Feeling discouraged

[Stella_Blue]

Lately I have been feeling very incompetent and discouraged when it comes to nursing. Im starting to wonder if I chose the right career. Although I like nursing I hate the politics that come with it. What is beating me down the most is that I cant seem to get into a hospital for the life of me. I have been on more than a dozen interviews, and even had not one but 2 job offers only to be swept out from under my feet a week or so before I am to start. I know plenty of girls in my area who only have their ASN and got into various hospitals no problem, but I am having absolutely no luck.

This all being the case I have been working at a LTC rehab hall that I am really starting to loathe. I have been getting 2 to 3 admissions a day, and I am lucky if I get an aide. The aides talk about me and how I am so mean and lazy, but I just dont think they get the stress Im under. I may look lazy to them sitting at a desk with 2 admissions Im working on, while I let a call light go off until they are done with another resident.

My facility is so greatly understaffed its unreal. People are leaving left and right.

I feel I am stuck here especially since it is ny first real job as a RN and I hate to leave after 4 or 5 months and be a "job hopper" because I am not. I just really wish a hospital would give me a chance.

Im scared to apply because I have no real managment references that I can trust, as I think my DON lied about me and screwed me out of my dream job to keep me at their facility because they are so understaffed and I actually show up and do my job.

I just feeling so beat down and Im wearing thin at this job I am beginning to resent my nursing career choice. I feel Im never going to get that hospital dream job I desire so badly especially if I cant trust any management to give me a good reference.

Sorry I just really need to vent, because Im not sure how much more I can take.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

You do have choices

home health, hospice, dialysis, and relocate rural

[Stella_Blue]

I have thought about that my only thing is this is my first RN job and I dont want to look like a job hopper. Everyone says that first job you get to stick it out for a year. I honestly dont know if I can. Especially with flu season nearing, Im not sure I can handle it at my job. It would be better if they gave me help, but they dont. Im lucky if I get an aide at all.

[VANurse2010]

I have thought about that my only thing is this is my first RN job and I dont want to look like a job hopper. Everyone says that first job you get to stick it out for a year. I honestly dont know if I can. Especially with flu season nearing, Im not sure I can handle it at my job. It would be better if they gave me help, but they dont. Im lucky if I get an aide at all.

Having no aide in a nursing home/rehab is BS of the highest order. I think dialysis training would be a good choice. It's stressful from a time, patient throughput perspective, but I think you'll hopefully see the level of professionalism increase vs. LTC. Every town has a dialysis center in commutable distance, and you can always look at the Davita or Fresenius websites for postings.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

There's a revolving theme I've noticed when I read posts from some newer nurses who recently joined the nursing profession. In a nutshell, many newbies place too much significance on their nursing jobs. They seem to become dejected and/or disillusioned when their work falls short of providing satisfaction. They grow disappointed when their lives are not changed by the job in a manner that is transcendental.

This is the cold reality: a nursing job is just another job, whether it is at a LTC rehab center or an acute care hospital. It is just another job that provides money to pay our bills and promote middle-class comforts. A nursing job, just like other jobs, fulfills several roles in society by occupying our time, making use of space, and keeping us busy so we don't remain idle.

A nursing job is not meant to be a source of joy, encouragement or transformation. No one lays on a deathbed and laments, "I wanted to work more when I was a youngster." The theme of my post is to refrain from allowing any job to disappoint you. Your attitude largely dictates how you'll view your job. Also, be mindful you are immensely fortunate to have not fallen into the ranks of the unemployed. Good luck!

PS.....I work in rehab and am certified in my specialty. The acute care hospital's workload is bust-ass, so you may find the grass isn't greener there.

[Stella_Blue]

I am not a newbie nurse, rather just a new RN. I was a LPN for about 3 years prior and I absolutely loved my job, but had outgrown in once I became a RN. So I left to gain that golden experiance. Maybe it is just harder to go from a place that was staffed well with help, to a job that runs its employees through the mill. I work with many experienced RNs who say they have never seen such poor staffing in their whole careers. I know with the fall hitting its only going to get worse. Our administration is only concerned with budget cuts to line his pockets, which Im sure happens everywhere. I just know there has to be nore to nursing than this.