This is not what I thought it was

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So I have gone through my 3 months of orientation & so far I can't say I love my job. The hours are long, I'm treated like **** by patient's, family members (that's expected) & coworkers & the pay is horrendous.

But my KNEES! My knees are KILLING me by the end of my shift. I was almost in tears yesterday. I have seen my PCP with no relief & am due to see a Rhumatologist this month. I wear compression socks, knee braces & special shoes. But honestly if I can't find relief I'm thinking about quiting. Nothing about working there makes me want to stay when I'm treated like **** & I'm in constant, 10/10 pain.

Sockwell socks and Sketchers Go Walks. I best combo EVER. I cannot wear any other type of shoe (mine have the "goga" mat material as the insoles).

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.

Perhaps it's a good idea to let yourself rest and re-group. You need to take care of yourself first. Perhaps Home Health? You can drive, sit when you get there. You have less patients and most HH clients are grateful. Just a thought....

Try these shoes. These shoes provide toe splay and the traction is also great. I don't wear any other kind of shoe at work except these. I bought the shoes for 150 dollars. The moon bounce shoes, just kidding about the name.

Altra Running Shoes - Zero Limits | Altra Running Footwear

Nursing is a 24 hour operation. You are going to burn yourself out fast. Don't work like you are working, staying late for something that can be passed on, because it will eventually catch up to you if you keep doing this stuff. Nursing is not a race, it is a marathon. Think self preservation.

Specializes in ICU.

Haven't been here in forever - glad to see you landed a job! Sorry it sucks, though. :(

Can't really advise about the knee pain beyond what everyone else has been saying (Danskos and Sockwells are my jam), but I wanted to say I feel like most acute care jobs are crap until the unit is done "breaking you in," "hazing," whatever you want to call it. The only reason I stayed at my current job past the three month mark is I'd worked at my first job less than a year, and I felt like I'd get labeled a job hopper if I left my new one after three months.

If I was staying in nursing, I'd hit my four year mark on that unit this August. Things tend to get a whole lot better if you can stick a year out... around then, people start realizing you're serious and stop being evil just because you're new. That's just my personal experience.

Haven't been here in forever - glad to see you landed a job! Sorry it sucks, though. :(

Can't really advise about the knee pain beyond what everyone else has been saying (Danskos and Sockwells are my jam), but I wanted to say I feel like most acute care jobs are crap until the unit is done "breaking you in," "hazing," whatever you want to call it. The only reason I stayed at my current job past the three month mark is I'd worked at my first job less than a year, and I felt like I'd get labeled a job hopper if I left my new one after three months.

If I was staying in nursing, I'd hit my four year mark on that unit this August. Things tend to get a whole lot better if you can stick a year out... around then, people start realizing you're serious and stop being evil just because you're new. That's just my personal experience.

Hi to you... and Chaos.

I do sockwell/ Danskos even now.

Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

Perhaps give orthotic insoles a try? No matter your age, you may need a nursing job you are on your feet less time. If you can afford a jacuzzi I suggest you buy one. I had to steal from my retirement account to get one, but it was one of the best purchases I ever made.

Specializes in ICU.
Hi to you... and Chaos.

I do sockwell/ Danskos even now.

Haven't seen you in forever - hope you're doing well. :inlove:

Specializes in Neuroscience.

Things get much easier if you hit your one year mark, work becomes much more professional once you hit your two year mark.

It always looks bad if you have multiple places of employment on your resume. Go and talk to your doctor, they are able to give you advice on medications to take. Try different shoes and maybe have your feet mapped.

The work is hard. We know this, and if this is your first real job it can be an eye opener, but you can do this. The first year sucks. People will be mean, snarky, short-tempered, and eye-rolling SOBs until you prove yourself. I don't know about you, but I would much rather make it through my first year of real nursing than go through a year of nursing school. It's all about perspective, and I get the vibe you want to quit and want validation for quitting. No darlin, we're not giving that out here.

You are a professional who just hasn't come into her own, but you will. In two years it will be amazing how far you've come, as you sit down with a patient to explain a procedure because the doctor was vague, knowing you have time because X, Y, Z, can wait, charting will be complete by 11, and you will have a glorious 20 minutes for lunch. And it will seem like a hard job, but it can be rewarding. Best of luck!

Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..

Jeez I'm so sorry no rest for the weary when it comes to nursing huh? I really had to adjust when I first started with my medical problems. I had a craniotomy that fixed the original problem but left me with scar tissue and nerve damage causing excruciating headaches and facial pain. I was also in a bad car accident(my mustang flipped) I thankfully only suffered a slipped disc in my neck. So pain is nothing new to me. A low dose of extended release morphine(mscontin)has been my friend on the job since it doesn't cause any impairment(my employer knows this and approved it and the chief of neurosurgery is in charge of my care). Also of course the obvious like IBU and sitting down as often as possible(to chart and do admission paperwork for example) helps a lot. Of course I like my job which you state you don't l..have you thought of another area of nursing where you don't need to be on your feet all the time?

I completely understand how you feel. When I first started nursing I had a manager who hated me and was bullied by the fellow staff members as well as sexually harassed numerous times by patients. As I grew in my role and my confidence improved I found my attitude had become more assertive and assured. It takes a few years, but it does happen. Hang in there!

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