Been working as a nurse for almost 2 years. So far hating it, just looking for good pay. My first job lasted the longest at a Med Surg Tele unit, but had problems keeping up, I quit and applied and got a job at a better hospital. But got fired during orientation for swearing once.
Went into long term care, but quit those because staffing was always unsafe or no equip.
Went on travel, but screwed up a prep order and got fired from there. Now looks like my 3rd fire for not keeping up at an Ortho unit. I would work long term again, but afraid the same issues will pop up.
I don't know what to do. I don't want 4yrs of my life to go to waste.
Since you live in Florida, I'd suggest the Health Department for you. Monday through Friday 8-4:30 with excellent benefits - I paid $50/month for just me with a $500 deductible with great coverage. It really is easy work and you get holidays off. The only down side is you have to manage medical shelters whenever a natural disaster comes through but you get credit in the form of PTO for AND they do actually let you take it. The pay depends the area of Florida you live in.
If that doesn't sound great, I'd suggest your local FQHC. Again Monday through Friday business hours and no holidays. Pay is OK.
If that doesn't sound great, I'd suggest corrections. I don't know much about it but it would be worth looking into.
I find one thing beats the bad vibes at work: a good attitude.
I work per diem for hospice and I go to school full time pursuing my DNP.
Every day I go to work I walk in with a smile, cheery attitude, say good morning to everyone. I get my supplies, read chart notes, and leave to see patients. I don’t get involved in gossip. If someone tries pulling me in, I try saying things like “hmm that’s a tough situation” but I try to remain neutral. After doing this for so long, and making myself unavailable to such negativity, I have found favor and fortune in my workplace. Stay positive, remain scarce, remain neutral. Sometimes it’s best to apologize even if you feel like you did nothing wrong because that can remedy a lot of situations. AND know that People will talk about you. Don’t fall into that trap, because after all you have to value peoples opinion to care about what they said. As for me, none of the water cooler gossip is true, ergo I don’t care nor spend time dwelling on it.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
On 7/1/2021 at 9:14 PM, Leonardo Del Toro said:
They sell this idea that there will be perfect results, give nurses no support to achieve these delusional golden results. They put all the responsibility on the back of the nurses. No wonder everyone is burned out to a crisp. How long can this go on?
Exactly! I loved aspects of my hospital job, but quit after 5 years due to fear for my physical safety. We had a safety meeting with admin and discussed that security doesn't respond to behavior emergencies unless the person has a weapon. We were told to try "verbal de-escalation" and that should calm any pt down. I agree verbal de-escalation and remaining calm is important and works in many situations, but at the point a 280 lb man who is high on meth is chasing you into a corner and has ripped the bedframe off the bottom of the bed, I think that ship has sailed.
My advice is try to stick to outpatient, but if you really want hospital make sure you ask lots of questions about their violence prevention plan.
Getting fired for cursing once seems pretty harsh. I’d be out of a job if that were the rule where I am. I’ve been “counseled” a couple times about using “inappropriate language in front of/within earshot of pt’s” but def not fired. Like a previous poster said maybe some other stuff on top of that? If I were you I would keep on looking. Maybe look into research? I know nothing about it but I have to think it’s much less stress and prob not a lot of patient interaction. What don’t you like about nursing so far? Is there anything you DO like?
Specializes in Educator, COVID Paperwork Expert (self-taught).
On 7/4/2021 at 10:35 AM, vintagegal said:
I find one thing beats the bad vibes at work: a good attitude.
I work per diem for hospice and I go to school full time pursuing my DNP.
Every day I go to work I walk in with a smile, cheery attitude, say good morning to everyone. I get my supplies, read chart notes, and leave to see patients. I don’t get involved in gossip. If someone tries pulling me in, I try saying things like “hmm that’s a tough situation” but I try to remain neutral. After doing this for so long, and making myself unavailable to such negativity, I have found favor and fortune in my workplace. Stay positive, remain scarce, remain neutral. Sometimes it’s best to apologize even if you feel like you did nothing wrong because that can remedy a lot of situations. AND know that People will talk about you. Don’t fall into that trap, because after all you have to value peoples opinion to care about what they said. As for me, none of the water cooler gossip is true, ergo I don’t care nor spend time dwelling on it.
