Chest pain r/t work?

[Lane1908]

Hello everyone,

I am a new grad working on a fast paced floor for 3 months now. I do my best every shift but constantly feel overwhelmed and overworked. Last week I was having legitimate chest pain at home thinking about work. The anxiety regarding not making a mistake and the heavy pt lifting has taken a large toll on my physical and mental health and I am seriously contemplating changing jobs even though it's only been 3 months. I am extremely conscientious about the investment this hospital has made in training me, however I cannot help others if I am not feeling well myself. Occasionally I have a "feel good" shift at work but the majority I feel mentally and physically stressed. My co-workers are sometimes helpful but are also busy with their own patient loads (the ratio is high on our floor) so they sometimes say they're sorry, they don't have time to help.

My ideal job would be something in nursing but without the direct patient care aspect because making a mistake and hurting someone is what keeps me up when I'm trying to sleep. I have heard the first year is the worst but I dont know if my experience is atypical. Is it horrible professionally to leave so soon or can I justify my health?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

[caliotter3]

Although we can not provide medical advice on this site, we can recommend that your see your primary care physician for a possible referral to a cardiologist. No matter the trigger for chest pain, it is nothing to ignore.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Medical advice aside, the unfortunate truth is that nursing is a HARD job - on EVERY level - and it's not ever going to get easier. Nursing schools don't prepare students for the real world and its responsibilities. I don't think anyone who goes into nursing without a lot of personal experience with the health care system beforehand really understands what they're getting into. It's not enough any more to "want to help people" by becoming a nurse. You're definitely not alone in finding out your career path is a really bumpy one that makes you physically and psychologically stressed. You're also not alone in wanting to do something that doesn't involve direct patient care. And I think that's a terrible shame, because that is the essence of nursing for many of us. But the kind of nursing job you're thinking about generally isn't a good fit for someone just out of school; experience is essential for many non-bedside positions. Not many physicians employ nurses in their offices any more unless they're affiliated with specialty clinics; it's a lot cheaper to have someone without a professional designation to handle charts and make phone calls. Pharmaceutical companies want experience, lots of it, so that their people can really sell the products they're peddling. Same with equipment and supply manufacturers. Public health also requires experience and often advanced education. So your path isn't going to be straight or level. Other than to reiterate the advice above about seeing your primary provider, I don't have much more to offer in the way of advice.