to any/all fellow nurses--please help! :)

[sunshinecanmakeadif]

Okay, so I need important advice from any/all fellow nurses please:)--

I am a new graduate. After interviewing for a job with a surgery center, I was hired on the spot for a position that originally had requirements of a nurse with five years operating room experience. I was given the responsibilities of full time nurse and nurse manager of the practice.

I have a very positive attitude, and was thrilled to not only accept the position, but to perservere in giving everything 110%. However, it is week four of my new job and things seem to be slowly digressing--

My first week on the job, I noticed that everything at this center is INCREDIBLY disorganized. When it comes to a duty that must be done, there is no designating protocol as to who "specifically" is responsible for doing things. So when I got started in my job, not only was I not given a real orientation, but I was automatically expected to know how to do everything, and to do everything the way the center expects. I am overwhelmed in paperwork, ordering all supplies for the OR and center, front desk duties, pre-op care, post-op care, lab work, front desk work-------you name it! Every day when I'm in the middle of doing something, I have five other people coming and asking me to do something else. It is literally not possible to get everything done, but it is expected. Anytime a problem comes up, I automatically am the one who is blamed. I have the practice administrator fussing me out, doctors fussing me out, and am constantly being questioned. And I have been told a million times that I am not to have overtime hours-----which makes things even more impossible.

Not only this, but the situations that continue to come up seem absolutely ridiculous. Today, I was asked to start an iv on a sick surgeon who insists on seeing patients. I started the IV only to be brought into the practice administrator's office shortly after and told that "they could not believe I did things the way I did things, they couldn't believe I wasn't competent, and they'd be watching me super closely from now on, etc etc." And in the meantime, the surgeon (against my advice), INSISTS on leaving her room while the IV is running, wheeling it along beside her, AND reporting to everyone how incompetent I am.

I am responsible for everything. PERIOD. Like even tasks that seem completely unrelated those of a nurse---like replacing 50 pound oxygen gas tanks.

And to make matters WORSE, I am constantly criticized. Everything is automatically my blame.

Where should I go from here? Any and all suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!

Sincerely,

A Hopless Nurse

[Goodyear]

FIRST----- I. am. sooooo. sorry. you are going through this. It is ridiculous. Second----Have you considered trying to get into a position more suited to someone just out of school? There is SO much we do not even dream about in school that is reality in the real world of nursing, that I wonder if this experience may be too much for you to start off with...and that it might change your ideas about nurses/nursing from here on out. In reading your post, I was STUNNED that they gave a new grad a position requiring 5 years experience---Service Line Supervisor or something of that nature?

I personally feel that your license and newly earned reputation are at stake here, even before you have a chance to build on them! I would think it'd be a good idea to remove yourself from this situation; it sounds like a ticking bomb, for anyone and everyone involved.

I hope I don't come across as harsh or critical.---I am truly NOT trying to be. I was shocked from the 3rd sentence on and had a feeling of panic, which I am sure you feel too. Take care of yourself, your license, and your future; find a position more suited to your newly earned confidence, license, and career.

Best of luck to you my friend!!

[kayern]

Sorry to hear your first nursing job is not going well. I'm sure if put in a nurturing environment you would have had a chance of developing the skill required for the position you assumed.

Whoever interviewed you and offered you the position needs to be fired. As a new graduate, with I expect no real experience other than clinical in nursing school, how in the world are you expected to perform without formal orientation and preceptorship. My best advised to you is find a NEW JOB!. One that will help you develop into a confident safe practitioner.

PROTECT YOUR LICENSE!!!

[Redhead28]

I would go into the administrator's office and demand a proper orientation period. If they are unwilling or unable to orient you to all of your duties, I would resign. They are looking for an office manager and a nurse but only willing to pay for a one, and not very much (I assume).

[JenniferSews]

I agree, demand a proper orientation before you are fired for not knowing what your job responsibilities.

[lkwashington]

It sounds like to me that you are in a bad situation in which it is overwhelming. My question to you what are you going to do? Me personally would be unable to to work on a daily basis and someone is telling me that I am incompetent. That is a total insult. Dont get me wrong there are some incompetent nurses who are working in the nursing field. If you are unable to handle the work and pressure, it can lead to incompetency because it seems that you are not completing in tasks that are given to you and you are being placed in several job position. You are being pulled each and every way but loose. You need to sit yourself down and think about you advantages and disadvantages of this new job because you dont want anything to work against you. Good luck and keep us posted.

[itsmejuli]

Why on earth are you still working there? I would have walked out the first day.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

Now you you can figure why they dropped the 5 yr experience requirement. Ask for more orientation to buy some time and start looking for another job... stat.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

You know OP, I just cannot see you as being real.

[Ginger80]

It doesn't sound as though things are going to get better.

I would start looking for another job ASAP. Any other nursing job.

This place sounds ridiculous.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i'm sorry your going to through that.. get out of there.. it's a hornets nest and you will get stung... put on your running shoes and run from that place...

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

I agree with the others. This place sounds like a disaster. Could you imagine being a patient in this place? What's going to happen when something goes horribly wrong and a patient or family sues? I'm sure the administrators and surgeons will quickly throw you under the bus to cover their own butts!