Have I made a mistake?

[tryingtomakeit]

I'll try to make this as short as possible, but there's really no way to condense it.

When I went into nursing, I knew from the start that I wanted to specialize in an area that I could really try to excell in. I didn't know what area until I graduated (last May), but I finally settled on L&D.

To make a long story short, I love what I do. I love deliveries, the babies, my co-workers are absolutely wonderful ... BUT!!! When I started, cross training was the big thing in our area ( which I think is great ). I started out in nursery - spent about two and a half months there, then I went to post-partum - only spent a week there, then to surgery - where I witnessed all of THREE c-sections. I finally made it to L&D in September.

I had been in orientation for about three weeks when my partner for the shift called in. I was left on the floor alone by my manager who had told me that she would be around if I needed her. I had two deliveries back to back and was never able to find her! Keep in mind I am a new grad who had only been in L&D for about three weeks.

When I was started, I was promised at LEAST 8 weeks with a preceptor - I worked with her a total of about six days in my first month and a half - then I was taken off orientation! I was told that I was doing wonderfully and that I was ready. I DIDN'T FEEL READY! The next month (November) I went to the night shift WORKING ALONE!

My problem is that now here I am, in March, still feeling very scared and alone. Like I said, I love my job, but because I am alone so much of the time and still feel so new and like I missed out on so much, I feel myself dreading coming back in before I even start my days off.

I said that I saw a whopping 3 c-sections while I was in surgery - after that I was expected to scrub the d--- things! I was like - "Who the h--- are Bonnie and Alice??!!!!!!!" (teasing of course). Anyways, I think you get the picture.

Now I am starting to feel as though I made a mistake in going into nursing at all. I have tried telling my head nurse and the manager that I am scared, but all I ever get is a pat on the head, "You're doing great!"

I can't begin to tell you the times that I have been literally thrown into things - last week I had to work nursery alone and I was scared to death. It was my first time and my training in there was back in June of last year. I walked in that night and, of course, there was a c-section about to take place. I told my head nurse that I really needed some support because I had only caught the baby in a section a couple of times and that had been a year ago. Her answer? "You'll have Dr. with you, you'll be fine!"

My question is, Have I messed up? Am I being treaded unreasonably or am I just not cut out for nursing? I feel like I have the potential to be an excellent nurse, but why am I feeling like I just don't want to go on?

Thanks!

[BETSRN]

My original desire was and is psych nursing but I am being told that they don't take new grads. So how does one get started in psych. Even if I did med-surge 1st they will tell me that I have no experience in psych. My heart is in psych all the way if I could just be given the opportunity. And yes there were extenuating circumstances however not relevent to my ability to become a great nurse nor the time frame of which I waited to seek employment. My biggest concerns are not with and never have been having to work hard. If that were the case I would have never made the choice to start nursing when I could have just continued to stay home take care of my husband and go on many vacations per year. My decision to go into nursing was to be able to make a difference in patient care. But, as I saw while in nursing school and the nature of the lack of resources in our country and subsequent healthcare system my great intentions/desire is flawed by the lack opf sufficient staffing regardless of the location in our country. As a new grad we have so much to learn yet still care for the same amount of pt's that all of the experienced nurses have; and given that I have concerns over being able to give my pt's the spectrum of care that they need and should have regardless of our shortage in staff. As well, and please don't take this the wrong way but it was the experienced nurses that shared the horror stories about how new grads are treated by the RN's that have been there for a long time. As well, many of my peers did and continue to fly by the seat of their pants in that the experinced nurses on the units are not willing to teach. Often tellling the new grads " learn it the hard way like I had to" and everyone wonders why new grads hesitate.

First and foremost, ALL new grads do NOT hesitate. You, personally, are hesitating.

And no, not all new grads are given assignments that are the same complexity as those who are more experienced. They are started slowly and given smaller assignments and then grow as they feel ready.

If Psych doesn't take new grads then you go to med-surg and get some experience. Your complex psychiatric patient may have multiple medical problems as well. If you care for this person, you care for the WHOLE person, not just the head issues.

You need to be able to cut it: not matter what area of nursing you are in. Please.............jump in and start cutting it. You are NOT going to be handed the job you want immediately. As I said before, you may have to go in through the back door, so to speak.

My heart was always in OB and L&D when I was in school. I had been a teacher before going into nursing. Do you know how I got in? While I worked med-surg, I started teaching the hospital's Sibling Class. That got me in with the nurse manager from OB and it went from there. That's what I am suggesting that you do to get where you eventually want to go.

When you finally HAVE a job (and you need the job sooner, not later), continue your seminars in psych issues, become a 1:1 sitter in your free time (sitters are paid positions), get to know the nurse manager of psych, pick the NM's brain for ideas, tell that person that you ultimately want to go to Psych. You'll get there, but it won't be without showing that you really want this. That is not going to happen until you GET A JOB!!

Besides, there are lots and lots of medical and surgical patients on med-surg floors that have multiple psychiatric issues. Have you ever thought of that?

