Help! I think I hate nursing!

Published

Specializes in Med./Surg..

So I graduated in May and started in June working nights as a new grad nurse on a 16 bed med/surg./tele floor. I've never been that thrilled with nursing to begin with, but I thought that once I started working as a "real nurse" things would be different. Well things are different- they're worse than they've ever been. I constantly feel overwhelmed and like I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. My preceptor was awesome and I feel like I learned a lot under her, but I still don't think I know enough to be on my own. I've been off orientation since Aug. 1st and I still feel like I don't have a clue what I'm doing. Most nights I have 5 patients that are total care and a lot of the time we don't have an assistant. I feel like I do something wrong every night even though no one has told me I've done anything wrong. I'm thinking of trying to find another job, because I don't think I can stay where I'm at much longer. Does everyone feel like this as a new grad or should I try to pursue something else? Please Help!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It sounds like you have two issues going on.

The first is a totally normal part of being a new nurse, getting a grasp on time management and prioritizing. My first few months on my own were terrible, I thought I had to get everything done, I thought everything had to be perfect before I handed off my patients. It drove me nuts! I finally started talking to and watching other nurses and I learned a lot this way. No matter how awesome your preceptor is, they are only one person and everybody does things a little different. I am getting ready to wrap up my second year of being a nurse and my nursing practices are coming along with bits and pieces of things that I have gleaned from other nurses. My practice is still a work in progress though, I don't think I will ever have it all perfectly together.

I also think that maybe you are in an area of nursing that doesn't suit you. There are many flavors of nursing, look for something else that suits you better. I work in the NICU, which many nurses can't imagine doing. I have a friend whom I graduated with who finally found where she belonged after 3 job changes in less than 2 years. Don't feel bad about finding another area of nursing, you only get one life, make yourself happy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Most of your post sounds very normal for someone just off of orientation (I wouldn't know, I haven't started my first job yet), but "I've never been that thrilled with nursing to begin with" is worrisome. What led you to pursue nursing in the first place? Why did you stick with it if you didn't think it was for you? Is there an area that you enjoyed in clinicals? There must be something that drew you in, right? You may need to stick this job out for 6-12 mo., to get the experience and to not look like a job hopper when you try something else, unless you really hate it or feel you're put in unsafe situations. There are so many options in nursing, you know that - hopefully there's one that's right for you! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

dcs9286,

I can feel for you. I am getting ready to go to work tonight for the first of 4 nights. I have tried all day not to get myself all worked up about going in, but about 2:00 this afternoon I felt my chest tighten up and my head started to hurt. As I write this, I feel the tears start to well up. I know all about the "honeymoon" period and I am probably getting just past it, I have been off orientation since the middle of June. (start on the floor at the end of April).

I just don't know if I can do this!!! Tried to talk to my manager, she told me to hang in there. I don't know if I can. There is one particular nurse that SCARES the BEJESUS out of me. I think she hates me. I work with her almost every night and that makes matters even worse. I have applied to clinic jobs but I haven't been able to secure one yet. I don't know if I will make it.

I feel for you too!!!!

PetrymomRN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm starting to fear that I don't like nursing! I've been working since January of this and I still feel like I make mistakes all the time and don't know anything... in fact, I did make a big mistake this week and now can't get it off my mind..... I don't want to go back to work. I'm tired of emergency situations happening all the time and want to go someplace else. I totally feel your pain and am searching for new jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been feeling that way too. I'm only in my second week of orientation. But I have a great preceptor. I was sitting at the desk with one hand on my forehead and apparently a deer caught in the head lights with my nurse notes and info sheets spread across the desk. My preceptor sat down and asked you hate it dont you. She told me not to worry every new nurse goes through this and as time goes on and you learn more it will get better, She said she went through the same thing and after about six months she began to love it. So what I'm trying to say is her words are helping me so I hope maybe they might help you. Hope better

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU Level III.

I HATED nursing when I was in school (med/surg was NOT for me) and I hated it for a while when I first started as an RN. Now it's getting much better.

