New nurse...hate my job...don't know what to do

slave_diverRN · Mar 7, 2011

Wow....I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time in your new job. It sounds like there's three distinct challenges:

1. Coping with working nights and the impact to your life.

2. Time management at work and feelings of being unsupported by team

3. Dislike of ortho/neuro care

Time Management is something you can DO SOMETHING about and that should improve over time. As you get more comfortable and efficient, you'll recognize when you need to pitch in and help another nurse on your team....this will open the door to more teamwork overall. This is a common stressor for all new nurses.

The night shift is challenging, but there are things you can do to improve your life while you serve you 'time' on nights. You must PLAN IN ADVANCE to maintain relationships and get creative on this point. You may not be able to attend that party that gets going at 11PM, but you could plan to 'breakfast' with friends at the end of your shift. Make plans for your nights off...so you have something to look forward too...having concrete plans goes a long way towards removing that feeling of isolation.

I'm not sure what to tell you about Ortho/Neuro patients. I can say that IF YOU ARE WHOLE, those 'broken' folks can really seem like demanding cry-babies. After spending some time as an ortho patient, I now realize what a significant accomplishment/task going to the bathroom is, and I'm guessing they are all needing to go at the same time because they all get fluids/dinner at the same time. You've got to anticipate what 'time' everyone will need to go and start that early.

I hope that you can find some time to get to know one of your patients really well, learn about the dynamic wonderful life they had BEFORE their injury and see how challenging life is for them now. See this through THEIR eyes. I hope that this will help re-ignite your compassion for helping others and remind you of why you chose nursing in the first place.

Best of luck to you!

wesside1975 · Mar 7, 2011

Think of how you felt everyday while you were looking for work. Do you feel better now? If not quit the job and look for another. I wish I could find a job, its been since May 2010.

jpeters84 · Mar 7, 2011

I worked for a year as an NA (I know that's not the same) on an Ortho floor and I have to say it was the hardest most miserable job I ever had. In Ortho all the patients are in pain, need constant attention, there is never enough help or time in the day and patients can be really difficult. Your hard work is almost never appreciated in ortho and to top it off my co-workers were not very supportive. Ortho is one of the hardest specialties as a nurse in my opinion and has to be the hardest place to start. Keep your head up. Pat yourself on the back when you have a good moment or a good day and treat yourself and take care of yourself outside of work. If its possible I might also apply to other Nursing Jobs and just explain that ortho is not your specialty and specialty x (whatever you're applying for is). Good luck to you and know you are not alone.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2011

To add on I would look into the possibility of transferring to another unit in the hospital. I know almost all facility's require you be in that position for 6 months, but it doesn't hurt to ask. The hospital that I work actually works with nurses that have decided to quit because they didn't like working on that unit. They try to see if there is another position available for them somewhere else. The woman in HR who told this story said they do it because they have already invested significant resources in doing the admin part, setting up benefits, paying for orientation, etc. that it makes more sense for the hospital to put that person in a place where they will succeed.

surferbettycrocker · Mar 7, 2011

any chance at all you can switch to days? then get acclimated to days learn as much as you can about ortho and wait till a year to switch departments? heres the silver lining

1.u r not an ortho patient you can leave the hosp when your shift is done

2 nights suck the life out of you but this too shall pass. you may get used to nites it takes a long while, and eventually you can and WILL change shifts jobs. sometimes its nice feeling to leave work when everyone is going to work!

3 even if you hate the area of nursng you work at, you can still learn alot about surgery, recovery pain meds, even physical therapy. as silly as it may sound invest yourself in learning things about the human body and the human condition.

hope this helps:nurse::balloons:

Lisa1980 · Mar 8, 2011

I quit my first RN job after only 4 months. It was in a hospital on a med-surg oncology unit. I now work for Hospice as a Case Manager and I absolutely love it!

IT took me about 2 months to find a job and when they asked why only 4 months I told them it was not a good fit for me.

good luck you'll find your place.

elmoRN · Mar 8, 2011

Thanks for all of the encouragement guys. It's so hard to see the bright side of things sometimes, so just hearing all of your advice really helps. I know I shouldn't take my job for granted, and I know I can really learn a lot from this experience on ortho. This job will not be the rest of my life...this is just a stepping stone. Thanks for helping me realize that!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2011

Tell yourself to stick it out for at least another 6 to 8 months. You're a new grad, and it will get easier. Think of the experience you're gaining and know it won't be forever. The job market is awful. I would rather hate the job and try to make it work versus no experience and unemployment. Once you work for maybe another five months, start sending out your resumes.

cjroan · Mar 9, 2011

I also work in Ortho and float to Med/Surg. I just went to days. There are days that I really like my job and days that I feel like I was thrown under the bus. We also have lack of support at times. No secretary on weekends as though there won't be admissions, orders or discharges. The Medical unit is supposed to help, but they are busy and not close by. Many times the "Charge Nurse" has four patients of her own, so she can't help either. BUT, I am learning alot and the majority of patients really appreciate the help you give them. That's what makes it worth it. I also do not have a year of hospital nursing experience yet, so I am learning all the time. It's really tough when a pt. is not doing well and I don't always know what to do! I am afraid I will miss important signs that a rapid response should be called. I also had trouble with the night shift. I liked the environment, but it was bad for my life outside of work. It is the BEST environment to learn your job though. When you go to days, those Docs will keep you hopping with Discharges and new Orders. AND if you get a discharge, you can count on getting the next Admission!

I appreciate one of previous posters mentioning that Ortho was one of the toughest units too work. Makes me feel better about my progress!

elmoRN · Mar 9, 2011

Our charge nurse has a full patient load about 90% of the time, so there is no help from her usually. And we don't have a unit secretary at all so the nurses have to do all of the admission work and orders and stuff. It's just a lot to do. Plus, we started getting ortho trauma on our unit about the time I started my job, so we get an average of 6 admissions every night. Last night was my third night out of orientation, and I had to take 3 admissions...two came at the same time. I was so stressed...

Do-over, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

Elmo - I just wanted to encourage you to hang in there. I have been working as a RN for 7 months now (6 months off orientation) and I can tell you that it is unbelievable how much better I feel now - compared to how I felt 4 or 5 months ago. I still have a long way to go, and I still get really overwhelmed from time to time, but the difference is remarkable.