Frustrated

Published

Specializes in L&D, Mother/Baby.

I posted about a year ago about my struggles in my first job as an RN. I was hired into an L&D unit with no previous nursing experience. My orientation was a little thin as far as what I've heard about others at other hospitals. In addition they cross trained me to Post Partum and had me dividing my schedule between the units so I felt like I was lagging behind my peers. Add that to working with difficult to work with nurses that would rather belittle me than help me and I was flat out miserable. Almost a year into my employment I was finally feeling comfortable (as comfortable as can be expected for a 1 year nurse) with my work. I was then called in on my day off to meet with the manager who told me that she had received complaints about me everything from not knowing what I'm doing to not being a team player most of which was utter nonsense. I was devastated. I was humiliated.

I made the decision to seek employment elsewhere. I was hired at another local hospital that was hiring a brand new L&D unit. Due to some hiring issues, I was one of the very few people hired on nights that wasn't a traveler or new to L&D which left them placing me in charge frequently but I feel that I've done a respectable job given that I've never been in charge before. In addition, I'm almost always the OB Triage nurse which I had never done before and have grown very comfortable with. As we're a new unit, things are still slow going as far as patient numbers and some doctors we've only seen a handful of times. That said, I've had coworkers remark on how they couldn't tell I was a newer nurse and I've had patients compliment my bedside manner. I admit, I was nervous in the beginning with the staffing issues but I have gotten comfortable in my position. Until last week when I was called in to meet with the manager and the director and told that the entire night shift staff and doctors have reported that I don't know what I'm doing. The issues that they cited are way off base and specific situations that they cited with deliveries were darn near flat out lies. I left again feeling devastated and humiliated.

At this point, I have requested a transfer to Post Partum but I am feeling anxious about it because of this hospital's tendency to float Post Partum to med-surg floors in which I have no experience and am not comfortable. I am also applying to other hospitals but I feel so defeated. I honestly feel like I made a mistake becoming a nurse at all. I have looked for non-clinical positions and non-hospital positions but I haven't found much. School nurse positions want pediatrics, case management positions want case management experience, offices don't hire RN's...what's left?

Any thoughts? Words of encouragement?

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I posted about a year ago about my struggles in my first job as an RN. I was hired into an L&D unit with no previous nursing experience. My orientation was a little thin as far as what I've heard about others at other hospitals. In addition they cross trained me to Post Partum and had me dividing my schedule between the units so I felt like I was lagging behind my peers. Add that to working with difficult to work with nurses that would rather belittle me than help me and I was flat out miserable. Almost a year into my employment I was finally feeling comfortable (as comfortable as can be expected for a 1 year nurse) with my work. I was then called in on my day off to meet with the manager who told me that she had received complaints about me everything from not knowing what I'm doing to not being a team player most of which was utter nonsense. I was devastated. I was humiliated.

I made the decision to seek employment elsewhere. I was hired at another local hospital that was hiring a brand new L&D unit. Due to some hiring issues, I was one of the very few people hired on nights that wasn't a traveler or new to L&D which left them placing me in charge frequently but I feel that I've done a respectable job given that I've never been in charge before. In addition, I'm almost always the OB Triage nurse which I had never done before and have grown very comfortable with. As we're a new unit, things are still slow going as far as patient numbers and some doctors we've only seen a handful of times. That said, I've had coworkers remark on how they couldn't tell I was a newer nurse and I've had patients compliment my bedside manner. I admit, I was nervous in the beginning with the staffing issues but I have gotten comfortable in my position. Until last week when I was called in to meet with the manager and the director and told that the entire night shift staff and doctors have reported that I don't know what I'm doing. The issues that they cited are way off base and specific situations that they cited with deliveries were darn near flat out lies. I left again feeling devastated and humiliated.

At this point, I have requested a transfer to Post Partum but I am feeling anxious about it because of this hospital's tendency to float Post Partum to med-surg floors in which I have no experience and am not comfortable. I am also applying to other hospitals but I feel so defeated. I honestly feel like I made a mistake becoming a nurse at all. I have looked for non-clinical positions and non-hospital positions but I haven't found much. School nurse positions want pediatrics, case management positions want case management experience, offices don't hire RN's...what's left?

Any thoughts? Words of encouragement?

If you've been told the same thing at two completely different places, there may be some truth to what's being said. Have you considered ways in which you could improve your care and/or communication skills?

You might need to take a hard look at yourself before moving on so that the same thing doesn't keep happening over and over.

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I agree with the above. Once could be that the job/environment just wasn't a good fit. Twice means it's time to really think about your actions and how you can improve.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER.

It sounds like there are, indeed issues. I remember a nurse I worked with at another hospital. As a new grad they trained her to Family Birthing. Small hospital so the nurses did it all. She never got up to snuff, missed some decelerations on the monitor or something, there was an incident of some sort.

They transferred her to Med-Surg to salvage her career there. It worked fine for years, I think she ended up quitting nursing eventually.

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Specializes in ER.

bedside nursing sucks, I am glad I didn't muddle around in clinical realm after the ED. For all fairness, I hate patient care, and I fit well in an office typing keyboard and suppressing anger on fools who think they can submit meager documentation to get paid. But that's my two cents

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Don't get discouraged and more importantly don't job hop or leave if you truly do like what you are currently doing. Maybe you just need some extra training. Talk to your superiors and let them know that, while you enjoy working in your unit and feel comfortable there, that due to previous circumstances with your previous position and lack of training in that facility... you've felt a bit behind and struggle to keep up at times. Explain how additional training will improve your performance and that you are committed to improving with their help. I'm sure they would rather give you that extra training and retain you in the unit rather then have to go through hiring another nurse who may or may not be experienced. It's just a hassle for HR and everyone involved in hiring, training, and breaking in a new nurse. If you are truly unhappy with L&D then find a new specialty or job setting that you might be interested in tackling.

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Specializes in L&D, Mother/Baby.

I'm aware that the common denominator is me...hence why I said I was wondering if becoming a nurse at all was a huge mistake. That said, I am always pleasant at work. I chart very thoroughly. I do ask questions if I need to do or administer something that I'm not familiar with. I would never put a patient or my license in jeopardy in lieu of asking questions. I'm always willing to go into a room and help a coworker. The specific issues that were cited in the meeting were shocking as I disagree with most of what they were saying. That is not to say that I don't recognize areas that I could improve in. Of course I do but not knowing a doctor's preferences for having not worked with him before is a lot different than not knowing what I'm doing.

That said, anyone with experience in L&D...is this a commonality with new grads going straight to L&D? I'm hoping to be more successful in post partum. I'm not applying for any L&D jobs as I don't want to end up in the same situation again. I honestly don't know if bedside nursing is for me at all but I'm not seeing other options at this point.

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Sorry you are going through this. You sound like a very level headed person, so I hope you are able to resolve this. I would stay and fight this one out. If you don't, I am not sure how you would recover your confidence... at least at the bedside. If you do stay and it still doesn't work out, well, then at least you'll know you have given it your all and can start looking at different options from there.

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I can imagine you feel really defeated with this feedback. But, if you like your work and want to improve, please listen to the feedback. Not all managers can put things tactfully and sometimes they ask things that may or may not be reasonable but listen anyway. Also, ask for feedback before they have a chance to give it to you. It shows you are being thoughtful, self-aware and want to improve. Good luck.

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