First Few Weeks on Unit and Feeling Overwhelmed

JKL33 · Aug 28, 2021

3 hours ago, Brianna Borden said:

I’m trying simultaneously to somehow cook for myself and keep my apartment clean, and just generally take care of myself but I just can’t do it all. These 12 hour shifts are awfully long and with all of this other transition I’m undergoing with living on my own and just trying to make a living, it feels like too much and I’m thinking about just quitting already.

You are okay.

You are adjusting to a new phase of life. It's very common to feel all these different things, none of the phrases used to describe it really captures it, but it's something like what did I get myself into + culture shock + uncertainty + lots of other feelings.

You need some time to adjust.

You don't have to do everything. Right now you need to concentrate on your role transition and getting adequate sleep and nutrition. Your apartment doesn't need to be spic & span, just minimally clean and orderly. Keep your bills paid. Talk with your loved ones and spend some time relaxing on your days off.

Not a fan of cliches but I do believe that having and achieving good things is often not easy.

Don't panic. Things will come together.

amoLucia · Aug 29, 2021

Nobody died r/t dirty dishes in the sink!! There are ways to work around household chores.

Just take care of yourself. Experiment re sleeping arrangements. Good protein food avail and keep hydrated.

You'll figure things out. This is a tough time for new jobs - any jobs

And welcome to AN. I tell new members to consider anonymous screen names here. You don't want everybody & anybody to know your personal life. And they do visit here (think employers).

The mods can help you change your name.

Good luck.

BDluvsNursing, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2021

Thanks so much. Any suggestions then, as to how to get around chores around the house in the midst of a busy schedule?

JKL33 · Aug 29, 2021

If you work (3) 12s, decide what day is going to be grocery shopping day, decide what day is going to be laundry day. This won't be the same each week. But you can make a plan for the week and say, "I'll get my laundry done on Thursday since I have to work this coming weekend." Same with grocery shopping. Etc.

As far as keeping your apartment clean: Do an hour of significant cleaning, straightening and de-cluttering once a week and then just spot clean to maintain. Clutter is a significant problem. Throw things away or put them in their place--that one thing will get you a long way in feeling that your place is clean and orderly.

If you can, get yourself a multi-surface stick vacuum that is small enough to fit in smaller spaces. Some people also prefer a swiffer (or similar wet mop). Make yourself some all-purpose cleaner or buy some. Have a stack of cut up old towels or flour sack towels, which are sold in packs. These items will make it feel easy to do the spot cleaning. Keep your counters, appliances and furniture wiped and that's another easy way to feel that things are generally tidy.

Get a small tub to store bathroom cleaning products (scrub brush, toothbrush, cleaning rags, cleaning product for fixtures and tub/counter, spray for your mirror, toilet bowl cleaner and brush [which will be stored separately, obviously]). Do your bathroom once a week -- it'll only take like 5-10 minutes to get everything sparkly and then you can just maintain throughout the week.

If you have a dishwasher, rinse things and put them in. Run when full. If you don't have one, it's much less overwhelming to just quickly wash things right after your meal.

If you combine laundry and cleaning day then - - yay. You shouldn't have more than a couple loads of laundry and you can definitely get your decluttering and cleaning done while laundry is running.

As you can see, you can consolidate things that seem overwhelming (like cleaning and laundry) and have them only take up 2-3 hours of your week altogether. You can do this! ?

Once you have learned your new position and are settling into a routine, you can branch out do doing some cooking and meal planning.

Sorry if this is more info than you wanted. ?

amoLucia · Aug 29, 2021

Firstly, give yourself time to adjust to the new job. Personally, I think those 3 - 12 shifts are killers! Dang! You're just learning a new job! That'd be a chore unto itself. As things start to settle, then hone in on domestic tasks.

You're NOT Martha Stewart so be easy on yourself! Putz along, little by little, to keep ahead of the major things. Then plan out a bigger task or 2 Take advantage of any family assist.

