DiscouragedRN

[RNmclen]

Hi all. I've been a nurse for going on 4 years now. I did about 15 months on med surg. I am still currently prn on a postpartum unit and part time at a swing bed facility. I love bedside care and I love getting to know my patients. Always have. One of my main reasons for going into nursing but I am just so discouraged right now if this was even the right career path for me. I am super timid. My feelings can get hurt rather easy and I don't like people talking down to me and making me feel like a child if I need to be educated on something. I have seen so much backbiting and smart elic people in this field that it's super discouraging for my personality. I have never been this type of person. I have tried my best the past 4 years to get tougher. Ignore it. Maybe even try be sassy back but I just can't. It's not my character. And I feel like such a baby bc I let things affect me big time mentally esp when it comes to staff criticizing me. I would even go to say I've been bullied a few times esp in my first year as a nurse. I am a nurse that always asks questions if I don't know exactly what to do bc we always have room to learn right? Totally can't stand when someone looks at me like I'm idiotic bc I have to be educated on something. It doesn't make me angry it just makes me feel like incompetent. I then even upset myself more bc I say to myself "here you are letting this affect you like a child." I have a big heart and I'm far from perfect but when it comes to loving people and treating nurses young or old with compassion and sympathy, I do it. It seems just down right ridiculous to me to think we are smarter and better and that no one should have to learn how to do things if they've never been exposed to it. My question is: is this just not where I should be? I am just so torn about it and have been battling it for awhile. I got a new job recently at the swing bed. Hoping for a change. It's better but still there. I'm wondering if I should try a different form of nursing

[RNmclen]

handmaiden, this is very encouraging! I love working with a team. We all have one goal as an RN and that is take the best care of our patient's as a team. I def feel like in the past it has appeared to be some sort of "competition." I hope to find this one day. I think the new place I work at is better but one day, I I could perhaps find even better!

[gennn19, BSN, RN]

Thank you so much! It definitely is going to take some getting used to. I really hope everything works out for you and you find some place you truly feel like you belong. I don't know you, but I have a feeling you're an awesome nurse :)