Do I really hate nursing?????

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Hi. So I've been a licensed nurse for only 3 months. I am a LPN and in my town the only jobs for LPN's are in the nursing home. I work overnight and even though it's at night, I am swamped. I have at least 56 residents a night. I have charting, 2 med passes a night, assessments, and everything else. If there's a fall who knows what time I'll get done with my shift. I'm usually done an hour after my shift ends and day shift NEVER offers to help out. I'm soooo stressed about getting everything done b/c the DON has been writing up nurses for not completing our charting. I'm tired all the time, I'm tired of working on weekends. I feel like I don't spend time with my family. HELP!!!!! Is all nursing like this? I've even thought about getting out of nursing and going into respiratory therapy! Does it get better when you become a RN? Is it just because of this job that I can'[t stand nursing? Should I get out now or wait and see?? Can anyone give me some encouragement???? I feel so overwhelmed.:cry::cry::cry::cry:

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Specializes in CTICU.

How many staff are in the facility overnight? I've been an RN for 13 years and there is no way I could care for 56 (or even close to that number!) patients safely. You, as a new grad, should find it impossible - I'm impressed that you're doing as well as you are.

Leave and find a job with safer patient ratios. Your license and your sanity will be better off.

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There are only 2 nurses at night...me and another nurse. I dread going to work at night and I'm so disappointed that I feel this way. I worked so hard and wanted to be a nurse for so long that it kills me to think this way. Thanks for your encouragement.

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Oh and I forgot to mention that on the other side of the building there are 50 residents. We have 4 cna's in the building. 2 on each side.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Get your RN and work in a hospital with less patients. I can't say that the job will be easier but it is definetly a different pace.

I worked in LTC and got burned out. Its like that in all of them. I miss my patients but I don't miss those long med passes, doing treatments and paperwork.

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Maybe instead of working "skilled" nursing you could apply at an assisted living facility and work there?? There is also correctional nursing or doctor's offices. Unfortunately there is not alot of options for LVN/LPN's...

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Nursing is not an easy career. You have to study really hard and focus on your patients constantly. If you know this is the right job for you then stick with it. In the meantime, just stay with nursing and research into another field that is more appealing to you.

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I feel exactly the same way. I got my RN degree thinking things would change. Nothing changed, and I only make a couple dollars more, with more responsibilities. I should have stayed an LPN and they could have kept those couple dollars! I have worked LTC, Hospital, Home Health. I thought going to the hospital was going to be better because you don't have as many patients. I have 6 patients, but I am also responsible for the LPN'S also. In which they have 5-6 patients. LPN's where I work can not take off orders, call doctors,( which I think is ridiculous) give meds through picc lines, they refuse to start IV's because "they aren't very good" So actually, I am responsible for up to 12 very sick patients! Then, I get floated to a floor where I have no idea about those "type" of patients. When I work LTC, I have up to 30 residents on evening shift, plus I again have to do IV'S. If I work night shift, I have up to 50 residents. I have been a nurse for 9 years and am totally burned out. Home care is better, but I found the patients think I'm a maid too. I have found that all facilities are the same, and they are just in it for the money. They don't care whether it's "safe" or not. As long as there is a "body" to work, they are happy. I'm sorry I don't have any words of encouragement, but this is just reality for me. Needless to say, I am working on a new degree!

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Houndnurse thank you. I appreciate your honesty. I had a fantasy idea of nursing but it's alot different once you actually do it. You made me think about things an RN does that I didn't realize. Anyone else have anything to share??

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I am in a very similar situation as well. only been working 3 months, 42 pts, work midnights, feel tired all the time, and my family is a fond memory. I love nursing, but there is WAY to much responsiblity, and with 100's of meds the room for error is huge. I also work in a skilled facility, where we sometimes have IV's, trachs, several feeding tubes, ect, and they are taking higher acuity patients all the time. I rarely even take a break. Of course, I have overheard how midnights, don't do *#*@. Which is ridiculous. We do more charting, treatments, ect, just less meds. I am an RN, and I looked for 6 months before i found this job, and although I have had several interviews, there have been no other offers. Several dozen facilities, and well over 100 apps later, I am still here. I love nursing, this just isn't what i had planned. I really want to get into pt. education. I love the learning and teaching. Hang in there!

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What kind of new degree are you working on?

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