Feeling cheated.......

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I've been a nurse for a month in med-surg, and love it. I worked as an extern for a week or so before taking boards and then was precepted 2 weeks in day shift and then moved to night shift. After 3 days on nights, I was on my own because my preceptor had a team of 7-8 pts and I have 5 (on my own!).........definitely not conducive to learning.

Thanks to the mercy of God, I am surviving and doing fine but I feel cheated as I was promised minimum 8 weeks orientation. I started off with a different preceptor each day and I got so frustrated I said something to the director. She then left me with one and it is much better. She is fabulous in every aspect. She quit and her last day is in a week-I am extremely dreading this. I will have to take 7-8 pts by then. Most are on tele, with a million and one issues and I just feel overwhelmed already.

I (and my preceptor) have talked to mgmt and nothing has come out of it-just brushes it off. Ocasionally, she will call me into the office and compliment me on my work and about how fast I pick up things..........not the point! I still love my job and my coworkers-especially the night crew. I do feel my questions are welcomed and since I am the only bilingual nurse on PM shift, I quickly learned to bargain with them............But still, I feel cheated and dissapointed...........sigh.

Problem #2: My floor has only existed for about a year. About 1/3, if not less are core staff. The floor is basically staffed by travelers and seasonal nurses. Most of the core staff are new grads with 1 yrs experience of less.

I suspect I got myself in a bind.........:uhoh21:. It's 2am and I am rambling........hope I make some sense under my frustration. Am I even making sense? Am I just being a big baby?

All your valuable input is welcomed,

Jess

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Add that, I just moved here. It's the only hospital in a 200+ mile radius and moving on means LTC. I really need the hospital experience and believe it or not, med-surg is where I want to be.

Anyone else share a similar experice and is still alive/sane to share with me?

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

You didn't get your minimum 8 weeks?

No one can determine whether you are a "big baby"; we are not in your shoes. But I can relate to having a different preceptor every day. I'm lucky in that all my fellow staff members are friendly, caring and knowledgable. When you don't have your own preceptor, it can be hard because you are trying to build a relationship in order to set goals, put them into practice, and achieve them. No preceptor; no relationship; means more difficulty in attaining your goals and you can feel like your "floating"

Also, as a new grad, I am always criticising myself, and apparently its an occupational hazard for us! I guess its because we feel we know nothing, and in my case my organisation is up the creek and therefore I feel I'm letting the side down, because I don't feel like I'm supporting the team properly.

I imagine it would be worse for you though, because you have just moved. I am assuming you don't know many ppl where you are.

The problems you are indicating are real. But you are obviously good at your job as you are being praised. Its hard to remember that I know...

(((Hugs)))

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Hi

I Have been a med surg nurse for 3 months and I am about at my wits end and I have gone through almost everything u have mentioned above. the other day I starting quetioning if I made a mistake becoming a nurse. Its not my pts I love my pts its just the work atmosphere and the high pt load. I came home feeling deflated I cant really explain it but just heavy and down and it is getign worse and worse! I dont think some of the thiings done are safe and i am scared at what I am expected to do sometimes. Is that how you are feeling?

I came into nursing LOVING IT and I dont want to loose that b/c I am in the wrong place! I see so much slacking and I do not want to be like that. also I feel stupid half the time b/c its so fast paced and your pts have so much wrong and u cant look up diseases u dont know unless u do it at home so I feel lost and am loosing my confidence.

has anyone else felt this way??

I have an interview today for a special care nursey my heart has always been with peds. But I am scared I want the job so bad but I dont know how it will look being a new grad and changing jobs after 3 months. I am afraid and unsure how to give my 2 week notice if I get the job! and even if I dont My heart is telling me to move on!

Has anyone been in a sim situation??? any suggestions on how to go about giving 2 weeks or interview questions b/c I want to leave my first job out of school after 3 months. I also do peds home care and flu clinics through an agency on the side and I am not quitting threr should I mention both jobs??

Also My child was born premature and was in NICU for 3 months and been in and out of the hospital ever since and that is why i went to school to give back alll that has been given to me. Should I mention that in this interviw for level 2 nicu? he was in level 3 ....but right now I dont think I am ready for that acute of care so I thought this would be a good start. I think I would also be cross trained in OB mother baby I really want this job it is close to home and the other nicus close are level 3 in down town urban hospitals one being where my child was treated and even though I LOVE the hospital I am not sure if it would be good for me to start out there!

any ideas suggestions feed back is greatly appreciated! I am so nervous and confused!

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

If this were me I would be very concerned I did not get the proper preceptoring I was offered and most certainly deserve!

Address this with management and if nothing is forth coming I would rethink my role on this floor and in this hospital.

I understand where you are coming from being the only hospital within a 200 mile radius but YOU only have one RN license ok?

I am pleased for you that you are very quick in picking things up as they say but again you are only out one month.

You need more assistance and preceptoring.

This is wrong how you are being treated and not acceptable. :(

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

8 patients by yourself? Do you have CNA's or LPN's?? On nights, we might take at MAX 5 by ourselves...and IF we have an LPN on our team...we take 6-7, and occasionally 8 if it's a very light load. I couldn't imagine trying to give good care to 8 patients, doing assessments, care, meds, etc...

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

No, there aren't any LPN's in our floor. There is an aide but they have over 20 patients and do all blood draws (except from PICC's) and EKG's etc. They are extremely busy themselves.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

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I feel for you... last night my med surg floor had 32 pts 2RN's 1 LPN 1 STNA (basic care BS vitals only) PLUS we have no pharm open on 3rd no transport etc so we have to do everything ourselves go to lab get our own blood, mix iv bags, and take pt to xray/ us. last night 1 of my pts coded 2 had blood going new admit in extreme pain with no orders and she was on the floor over a hour UGH Not to mention 1/2 have sundowners!!!

Talk about under staffed and over worked! They staff by numbers not acuity so i could get 9-10 totals myself how in the world is that safe?????? do you feel unsafe at times?????

I am going to start looking into other jobs b/c I do not feel like i can give the care I need or ever spend time with my pts!

Plus I spoke to a friend in a near by hospital and they have pharm all night certain drugs must be checked by 2 RN's xray us transport so they dont leave the floor and they get about 5-6 pts.

so I know I can't just be crazy!!! I notice I am starting to dred going in I swtich back to 1st next week and thats a whole other mess and the nurses are not as nice! My 1st month or 2 I was so excited and loved it but i dont know if reality is setting in or I am just not a med surg nurse

But you are not alone in feeling cheated

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

OMG I cannot believe what I read sometimes here. I'm so glad I have my job. 9-10 pts?? There's no way I could do that. Even our experienced RN's throw a fit if we get assigned 8 with an LPN on nights. It's too many.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I am not surprized that you were cheated out of your 8 weeks of orientation. I had a horrible orientation, myself, and I have seen nurses lose their 6 weeks often enough to cringe.

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Specializes in CCRN, ICU, ER, MS, WCC, PICC RN.

Thank God I live in CALIFORNIA, where we can only get 5 pts at one time. I don't know how all the rest of you do it!

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