Fresh Grad, New Job...stressed out

PAERRN20 · Jul 14, 2009

Things will get better. I promise. I was you not so long ago. I still have days where I swear I can't do anything right. I think it takes 6 months to get adjusted to the role of an RN and then at LEAST another year till you start feeling somewhat comfortable with the job. You are taking responsibility for your mistakes which shows accountability and maturity. You will be fine. It takes time! Best of luck.

Aimee03, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2009

I was there two years ago. It will get better, I promise! It is called change. I think sometimes we try too hard without "thinking" about it. Just take a breath and be happy you have a preceptor who understands. You'll be fine. Good luck!

hearthelper · Jul 15, 2009

I feel your pain! I am in the same situation right now and some days seem to spin out of control:uhoh3:! I am hopeful that I won't be a fish out of water for too long.

yetanotheramanda · Jul 15, 2009

I feel your pain! I am in the same situation right now and some days seem to spin out of control:uhoh3:! I am hopeful that I won't be a fish out of water for too long.

I second this! We can do it!

nkara, CNA · Jul 15, 2009

Things will absolutely get better. You will have good days and bad days and will learn from each and every one of them. Good luck, take a breath and just smile. :cheers:

Pickles74 · Jul 15, 2009

I can sympathize completely. I'm a new LPN (2 months), working on my RN. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of things and into my own routine, I feel like everything is falling apart. I feel completely overwhelmed with 12 patients (Rehab hospital). It's all I can do to get all of my meds passed, dressings changed, etc. I always stay over at least an hour finishing up my charting. And today I was reprimanded for my first med error. I feel so incompetent all of the time, even though I run my tail off and never get a lunch or break. I'm so frustrated....

BAMBI321 · Aug 8, 2009

It's a done deal for me.. No longer wanna be an lpn !!! Sick of trying .. Homehealth agency will not hire me unless i have at least 6 mos. Experience in a skilled nursing facility !! Pediatric lpn position lasted 2 days i can't fake confidence.. Snf lasted 10 days .. Well they wanted to give me a shot but really wanted someone with 6 mos.- 1 year experience and didn't have the funds or time to train me.. So, 10 days and let go .. It didn't help that i spoke up when the lpn training me left me went to nursing station and within earshot told everyone that i wasn't gonna make it.. When she came back i asked her if i was doing such a poor job why did she leave me by myself !! She explained that i was to slow even if i never did a large med pass before and i needed to move faster and she wished that when she first started that she got ten days to train and that she wasn't going to baby me.. I ended up 30 minutes behind.. Please !!! My mistake was after graduating lpn .. For almost a year i worked in assisted living might i say a sinking ship that we tried to keep afloat and lost the battle.. We had med techs that passed most of the meds. No caths, no feeding tubes no high level wound care just residents that were stuck in the red tape of healthcare.. Some belonged there and some didn't.. There is a huge difference between skilled and assisted living.. Its wasn't easy and evenually they closed.. That experience has been my prob. Ever since.. I will no longer put up with training where i get told do it like this and if the state is here well you know don't use the shortcut .. Also that if we do everything by the book we would never get to go home or omg you need to get what they told you in lpn school out of your head this is the real world.. And if you get caught doing thoses shortcuts you get written up or fired or worse your license gets taken from you. The facility doesn't care about you only the fine they will get if they get caught letting you take the shortcuts.. Isn't it funny that the are understaffed and they have to know that shortcuts are done.. But don't get caught !!!! That is the bottom line.. Well i would rather let my lpn license expire than have it taken from me because our healthcare system sucks!!!! I'm going back to be a cna or a greeter at walmart there is no shame in anyone of these jobs as long as i do the best i can.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Aug 8, 2009

Hello fresh grad, you are not doing anything wrong. The facility that put you in this position is at fault. As a new nurse, you need to learn basic skills before you can apply them in a specialty setting. I find it hard to believeyou are responsbible for a cardizem drip.It is not possible that you have the cardiac monitor interpretation skills to safely administer this drug.They are taking advantage of your naitivity and your new ,hard won license.Yes, patients grab you, they always will. not a worry. Yes they urinate after lasix, expected response, no biggy change the sheets. I would hope you will get a critical care course in order to acquire the additional skills you need for this kind of unit. You have already had a meltdown because you are NOT trained for this. Your unit manager is staffing with new grads because they receive less pay. It is dangerous to you and the patients. Take care, get more training, consider med-surg.