Discouraed and about to give up on Nursing

[kendel]

I have 8 months experience in nursing in NY at a local hospital and i recently relocaed to durham nc, i got a job at a magnet hospital in a med surge unit and i was so overwhelmed, i was given a tracking device to wear at all times to keep tabs on my every movement, my preceptor felt i wasnt fast enough to keep up so thats what she told the nurse manager but told me i was doing great, i was followed around all day like a child and that was the most humiliating month i have ever had......and so i resigned having bought and closed on a a house in nc a week before i resigned. i was so depressed until i cried on a public bus on my way to work while a stranger tried to comfort me .

i found another job in a nursing home and now i have to give meds to 30 pt 2 times for the night.....i feel like giving up it took me3 hours to give the meds and i am finding that i am not liking nursing and feel like walking out

i am lonely in nc with no family

help...i am still trying to find wherei fit in nursing but still havent found it..i wish there was an area in nursing with not so much overwhelming work

may god help me before i give up

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi and welcome. Sure sounds like you need a shoulder to lean on! Not all nursing is so awful. The little tracking devices seem to be popular in my area also. Some things you might consider:

1. A smaller hospital.

2. Doctor's office.

3. Smaller nursing home.

4. Getting some career counselling to find out where your strengths are and exploit them.

What do you like about nursing? Why did you make the decision to become an RN? And...then to move away from your family? I think too if you could get out and develop some social outlets than maybe you would not be so stressed. Please take care.

[shellsgogreen]

i just wanted to send you a hug:icon_hug:

it can be rough starting out as a new nurse, and especially in a new town -

what sort of things are you interested in? if you like to read, perhaps there are reading groups/ author readings/book clubs or maybe some yoga to relax you a little, and at the same time make some new friends.

about work - do you enjoy working with patients or is it just the time it takes to pass meds that is frustrating you? if so, then speed comes with time and experience - don't be so hard on yourself. if you're passing meds safely, that's the most important thing, rather than racing against the clock.

best of luck to you

[alyx]

{{{{{:icon_hug: }}}}}...God will help you just as you asked. This too shall pass and everything will work out. You're educated and skilled....don't give up...your frustration and pain is a reflection of your true compassion and hearts desire. Sounds like there is a lot of change and stress in your life right now....slow your mind down...I agree with the career counselling idea. I don't think you need a new path in life...this is your path, just maybe a stroll along the river for awhile!!! God Bless you as you search and find.

[cn2007rn]

This is a time of a lot of change for you, you have just moved a far distance, and don't forget you are still a new nurse, 8 months is a base but you are still learning and becoming comfortable.

The whole tracking device is definitely a little strange....I am not sure I would go for that, like nursing isn't stressful enough!!

Give yourself some time, maybe get settled in your new place and reevaluate your interests and your strong skills in nursing and you will find your niche!!

Good luck!

[tri-rn]

Hey, hang in there! I think we've all had days/months when we just wanted to walk out and never look back. You've worked too hard to get where you are to just give up.

There are plenty of areas for an RN to work that aren't hospital based. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but here there is an almost constant ad for public health nurses, and there is a crunch for school nurses as well (I'm just throwing out suggestions)....maybe occupational nursing, where you are working within a company other than a hospital? These are just random thoughts, there's more than hospitals out there.

[RaspberryTX, RN]

I'm so sorry you are having such a rough time of it. Since you are new in town, have you looked into any of the local meetups? Maybe by joining a book club meetup or walking/hiking meetup you can make some friends. I think that would go a long way into helping you feel better about being away from your friends and family. Maybe some of your family can come visit during the holidays.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Unfortunately, nurses eat their young, and this is a clear example of that...I would have been beyond embarassed to be followed around like I am an imbecile. It is true, not every place is like this; it usually takes time to find your niche. I also believe that the move, the new career and the initial experiences you encountered is adding to your stress. Feel better and vent here when you wish!

[MaritesaRN]

Hello and of course a hug from me to you. I too have these bouts, and with life it just keeps giving you challenges, and I have been in nursing for 20 years. I believe there is nothing difficult if you have good people around you , or a support system...you know the story. To quit or not is purely your decision.....and you want to give this a lot of time and effort before any decision. A nurse world can be tough if you do not have an understanding and efficient mentor. some nurses put you down instead of helping you...... there are all kinds of personality.....but focus on you----is this what you want? You did finish the schooling and that itself is the test, right? It sounded to me that you are in a hostile or maybe just unfriendly environment and people. Nursing have many areas and specialization......see if you can find your niche, find a good mentor ( this is the key) and see if this is what you want. they use a tracker? What the sh.....? this reminds me of those house arrest?? Anyone , what is the purpose of the tracker???????

[HonestRN]

they use a tracker? What the sh.....? this reminds me of those house arrest?? Anyone , what is the purpose of the tracker???????

It depends on who you ask....management says it's to protect us (the RN) when patients complain that we were not in the room all shift the tracker will prove when we were. Additionally, the unit clerk can supposedly find us in case we are needed immediately. I suspect it's more likely that management wants to make sure we are doing our jobs. After all, we also have pocket phones where we are simply a call away. It's like being stalked by your employer while at work.

[MaritesaRN]

It depends on who you ask....management says it's to protect us (the RN) when patients complain that we were not in the room all shift the tracker will prove when we were. Additionally, the unit clerk can supposedly find us in case we are needed immediately. I suspect it's more likely that management wants to make sure we are doing our jobs. After all, we also have pocket phones where we are simply a call away. It's like being stalked by your employer while at work.

Thanks for the explanation....but this tracker sounds more like a slavery bracelet to me . Nurses work hard enough....I really find this condescending.............. we should write about this tracker in the nurses magazine and really look at it, you know. I feel so insulted w/ this tracker business.

[nickos]

As a CNA formerly on a medical floor, ward clerk there, as well as now a mental health tech in the ED I see nothing wrong with wearing a tracking device. It has been beyond helpful for us CNAs to find each other, nurses, and vice versa without having to peer into every room to find each other. On my floor the nurses had phones but not the aides. We could intercom into a room to ask for help with repositioning, etc. Also as a ward clerk, it was very helpful for when you had a message to give someone but didn't want to interrupt them with a phone call - I could make note of where that person was and catch them on their way out of a room. I don't find it condescending at all, but maybe that's just me....