i dont want to be a nurse anymore....

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2007

The med pass amd floating are pretty usual. What I don't like is the supervisor's attitude. Mine have never wanted me to touch anyone until they could be with me to demo my skill OR to do it for me at least once.

Hamg in there. And don't do clinical things that you're unsure of how to do. Better to annoy a lazy boss than harm a patient.

HeartJulz · Oct 21, 2007

How frustrating that must be. I hate hate hate the feeling of being new too and how SNARLY some people can be. I dont get it myself as my thoughts are " we are all in this together why cant we stick together as a team?" But unfortunately ppl. will be that way. when I started my clinicals everyone who worked at the facility just glared @ us all of the time, kinda like what are THEY doing here? It was uncomfortable but we were there 9 straight months and after all of that time by the time it was my last weekend I really liked it! It was odd! Some of the nurses gave me a hug good bye and wished me luck and my clinicals instructor told us they would love to hire us once we were ready. So hang in there... the newness will fade. Good luck!!!

vanilmil · Oct 22, 2007

I know just how you feel! I passed my boards 6wks ago & am a very new nurse in LTC.

I work at the same place where I was an aide before becomming a nurse. Apparently, the DON felt that because I already knew the patients, I didn't need any orientation before working there as a nurse! After much persuasion, I was able to get only 2 days of orientation before they put me on the floor on my own. Like you, I frequently get rotated between assignments.

Most days I leave feeling totally incompetent & as if my license or job is in jeopardy. Experienced nurses all say, "It's Ok ~ you're gonna make mistakes your first year." and they all encourage me to ask questions, until I ask the question, that is. Then suddenly they can't be bothered & treat me as if I am an idiot.

I wouldn't mind the "sink or swim" situation the DON put me into if I had more support from my co-workers. It is difficult enough w/out all of the attitudes. For example, the other day I had to cover 2 assignments (d/t a call off) *and* the PCA quit, so nurses had to do all of their own dressing changes. The facility physician was in that day & wrote a ton of orders ~ well, orders were the last thing on my mind, what with 2 med passes & the extra PCA work. I never got the orders done, the nurse following me completed them. All night while I was running in circles Nurse "Sherry" was caught up w/her work (she only had one assignment & the nurse before her already did the PCA work for her) "Sherry" just sat at the nurses station watching me, never offering help. Two hours after my shift, when I was finally done w/dressing changes & charting & ready to leave, "Sherry" said to me, "You're only gonna get away without doing your own orders a few more times." And walked away.

What the hell? #1 It was none of her business #2 I've only been a nurse 6wks #3 I had the assignment of 2 nurses & 1 PCA ~ I can't do it all! That sort of thing happens to me everyday & it's so hard to keep a positive attitude.

I put in sooooo many applications & no one wants to hire a new nurse. I keep telling myself to do the best I can, & hang on till the new year. In January, when I have a few more months experience I am going job hunting again.

Sorry for the long rant :uhoh3: Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone!

If this is what nursing is, then I will have to give up on nursing. I can't imaging doing this for another day, let alone the rest of my career. I just take one day at a time & am holding out hope that I will be able to find something different eventually.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2007

I understand. I wished to be anything but a nurse for a while after I graduated. That's relatively normal. We have doubts and frustrations, but it all works out. Hang in there.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2007

Don't ever allow any other persons to dampen your spirit or discourage you from working as a nurse. Hang in there, because things tend to improve dramatically with the passage of time and grace. I was a new LVN in LTC nearly 2 years ago, and I know the feelings related to nervousness, rude coworkers, and the lack of knowledge. It will get better; trust me on this one.

RNgonewild · Oct 23, 2007

I won't ever forget being a new nurse. I was always b*tching and moaning how the other nurses wouldn't help me or even acknowledge me. About 8 weeks after myself and another new grad were hired, we met with the director to see how the orientation was going. We were going to let her have it about all the other "lazy" nurses, overwork, understaffing, etc. Well I went first and let loose on her. Her reply, "well, I can't put a nickel in a machine and pull out a nurse". The other new grad, my best friend and buddy was up next. When her turn came, she said, "I love it here, all of the nurses have been so helpful, etc". I could have died right there. Well 2 weeks later she quit to "marry and become a mommy". And I stayed there another 6 years. LOL. It all comes with time and you will get it. Good luck!

Bonnie Nurse · Oct 23, 2007

It's unfortunate that you were expected to do the bedside's job in addition to passing meds. But let me help you prioritize here a bit. If someone doesn't get a bath, it's not life threatening. However, if orders to change or add a med are not taken off and followed, a patient could suffer. Remember your priorities as a NURSE. You are no longer the tech. You must make orders and meds your first priorities. ADL's can wait until those are taken care of. Perhaps if some of the baths don't get done they will consider pulling a tech to help out. Draw the line between your job and the job of others when patient safety is at issue. You are absolutely right. You can't do it all. But bottom line is that you are responsible for all of your job, especially those things like meds and orders. I must say that it was wrong of the senior nurse not to have helped you identify the most important tasks and get you some help with the others, i.e. the tech's job.

mcg1929 · Oct 23, 2007

thanks for the reply!!! vanilmil",,,,i thought im the only who feels this way,,,i just hate the feeling seriously,,,actually right now, i worked two jobs my first job was in a subacute which im a perdiem now,,,i was quitting before bec of the disorganization of the place but the don told me why not give it a shot in long term which they have in the second floor...so i agreed and its going well i guess,,,,my other full time is crazy as hell! im just not so comfortable being a float especially knowing that some people are not helpful at all! i tried not to ask questions that much ,,but what can i do? im new and i dont want to make mistakes and harm my patients! and one more thing gossiping is soooo much! almost evryone who works there have to say something behind their backs! i dont know,,i just do my job and leave,,i dont care if they say im not that friendly or whatever....sigh****im depressed and feeling so low everytime i go to work,,,i tried applying clinic maybe its less stressful but im not sure,,,evry night i pray ,,,that hopefully time will come that i wont feel this kind of feeling of being new! NURSING is not what i thought in real world...im physically and emotionally drained...cant even sleep good at night thinking did i do this right? did i forget to do that? and so on,,,all this things you know,,,even have nightmares! :uhoh3: to all nurses out there,,,,godbess you all! goodluck to all the new ones!

ambroseRN · Dec 5, 2010

I "HUNG IN THERE " for over 20+ years and the situation in Hospitals has only gotten worse. Be honest with these new grads. Dont tell them it is going to get better, tell them to C.Y.A. (cover your ass) because no one is going to cover for you when you make a mistake and help you get thru the night if you hurt a patient. New grads need tough skin because Nurses EAT Their Own and Managers (most) don't care as long as the shift is covered.