First 4 weeks feels like 4months

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Specializes in Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing.

My orientation is over and now i am on the med cart. I do not like LTC everyday i go to work i dont go in with a smile but i love the residents as far as the job i paperwork. I fear for my license b/c of the fact that i am a new grad w/ no experience and need help with documentation and paperwork. I honestly cry when i come home, i believe this job is not for me I have a heart of gold and absolutely love the residents and I hardly ever see them because of the paperwork and documentation i feel that in LTC this is what its like i want patient interaction and have a smile on my face when driving to work not worried, anxiety, decreased sleep... I'm just so sad because nursing is what i love but this job in not working for me. Is this a common symptom of first year of nursing?

:nurse:

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg, Nursery.

I would say that, yes, it is a common feeling that all new nurses have. You do feel very overwhelmed as a new nurse when you are suddenly on your own and responsible for getting your work finished by yourself. Also, it is common to feel like you don't know near as much as you need to. As of next month, I'll have been a nurse for 2 years and there are still days where I feel like I need more knowledge.

With that said, it could also be that LTC just isn't for you. It could be the initial overwhelmed feeling new nurses get OR it could be that you will never really love that area no matter how much time passes. You have to figure out which it is. I had been a nurse for a year when I went to Med-Surg. I am thankful for the experience, but I did not like the area. I dreaded work every night I would go in. Now I work in Nursery, which is what I always wanted to do, but could never find an opening, and I love it. I am excited to go to work and I miss it when I am off for more than a couple days.

Hang in there! Do realize that it is normal to feel that way, but also remember you are allowed to try something else should you want to do that. Only you can decide what is best for you.

:)

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I also feel the same way...Ive been working LTC for 3 weeks and I swear it feels like Ive been there for months..LTC is very overwhelming! Like the previous post wrote, maybe its not for you. But I would say this, give it a little while longer to make sure its not just new nurse nerves and if you still feel this same then look for another specialty. Good luck!

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Specializes in ED.

my first week in Med Surg. fresh new grad. feels like forever when 1 week passes by. Im behind on all and really overwhelmed. Especially with the paperwork. I feel really dumb :/. I hope this gets better as time passes by.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.

You are not alone. My first 2 weeks went fast, I am really overwhelmed. The meds, paperwork--everything is overwhelming. It takes time for things to be better. I'm still under orientation though I'm behind the med cart unsupervised. I became thick-skinned knowing that I have to call my preceptor all the time if someone doesn't wanna take their meds. I find it frustrating. Knowing that you can't give out the meds easily. What I did to speed up with the med pass is that I made a little card with the room numbers in it and which one takes their meds crushed or whole. It did helped a bit. LVN2010M, how long was your orientation?

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Specializes in Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing.
You are not alone. My first 2 weeks went fast, I am really overwhelmed. The meds, paperwork--everything is overwhelming. It takes time for things to be better. I'm still under orientation though I'm behind the med cart unsupervised. I became thick-skinned knowing that I have to call my preceptor all the time if someone doesn't wanna take their meds. I find it frustrating. Knowing that you can't give out the meds easily. What I did to speed up with the med pass is that I made a little card with the room numbers in it and which one takes their meds crushed or whole. It did helped a bit. LVN2010M, how long was your orientation?

My orientation was 3 weeks if i remember correctly. The med pass isnt really my biggest problem i can honestly knock the med pass out fairly well, buut as far as the paperwork and documentatoin and administration is a completely different thing. I still dread going into work its is awful for me, i feel that at anytime someone is going to tell me "ok you have to go home" im not sure why i feel this way people tell me I'm doing fine but i do not like it not one bit. I am truly learning that the first year of nursing is hard! im working another job and i dont feel this way at all i like my on-call job im happy when i go and get out of work is fine, but LTC deff not... its so upsetting bc i need te experience to go out elsewhere. My plan is to stick it out for 6 months then carry on somewhere else because its not working out for me..

:crying2:

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