You say your decision to enter nursing was to make a difference in patient care. Well, you would certainly be making a huge difference in any patient's life when you are a nurse. You are not going to convince anyone of your sincerity until you start to work and not shy away from certain areas of nursing. I am sort of looking at this from a management perspective.

Forget the "horrow stories" as you put it. All of us could probably tell you a lot of wonderful stories as well. You'll always have nurses around like that. Don't mingle with them and do NOT become one of them.

If your new grad friends are having difficulties with specific RN's on their units, then they need to take that to their own NM's and get themselves some help. Do not use this as another excuse as to why you ahve not gotten a job as yet. At least they are out there with jobs. Right now, that is more than you have and so despite their experiences (and I am sorry they are having hard times) they are already far ahead of you in the game of get onto a more desirable unit. They are going to get those psych jobs before you because they already have more experience.

To put it bluntly, stop making excuses and get a job!

The longer you wait and the more excuses you find NOT to get into your career, the more difficult you will find it and the less opportunities you will find opening for you. It's really very easy.

It sounds to me as if you are looking for people to tell you it is not good anywhere and to encourage you NOT to go into nursing at all.

Unfortunately, you don't convince me that you really want to do this at all. It does not sound as if you are willing to take responsibility for your own actions. Much of what you will have to do in psych is sit in focus groups and help your clients face their own issues. You have many of your own issues to face before you start helping others face theirs.

Every is accountable: psych patients as well as the rest of us (you included).

[PFDGB]

First and foremost, ALL new grads do NOT hesitate. You, personally, are hesitating.

And no, not all new grads are given assignments that are the same complexity as those who are more experienced. They are started slowly and given smaller assignments and then grow as they feel ready.

If Psych doesn't take new grads then you go to med-surg and get some experience. Your complex psychiatric patient may have multiple medical problems as well. If you care for this person, you care for the WHOLE person, not just the head issues.

You need to be able to cut it: not matter what area of nursing you are in. Please.............jump in and start cutting it. You are NOT going to be handed the job you want immediately. As I said before, you may have to go in through the back door, so to speak.

My heart was always in OB and L&D when I was in school. I had been a teacher before going into nursing. Do you know how I got in? While I worked med-surg, I started teaching the hospital's Sibling Class. That got me in with the nurse manager from OB and it went from there. That's what I am suggesting that you do to get where you eventually want to go.

When you finally HAVE a job (and you need the job sooner, not later), continue your seminars in psych issues, become a 1:1 sitter in your free time (sitters are paid positions), get to know the nurse manager of psych, pick the NM's brain for ideas, tell that person that you ultimately want to go to Psych. You'll get there, but it won't be without showing that you really want this. That is not going to happen until you GET A JOB!!

Besides, there are lots and lots of medical and surgical patients on med-surg floors that have multiple psychiatric issues. Have you ever thought of that?

You say your decision to enter nursing was to make a difference in patient care. Well, you would certainly be making a huge difference in any patient's life when you are a nurse. You are not going to convince anyone of your sincerity until you start to work and not shy away from certain areas of nursing. I am sort of looking at this from a management perspective.

Forget the "horrow stories" as you put it. All of us could probably tell you a lot of wonderful stories as well. You'll always have nurses around like that. Don't mingle with them and do NOT become one of them.

If your new grad friends are having difficulties with specific RN's on their units, then they need to take that to their own NM's and get themselves some help. Do not use this as another excuse as to why you ahve not gotten a job as yet. At least they are out there with jobs. Right now, that is more than you have and so despite their experiences (and I am sorry they are having hard times) they are already far ahead of you in the game of get onto a more desirable unit. They are going to get those psych jobs before you because they already have more experience.

To put it bluntly, stop making excuses and get a job!

The longer you wait and the more excuses you find NOT to get into your career, the more difficult you will find it and the less opportunities you will find opening for you. It's really very easy.

It sounds to me as if you are looking for people to tell you it is not good anywhere and to encourage you NOT to go into nursing at all.

Unfortunately, you don't convince me that you really want to do this at all. It does not sound as if you are willing to take responsibility for your own actions. Much of what you will have to do in psych is sit in focus groups and help your clients face their own issues. You have many of your own issues to face before you start helping others face theirs.

Every is accountable: psych patients as well as the rest of us (you included).

:rotfl: I appreciate all that you shared and many of it is true; however most of it is judgement based on very little information. I hope that you don't do that with your patients. Second of all you are incorrect about having to go the way most nurses have done in the past (med-surge & risk pt. lives with so little staff). Actually, I believe that all nurses should be required to do psych nursing before any other type of nursing since a lot of the medically ill pt's on the units do as well have psych issues whether short-term or long-term. Nurses I have seen on many units while in school lacked the ability to communicate effectively with very sick people. As well, those pt's confronted with terminal and/or lifelong illnesses needed a nurse that could deal appropiately with ALL of their needs NOT JUST medical - Nurses I have seen have either forgotten what they were taught so many years ago or just don't care. Either way the pt suffers....I feel that all nurses should be required to go through in-house re-training every two years to remind them of the need to meet ALL of the pt's needs - NOT JUST the medical ones.

