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Discussion

Frustrated

Hi all - I graduated from nursing school in May and began my position on a Med/Surg Cardiac/Thoracic unit 3 1/2 months ago. I enjoy it most days, but it is a difficult unit and very fast paced. Several other new nurses began at the same time I did, which put a "burden" on the rest of the nurses to orient all of us. I often times overheard them talking about how tired they were of orienting. I still hear them commenting on all of the "new" nurses, the "inexperienced" nurses...like we are some kind of a burden. True, we all have questions to ask, but I must say that we are all doing well and keeping afloat. It frustrates me that these nurses still complain about us when we are standing right there, and do not see all that we have learned so quickly. I know that I still have SOOO MUCH to learn...does anyone else experience this? How long does it take to feel "experienced", or to have other nurses look at you as competent? Any suggestions? :imbar

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    • Featured Replies

    Sorry you over have overheard some negative talk. Are you taking the same amount and same acuity of patients as the more experienced nurses? I have been working for about 5 1/2 months now and I've been doing well, (I feel). I do take the same amount of patients as more experienced nurses and same acuity so I don't feel I'm burdening anyone. I no longer have a preceptor. I don't feel really experienced, but I do feel comfortable with my skills I have learned. I have a lot to learn, that's for sure.

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    You have now entered the ugly side of the field where its all for one and one for all and every man for themselves. You will grow a extra layer of skin . How hard you make it will be soley up to you.

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    You have now entered the ugly side of the field where its all for one and one for all and every man for themselves. You will grow a extra layer of skin . How hard you make it will be soley up to you.

    I am so greatful it's not that way in my unit. I really like the people I work with. People are very helpful, nice and respectful. Things in your unit need to be changed. No one should have to "grow an extra layer of skin".

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    The whole purpose of these boards are to express YOUR OWN OPINION, but thanks for pulling out a quote.

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    That's exactly correct. You did and I did. My goal was not to upset you. I just mean that I didn't get into this career to hate the people around me. I would dread going to work every day if I didn't get along with my coworkers. But that's just me. I like to be friends with the people I work with. It makes it a much more pleasant work environment. Am I wrong in thinking this and wanting this for myself and others?

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    I Love To Help Ppl, Care About Their Problems And Think Of Others More Than Myself.been In This Field Since 21,its Not Like It Should Be. Glad Some Ppl Have Found It. Know Many Who Have Not.frustra Ted Is The Heading Here, Thats Why I Added My 4 Cents.

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    This is not a slam or anything, but I have seen a few people do this on boards, why do you capitalize the first letter in every word? Does it have a different meaning, like capatilizing all letters means someone is yelling? It's something I've wondered for a while but don't know how to ask for the fear of offending someone.

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    I agree totally with you Jenrn. We should not have to walk around on eggshells around our coworkers or grow a thick layer of skin. Thank goodness for us new nurses, because how else will we tackle the nurse shortage? More experienced nurses should be happy that additional nurses are coming aboard to take work assignments on their units. It's the same way with me. I've been an RN only for 4 months now, but we get lots of nursing students to teach. Even when i'm busy I try my very best to not make them feel unwanted because they are the future of nursing. We are all here to learn no matter how many years experience we have, & we're also nurses to help take care of patients. Period. :)

    -Christine

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    I'm sorry you're having to go through this on your unit. That's too bad that these nurses don't take into consideration the new nurses' feelings ....... especially talking like that in FRONT of you guys like you wouldn't be bothered by it.

    I agree with Jennifer, it shouldn't be like that. On my unit I'm lucky because I'm the only new grad. Most of them are really helpful and answer any questions I need answered. Sometimes I feel like I can't move fast enough and I get frustrated, but that'll come with time.

    I don't know how long it will take for us to feel "experienced". I feel like I'm a LONG way from feeling that way. I still have so much to learn. But just remember it comes with time .... that's what I keep telling myself. We'll all get there eventually :)

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    • Experts

    All I can say is that some people are just downright insensitive and forget their own roots. We all go through the new grad experience and each of us has unique encounters. I can't personally go to these numbskulls and tell them to cut it out. It, unfortunately, is something you will have to endure, unless you want to confront them and potentially make your situation more miserable. I suggest that you just walk away when you start to hear the other staff nurses trashing you new grads. The less you hear, the less upset you'll be. You could also pipe up and say something like, "I can't believe you'd say something like that in front of me," and see what happens. That's kind of a non-threatening thing to say to them.

    What you do over the long run, however, is to make a promise to yourself not to do what they are doing when you become one of "the group". Remember to be sensitive to new workers and new grads. Make their transition as comfortable as you can, be supportive emotionally as well as professionally. After a few years when you feel more comfortable with your job, volunteer to be a preceptor yourself. If you ever find yourself in the position of being a manager, then you use some of the legitimate power you will then have to stop idiots like these from undermining your new staff.

    It will take at least 6 months, perhaps up to a year before you start to feel you are having days where you've been on top of things more than feeling frustrated and miserable. For now, just continue to do well and stay afloat. I had an absolutely terrible time as a new grad and that was 30 years ago. I've never treated another new grad anywhere near the way I was treated--even the ones who just weren't performing as expected. I've come to look at my original experience as a gift since it helped to point me in the direction to take with others in that same position.

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