rest of us did. Best wishes!

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 8, 2009

I don't know if its me or just my boss and I's personalites don't get along. I really love nursing and the interaction with the patients and want to stick it out, but its frustrating. I know I have the book smarts but sometimes I don't think it translates into working with people. I don't want to come home crying and stressed out everyday or dread going to work.

Maybe you can use those "book smarts" to analyze your interpersonal issues. Learning to work well as part of a team with other people requires skills that can be learned. Have you been reading threads here on allnurses about such issues? Have you read any books or articles on how to be a good employee and find satisfaction in your work? Have you been to any workshops or conferences that relate to workplace relationships, etc.? Have you read any articles or books on workplace relationships?

A lot of new grads are unprepared for the interpersonal relationships of the workplace. In school, they focus on the clinical knowledge and skills and often in a highly competitive environment -- and often do not learn the teamwork skills that are required for success in the work world. By teamwork, I mean more than just "helping others out" when you are less busy than they are. Teamwork includes being able to tolerate the fact that the other person is not perfect and may not always meet your needs. Teamwork includes being able to work with people who can be irritating at times -- recognizing that they bring something positive to the workplace, too, even if they don't always do what you wish they would do. Teamwork means being able to "fit in" with the group that you work with. In other words, it's all those interpersonal skills, communication skills, etc. that you express doubt about. You can use your book smarts to learn those skills -- thus enabling you to "fit in" better on future jobs. But yes, sometimes it takes a couple of failed attempts before you find the environment that suits you best.

In other words ... the solution to your long-term career issue is a combination of 2 things: (1) finding an environment that suits you and (2) learning the interpersonal skills that will help you make the most of your work environment even if it is not ideal.

Good luck to you in your search for both.