You know, I was so blown away by how very judgemental and critical you guys are on this web-site that I just had to pull it up for my Psych & Peds Professors so they could see for themselves the type of nurses that I might have to be around while at work. They read some of the various threads and bantered about how very rude & judgemental all of you are. They then went on to say that I should not be wasting time looking for info & guidance from nurses that take their own frustration out on new grads who are so full of spirit (that which the pt's really need). Maybe you should try changing your job to one that is less stressful. Working with you must be a real bummer :rotfl:

[SmilingBluEyes]

:rotfl: I appreciate all that you shared and many of it is true; however most of it is judgement based on very little information. I hope that you don't do that with your patients. Second of all you are incorrect about having to go the way most nurses have done in the past (med-surge & risk pt. lives with so little staff). Actually, I believe that all nurses should be required to do psych nursing before any other type of nursing since a lot of the medically ill pt's on the units do as well have psych issues whether short-term or long-term. Nurses I have seen on many units while in school lacked the ability to communicate effectively with very sick people. As well, those pt's confronted with terminal and/or lifelong illnesses needed a nurse that could deal appropiately with ALL of their needs NOT JUST medical - Nurses I have seen have either forgotten what they were taught so many years ago or just don't care. Either way the pt suffers....I feel that all nurses should be required to go through in-house re-training every two years to remind them of the need to meet ALL of the pt's needs - NOT JUST the medical ones.

You know, I was so blown away by how very judgemental and critical you guys are on this web-site that I just had to pull it up for my Psych & Peds Professors so they could see for themselves the type of nurses that I might have to be around while at work. They read some of the various threads and bantered about how very rude & judgemental all of you are. They then went on to say that I should not be wasting time looking for info & guidance from nurses that take their own frustration out on new grads who are so full of spirit (that which the pt's really need). Maybe you should try changing your job to one that is less stressful. Working with you must be a real bummer :rotfl:

Well, *I* am blown away you would lump us all in one category here as "judgemental" and disdain the ones among us who are supportive and helpful.

Did you read the WHOLE thread?

If not, I earnestly suggest you do before you print it off and tell your prof's about the mean, judgemental nurses we all are here. You are way out of line.

Take care and good luck in school. I wish you well, honestly. But please read each post in the thread before you become "judgemental" yourself.

[jewelfire]

ouch! wow, really that was a tad heated.

I just wanted to add a little opinion, really, getting some med-surg under your belt at the beginning of your nursing career can only strengthen your foundation. The numerous challenges that you will find in med-surg provides a wonderful foundation for your nursing career. (redundant, so sorry) I was a psych nurse for 6 years after I worked in ICU for 6 mos. It helped me establish myself as a nurse and then I was able to break into psych.

[PFDGB]

Well, *I* am blown away you would lump us all in one category here as "judgemental" and disdain the ones among us who are supportive and helpful.

Did you read the WHOLE thread?

If not, I earnestly suggest you do before you print it off and tell your prof's about the mean, judgemental nurses we all are here. You are way out of line.

Take care and good luck in school. I wish you well, honestly. But please read each post in the thread before you become "judgemental" yourself.

Keep smiling - My response was made directly to a specific post by a specific user (who saw fit to psychoanalyze, criticize, and judge me without sufficient information and a medical degree in psych.) and not as a Genral Post ! It was both inappropriate and not helpful. As well, when I stated that this "WEB-SITE" contained a lot of critical & judgemental responses by experienced nurses towards those of us with little or no on the job experience (seeking professional guidance) this means posts that can be found under this and other threads.....and therefor not directed towards all of you neither on this particular thread nor any other; unless one feels they fit the part.

I have responded and requested guidance on various threads; as well have read posts made by some on this thread who also responded on other threads in the very same critical judgemental way. My original post on this thread was seeking guidance and not a forum by which some can arbitrarilly attack.

The thread title is "Have I made a mistake"?

Within that context I posted under 'General' not specific to a particular user on this thread; therefor it was neither necessary nor relevent to read all of the posts under this particular thread. If I were to respond to a direct post then of course I would have followed the thread back to its original post and responded accordingly.

I have read many of your posts on various threads and found your statments to be extremely helpful to me. However, there are some that continuously attack. All of the experienced nurses have been in a new grads shoes at some point in their career and it just shocks me how they have forgotton how scary it is when you start out there. Why can't they find words that are more supportive and less critical. We are all nurses. We should all treat each other with kindness and respect regardless of when we graduated and how long we have been a nurse. Not all new grads act like they know it all. For those of us that have a genuine respect for those of you that have been doing this for so many years; it is YOU that we turn to. And we do so because we know that we can learn so much from you. Why would someone cut us down before we even get wet? Don't they realize how harmful that is?

Please continue to offer positive guidance for those of us that seek your experience.