Maybe you need a different specialty?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow...those words could have come from my mouth. I am a new grad, hired for telemetry. Did all of my orientation on cardiac tele patients, mostly post-stent/angioplasty types. Everything was great. I felt overwhelmed at times, but felt confident that this would pass. Now, I am being given med-surg patients (with no med-surg training mind you) and I am miserable. I was being told to hang in there, too, because the unit is in the process of being converted to tele. That was in July, now it is August and there isn't a single piece of tele equipment being installed. The unit is a dumping ground, with barebones supplies. I called in sick last night because the night before was hell. I had 6 patients, 2 of which were completes, 1 was unstable (he would desat quickly into low 70s if his O2 came off and refused to use the call bell for assistance) and no aide. ADN supervisor basically said oh well, thats nursing, you only have six, you can get up to 8. I ran all night, and didn't take a real break because I was so behind on my charting. I am trying to find a different job. Don't know if it is the hospital or me, but I don't think I can hang in there much longer.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, day surgery, psych as a CNA.

I can tell you that in my experience, it took me five years to "adapt" to nursing. They didn't teach me in nursing school how stressful and awful nursing can be, esp. in med/surg. We had no education on how to work with angry family members, angry and disrespectful doctors, etc. I had to keep working because I didn't have the luxury of looking for another job because when I graduated, there were too many nurses, believe it or not. I was thankful to be in acute care. So I stuck it out and adapted. I can remember shifts so horrible they can still give me nightmares. I now work in day surgery, after 13 years of med/surg.

I hate to say this, but "welcome to nursing" is somewhat appropriate. Many people get into nursing not having a clue just how hard it is. I worked as a CNA for 9 years before becoming an RN so I did have some clue. Hang in there and try to get into some other part of nursing. The usual situation is that you need experience before you can land something "cushy", but now with a "shortage" it might be easier to get something that used to take years to get. After over 20 years I finally have weekends off.....Imagine that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

One thing I notice in the above posts -- and many similar posts in other threads -- is that most people don't talk about the "nursing iteself." They talk about feeling overwhelmed, feeling inadequate, struggling with coworker relationships, etc., but don't mention the actual delivery of nursing care.

I think that is significant -- really significant.

To make any decision about what to do, you first need to really understand what is going on -- and that might be different for different for different people.

Is it the actually caring for the patients that you don't like? ... or ... Is it the volume of work and responsibility that is overwhelming you? ... or ... Are you struggling with the transition to the adult work world in which the expectations to perform at a high level is stressful? .... or ... Are you struggling with interpersonal relationships in the work environment? .... or .... Is it the particular specialty that you find unappealing? .... Is it the specific patient population that you find unappealing? ... etc.

The answer to your dilemma depends on the specific nature and source of your distress. If you can narrow down the nature and source of your distress, you will be in a better position to make decisions about your career that will help you be successful and satisfied in the long run.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CV-ICU, Rehab, Med-Surg, Nursing Home.

My struggle as a first year nurse have been the frustrations of the system moreso than anything else. For example, patient's go for procedures and come back wanting results. I have to tell them that only the doctor can relay this info and I am not sure when he will be in (we never know for sure). Patients are always asking when their doctor will be in...again, I have no answer. Patients are confused as to what a "hospitalist" is and I find myself explaining this over and over again (they don't understand why the hospitalist changes each day). Some patients have even complained about having to pay for a doctor that they don't even know why he is seeing them. Another problem is foreign doctors who are difficult to understand. I have to continually explain to patients that they need to tell these doctors to "slow down" and to repeat info if they don't understand it. But by this time the doctor is gone and the patient still wants answers. All of these things are so time consuming and exhausting. It increases patient frustration and anxiety and the nurse takes the blunt of it.

Lastly, the lack of time for each patient. I feel like I am always "in and out" because I have so much to do. I wear a locator in which the nurse's station can call me in a room. It seems like 9/10 times each shift, I am called out of a room during an assessment or procedure for a phone call or a doctor who wants me at the nurse's station or to go into a patient room with them. As a nurse, I feel like I am pulled in 50 directions so many times during a day. And phone calls...from every dept wanting info on patients...I must take 100 calls in a 12 hr shift!

These are the things that "stink" about nursing. It makes it difficult to maintain the happiness of the patients and that is what frustrates me the most. As a nurse you are a housekeeper, psychologist, secretary, waitress, personal assistant and so forth. That's just the way it is! Thanks for listening!

Nurseatheart81

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion