Feel like quitting

[Ciale]

I've been an RN for almost one year and I started in ER. I'm still in ER but just took a new job at a level one in a new city (came from a level 3).

I am freaking stressed OUT. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm just "winging it". Is this a normal feeling? When will I start feeling comfortable? I feel like everyone moves so fast and I'm always 5 steps behind. At the very least, I consider myself a safe nurse and would never do anything I wasn't sure about but i'm not sure about A LOT of stuff so it slows me down.

I guess what I'm asking is, how long did it take you all to feel comfortable in ER? This new job is making me want to quit nursing all together.

[Aliakey]

Type1Nurse wrote: "...level 2 and we're ALWAYS short staffed (typical RN to pt ratio is 1:12)..."

1:12??? I really have no idea how you folks do it. I was working in a financially-strapped, busy level 2 and could only hang in there for 6 months before I realized if I don't get out of there, I was going to kill a patient or more likely, myself. I went back to working as a paramedic with my busy 9-1-1 EMS and really could not be happier... I may have three patients at once in the rig, but usually only one needs more than basic level interventions. If anyone is receiving Cardizem, CPAP, or needs to be intubated, I will have only that one patient, lol!

While I don't regret acquiring the massive amount of nursing education and still feel proud about passing both the NCLEX-RN and CEN the first time around, I do feel like a failure as an ED RN. Our ratio was 1:4; not sure if having the AMI, acute CVA, renal, and ventilator-dependent pneumonia patients all at once was the breaking point or not. Many techs were laid off, radiology was a skeleton crew, and a new computer EMR system in place seemed to generate more headaches than cures. Am I scared of returning to nursing? You bet.

I am in no way trying to hijack the original poster's thread, but wanted to say I know how you feel and I also really appreciate reading the replies from others. Is the emergency department supposed to be a place where you test a 12 hour+ bladder, are running so ragged that you may get three quick sips of water in during an entire shift, and develop an interesting set of varicose veins to show off to friends and family? "Time management is the key"... been drummed into my head and was well understood. Too bad the nurse call buttons, pharmacy delays, and admitting docs never heard of that key.

I really have a whole new degree of respect and admiration for emergency department nurses! Those are not easy shoes to fill!