This is the best advice for anyone in any job! I've been the Director of Clinical Education and Infection Control Nurse in a long-term care facility for almost 4 years, and I started here having that attitude of being nice to everyone, helping in little (and sometimes big) ways whenever I can, smiling and saying "hi" to everyone (in this facility, many of the management staff do NOT do that), sharing chocolate, etc. My mom was my best encourager, and in her memory, I try to do the same.
Yes, you can play the game, be nice, and keep your sanity too! Be extremely careful about trusting ANYONE...they'll throw you under the bus to someone they just made a negative comment about, that you agreed with.
"Remain scarce"--one of the best pieces of advice ever! I call it "putting on my invisibility cloak".
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
On 7/4/2021 at 9:35 AM, vintagegal said:
I find one thing beats the bad vibes at work: a good attitude.
I work per diem for hospice and I go to school full time pursuing my DNP.
Every day I go to work I walk in with a smile, cheery attitude, say good morning to everyone. I get my supplies, read chart notes, and leave to see patients. I don’t get involved in gossip. If someone tries pulling me in, I try saying things like “hmm that’s a tough situation” but I try to remain neutral. After doing this for so long, and making myself unavailable to such negativity, I have found favor and fortune in my workplace. Stay positive, remain scarce, remain neutral. Sometimes it’s best to apologize even if you feel like you did nothing wrong because that can remedy a lot of situations. AND know that People will talk about you. Don’t fall into that trap, because after all you have to value peoples opinion to care about what they said. As for me, none of the water cooler gossip is true, ergo I don’t care nor spend time dwelling on it.
Great advice. That's one of the benefits of being float pool and not having a "home" unit, you hear all the drama but rarely get caught up in it. And the occasions that people do try to pull you in, I smile and say "oh no, I'm just a guest here I don't have an opinion!" and leave it at that.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 7/1/2021 at 7:47 PM, Mcl1980 said:
Spot on. It's kinda related to my issues. I think I'll go into psych nursing where they actually need people. You hear about nursing shortages, but if that were true, you wouldn't see so much nit picking, and more actual coaching vs gossip.
Just to let you know, Psyche is not an easy specialty. I have been hit (Resulting in skull fx) and scratched with filthy fingernails (resulting in a bad case of cellulitis).
Also most if not all psych facilities are 8 hour shifts and many psych nurses work 40 hour weeks and there is no shortage of unpleasant co-workers. You need to have excellent time management because you will often care for 14 or more patients in a shift. Psych facilities also pay a bit less than acute medical nursing. Still if you are not afraid of play mental chess (Thanks Davey) on a daily basis Psych might be for you.
Just to let you know, Psyche is not an easy specialty. I have been hit (Resulting in skull fx) and scratched with filthy fingernails (resulting in a bad case of cellulitis).
Also most if not all psych facilities are 8 hour shifts and many psych nurses work 40 hour weeks and there is no shortage of unpleasant co-workers. You need to have excellent time management because you will often care for 14 or more patients in a shift. Psych facilities also pay a bit less than acute medical nursing. Still if you are not afraid of play mental chess (Thanks Davey) on a daily basis Psych might be for you.
Hppy
I'm sorry you had such a bad experience in Psych, I have had the opposite experience. The only time I've been hit was at the hospital and of course security was no help! Any specialty you go to there are good patients and unpleasant ones but corrections and psych to me has been the most pleasant. All my psych jobs have paid more than bedside as well and they were 12 hour shifts. I could not do 8 hr shifts. The only way I would do bedside nursing is by traveling. The amount of work that I am doing needs to reflect on my paycheck. If the bedside travel positions aren't paying me what I feel like I am worth I just do my PRN psych job until I find something good. So many nurses are leaving bedside and I honestly do not blame them.
DowntheRiver
983 Posts
Since you live in Florida, I'd suggest the Health Department for you. Monday through Friday 8-4:30 with excellent benefits - I paid $50/month for just me with a $500 deductible with great coverage. It really is easy work and you get holidays off. The only down side is you have to manage medical shelters whenever a natural disaster comes through but you get credit in the form of PTO for AND they do actually let you take it. The pay depends the area of Florida you live in.
If that doesn't sound great, I'd suggest your local FQHC. Again Monday through Friday business hours and no holidays. Pay is OK.
If that doesn't sound great, I'd suggest corrections. I don't know much about it but it would be worth looking into.