Just remember to rest, eat sensibly and hydrate while working. And cut yourself some slack!

PP JKL33 offers some really good advice. Just to add, if you can, cook double quantities. Use a crockpot - just sleep while it cooks. And cook BIG amts. Some grocery stores are doing shop-from-home services. There's a fee sometimes, but it is a time saver!

You can do it! You need to prioritorize your new job. Dirty dishes can wait.

BDluvsNursing, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2021

This is such great advice, thank you. Definitely not more than I asked for, I greatly greatly appreciate it! After a few more days here on my unit and having to work three 12 hour shifts in a row this last week I’m really wanting to give it all up, but I’m still going to try to figure out what I’m going to do.

JKL33 · Sep 6, 2021

Let us know how things are going for you during orientation @BDluvsNursing!

I'm confident you will be able to do this. You sound like a conscientious person and that will work in your favor.

Getting up to speed in the first nursing job is very do-able but not necessarily easy -- many other people are feeling what you're feeling on any given day. You will look back in 3, 6, 12, 24 months and be impressed with how far you've come.

anewsns · Sep 6, 2021

There are so many really good new nurses around me who say the exact same thing in the beginning but grow to really like it after a while. I think you need to just allow yourself to be very lazy on days off and don't worry about chores too much. Make sure you are taking care of physical needs like going for a short walk, getting healthy snacks and drinking water. You absolutely can not do it all during this phase. Just the basics. I have this thing where if I am down or anxious on days off I do DTLBP

Dishes, table, laundry, bed, and plants. Just the chores that make me feel at a basic level of control. Takes no more than a half hour. (Folding laundry is left for another day, so all I gotta do is wash and dry it.) Cooking wise, you don't need to be making these big meals, just very easy ones. Keep it simple and place all the other emphasis on resting and self care.

I always command my orientees "go home and do not leave the couch or bed until you have to come back!" It cracks them up and when I come back I find out they did sit around most of the time but they are always refreshed. Also, definitely no chores at all on work days!!

caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2021

On 8/28/2021 at 8:37 AM, BDluvsNursing said:

I’m a graduate nurse that just started working on a med/surge floor beginning of August. The first few days were pretty exciting as I was learning the ropes and basics of how to chart and see my first few patients under my preceptor and things. But the 3 12-hour shifts a week I’m doing has really started to hit me hard. I wake up after 7+ hours of sleep now feeling like I got none, and I’m trying simultaneously to somehow cook for myself and keep my apartment clean, and just generally take care of myself but I just can’t do it all. These 12 hour shifts are awfully long and with all of this other transition I’m undergoing with living on my own and just trying to make a living, it feels like too much and I’m thinking about just quitting already.

I can’t keep up with all of these things I’m trying to juggle and I’ve come home many times now in tears from how overwhelmed and stuck I feel in the place that I’m in. Should I just give this all up and quit on my residency? Cause if I don’t do something soon I’m afraid I’ll just collapse.

Everything you just verbalized is completely normal. If you’re new to 12 hour shifts and nursing, there’s going to be an adjustment period. I worked nights for 6 years and my body still has to adjust from time to time.

Stop trying to do it all. Focus on work when you’re at work. When you’re at home, focus on you. Let the dishes pile up until you can deal with them. Prioritize sleep and self-care. Give yourself permission to be new at something…it’s OK to not know it all from the beginning. It’s OK to lean on others. It’s OK to be overwhelmed from time to time. Med-surg is a hard specialty at first but you’ll eventually get the hang of it and find a way to make sense of it.

MbcRN · Sep 8, 2021

Girl- you work hard, so try using the grocery delivery services or the meal kit services for a few months to make things easier. I know a lot of new nurses that hired a cleaning service as a splurge the first 3 months - then, plan your days off to do fun, relaxing things you deserve to do after nursing school, NCLEX and hours of care plans. Check out your Human Resources for discounts on tickets, employee perks.

amoLucia · Sep 8, 2021

Mbc - I like your thinking!!