not what i expected

Nurses New Nurse

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I love being a nurse but the area i am in atm is only about 30% nursing :(

I have been a full fledged registered nurse for 4 months now. I started out as an excited enthuasiastic nurse!

I Graduated, I got my regerstration, due to my local hospitals budget overrun i got a job in a HUGE hospital miles away from home but it was a job in my choosen field with lots of opurtinty to move up.

But the reality was im in a ward that is far from idealistic, im the youngest staff member by 10-20 an average of 30 years meaning i get alot less respect than older staff, my ward is also less acute than i expected meaning alot of my "skill development" has gone to the way side and its just getting from day to day. Also nurses are alot my gossipy and ****** than i ever expected sometimes i sit there going omg they didnt say that??????????? if they are saying that about others what are they saying about me???

I'm also trying to make my way through doing postgrad papers while working, with alot high level and alot less support than im used too

Also with moving away i have lost my support system :( (i do try to go home when i can)

any modivational words?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

i know how you feel... i have some advice.

-be sure not to get caught up in the gossip sessions.

-do not spend any time proving yourself to the other nurses. you are a new nurse and will be scum in the eyes of the others for a long time to come.

-be your own cheerleader!!! when you do well, then cheer! if you make a mistake, then chalk it up as a learning experience (don't beat yourself up... your co-workers may do that for you).

-keep your goals. do not forget why you became a nurse and do not allow your current position to drag you down.

-keep looking for a job. after 6 months working on the worse med surg floor in my former hospital i applied to every ed job open near and away and finally landed one three months later. right now the job market is tough but if you meet someone through nursing that is willing to take a chance on you, after six months you may be able to relocate and be near your support system once again. gl!

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thanks for your words :)

i have 2 more months where i am then go to a community agency (6mnths there) so looking forward to that (thats if my co-ordinator actually shows up and organises it i very really see her and i am her job!)

so in 8mnths time hopefully ill be able to go back to where i trained!

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I also know how you feel. I remember being green and looking forward to the "seasoned" nurses to give me experienced advice and, in a sense, show me how to be a good nurse. Well, reality hit me hard when I would walk around a corner and two nurses would shut up quickly, look at me, turn and start laughing. I felt red in the face because I thought I was doing something wrong...but alas I learned that there are just people out there that must be so miserable themselves that they must try to make others miserable also.

Keep your pride up, dot your i's and cross your t's (nothing worse than giving them something to snicker about), and feel proud of yourself that you are young and still recognize how you do NOT want to be. Learn from their mistakes. Keep focused on your goals, keep checking in here and vent when you need to vent, laugh often, and try to join a group or club locally where you can meet people your own age and hopefully find a bit of support while away from the support system you are used to having. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.

We are in the same shoes. When I got licensed in the state that I am in, I was so excited to get a job and meeting new people. When I landed my first US job, I felt crying all the time. It seemed like everything was overwhelming and it seemed like I didn't know a crap about something. Then I noticed that I'm the youngest of all nurses in the facility that I am in where it seemed like I don't fit in with their convos about their kids and their lives. It was totally different. And they gossip a lot. I too felt that if they were that gossipy, I wonder what they gossip about me? I believe that being a new nurse, we should show them that we wanna learn and try not to join their gossip clubs and be like them just to fit in. We are unique, therefore we have our own personalities. As much as possible try to get along with them, but never try to fit in. Good Luck!

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thanks everyone for your insperational words! the crying thing has stopped since i started smoking again giving up when starting my first nursing job may have been a bad idea! off to clinical supervision now just have to think of something to say!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

use spell check first of all.

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use spell check first of all.

sorry i had hit enter before i had the chance to and im dyslexic so my brain works faster than my hands sometimes but there is no need to be rude about it

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.
the crying thing has stopped since i started smoking again

I hope you're kidding? :confused: ...but I'm glad you're feeling better!:D

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Acute Rehab.
use spell check first of all.

:igtsyt:

so not cool! this is part of the reason most people think all new yorkers are rude and i am originally from nyc.

if you read some of my posts, you will see some statements that i have made regarding the spelling and even worse grammar used on this board. but.....there is a better way to let the poster know, and you didn't even address her original post with some much needed advice regarding her issue. there is a time and place for sarcasm.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

I am sorry you took that as rude! I really did not mean to be rude it was a real suggestion. People will look at your spelling and the way you speak, the way you present yourself and make judgments.

I guess if I were you, I'd try to present myself as professionally as possible. Try really hard not to let the gossip and catty stuff get to you, it is possible to not get involved. I always tell people, "I don't know anything about that" or "I don't gossip at work" and that's the end of it. They will either accept it or not. Being younger than them doesn't mean you don't get respected, it just means you are young. Remember, you have the education and it's probably more than they had way back when. You know your stuff! So do your job, be proud and listen and learn everything you can. Take it as a struggling life experience, but one from which you will learn!

Being away from your support system is probably the hardest part of your life right now. Try to be open to new friends wherever you find them. Be nice to absolutely everyone. The janitors, the aides, (especially the aides!) visitors, everyone you encounter gets a smiling hello and how are you. People will start to see how nice you are and that will go far. Don't let your fear and inexperience make you into a quiet little mouse, be OUT THERE. Smile and be confident, even if you're not, you know? Fake it till you make it.

Lastly, I am again sorry for my previous post. I too was in a hurry, and I was a teacher for 20 years before I became a nurse. It was the first thing that I noticed. My fault. You didn't need more things to make you feel inadequate, and I do feel bad. As soon as I hit post, I thought oh no let me get that back, it will be taken wrong. Oh and BTW, I'm from NJ not NY which may be worse in the rudeness department! :) Peace and best of luck...

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