Confused new nurse seeking advice ... please help?

[jss1985]

Hi guys. This might be a bit long, I apologize, but I really need to get this off my chest and I'd really appreciate your insight...

For the past 10+ years up until I became an RN recently, I've been a PCT on a pediatric psych unit. I really got used to it... great co-workers (2 or 3 of them can be a little psych themselves haha), we all shared a good sense of humor. What I didn't like about working with the kids is that when it comes to the problematic ones, let's say you've tried everything non-invasive (therapeutic communication, setting boundaries, reinforcing rules, etc) and nothing works, the doctors (and SOME nurses) will STILL look for every reason in the book not to move to more invasive maneuvers like give IM medication or do seclusion. It's a lot of woo-woo'ing if you will. With the adult psych pts, its the polar opposite, one wrong look and its IM or seclusion.

So I chickened out of remaining on my unit as a nurse because of this. I was then faced with deciding between day shift with adult psych or night shift with detox. Both units have awesome nurse managers. 

I would have gone with detox but they only have 4 nurses on night shift (not all at once, but just in total), so I feared that would put me at a disadvantage as a new RN if I needed help of some kind if the crap were to hit the fan. 

So I went with the adult psych/day shift. I'm 4 weeks into orientation and I have mixed feelings about my decision. However, what I've found is that....

1. adults is more work, more chronic medical comorbidities, and more medications than the kids. Yes I was made aware of this beforehand, so shame on me in this regard. Nonetheless, I assumed I was probably better off than facing the issues with the kids that I mentioned above.

2. I get along with everyone, no issues but... I can't put my finger on it. It's somewhat of a different vibe than my old co-workers, nothing really bad but just.... Different, I don't really know. I guess I miss my old crew and my old unit. I felt... Comfortable.

Even 2-3 of my old colleagues questioned my decision not to stay with the kids since I know them well and have experience there. This further deepened my mixed feelings/regrets.

I thought about asking to go back to my kids floor as a nurse, but one... It looks like there's no vacancy right now. Two... My old manager might be a idiot about it because I didn't ask him if I can work there in the first place. Three... It will be a slap in face to my new manager because she really made sure I wanted to be with the adults beforehand. 

I even thought about switching to detox as well. Despite the staffing problem there, I enjoyed the vibe on the unit. 

Either way, If I ask to switch now I will look like an indecisive fool. Should I just stick it out where I am? Should I just go to another facility altogether to avoid bringing emotion into this? I mean Im a nurse now, I can go anywhere right? I don't know what to do now LOL...

[dnnc52]

OK: I think you made the right decision to change your unit that you worked as a PCT.  There is a big transition from PCT to RN. It is hard to be in control of your coworkers that you were once " one of the guys" You now have much more responsibility. You would find that although they may have liked you as a PCT, they may not respect you as a RN. Especially if you have discipline one of the old gang. I am in noway wanting to imply that as a RN you are more important or better than the old coworkers. But you have cross the line to the otherside, and it's not always greener. Also you have to be accepted and respected by the other nurses who you worked with and that is not always an welcoming party as well. OK as far as changing you current position. Nursing is a lifetime career with TNC opportunities. Learning what you don't like is a valuable lesson as well in your journey. Sometimes as a nurse you may end up fitting in where you least expected. One last Comment: Try to stay in a specialty for at least a year. It's an opportunity to learn and will in the long run benefit your future a RN...Sorry I get too winded at times.

[jss1985, ASN, RN]

dnnc52 said:

OK: I think you made the right decision to change your unit that you worked as a PCT.  There is a big transition from PCT to RN. It is hard to be in control of your coworkers that you were once " one of the guys" You now have much more responsibility. You would find that although they may have liked you as a PCT, they may not respect you as a RN. Especially if you have discipline one of the old gang. I am in noway wanting to imply that as a RN you are more important or better than the old coworkers. But you have cross the line to the otherside, and it's not always greener. Also you have to be accepted and respected by the other nurses who you worked with and that is not always an welcoming party as well. OK as far as changing you current position. Nursing is a lifetime career with TNC opportunities. Learning what you don't like is a valuable lesson as well in your journey. Sometimes as a nurse you may end up fitting in where you least expected. One last Comment: Try to stay in a specialty for at least a year. It's an opportunity to learn and will in the long run benefit your future a RN...Sorry I get too winded at times.

Thanks for your response. Someone else at my job mentioned something similar to this. I don't know if this counts or not, but I've been at my hospital for 12 years and 95% of the people there know me, I've either floated to where they work or they've floated to where I work.. basically I've worked with most of the ppl there at some point or another. Such is the case for the new floor I'm orienting on now. On my new floor is 1 nurse and 1 PCT who use to work with me on my old floor 6 years ago, along with a couple agency PCTs as well, the other staff on the new floor I know from floating.

So I don't know if being an RN on my old floor would be any different than this?

I've also had 4 people from the old floor question my leaving (in a nice way). One of them being a social worker who "thinks" it was Management's idea to move me, saying "I don't know why they didn't try to keep you here, you know how to work with these kids."

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

Honestly, it is hard to shift from a PCT role to an RN role with your "old crew.”  I'm not saying people can never do it, but it is hard!  The people who were your friends and coworkers (other PCTs) would now be under you, and you would give them direction. It is something to really consider when you're thinking about this. When you're doing your job, they may perceive you as "just sitting there on the computer and not helping.” It can cause so much interpersonal conflict!  PCTs have been known to say "Susie used to be so cool but now she has too high of an opinion of herself, since she got that nursing license”— even if Susie is literally just doing her job!  You know the dynamic on your old floor, and I don't, but be sure you've thought it through.