help thinking of getting out of nursing

[nsgmjr]

I am a brand new RN who took a job in long term care. The working conditions are deplorable. I have 54 geri psych residents and feel like i am unable to keep up. I try so hard but have no supplies, watch resident rights be abused daily and find medication errors daily. The previous nurse for this shift was suspended for 3 months due to a pt having a temp which she called the doctor about, this patient died the next morning at 8 am and she was suspended. It seems everything is dumped on the evening nurse. I still can't figure out why she was suspended when the night nurse was just as responsible. I am scared for my license and feel like getting out of nursing altogether until the market opens back up. Would it be better to take a non nursing position right now or should i just try to stick it out? I requested the weekend night shift over two months ago but cannot find anyone to take my full time position right now. Any experience and advice would be appreciated. Maybe i am not cut out to be a nurse. One example I arrived at work last night to find a new resident. No orders, no face sheet, I didn't even know who his doctor was and to top it off he was going through dt's they didn't understand why i was upset considering i did have the verbal report from the nurse at the hospital where he was discharged. Maybe i am just crazy. Help!

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

I am sorry I don't want to whine. I should never have taken this job, I feel like I am in over my head here. The management is really bad and the policies change daily.I have waited for 4 days to change a leaking catheter bag because we don't have any and waited 2 weeks for thermom eter covers and were using these cheap electronic thermometers that take forever to give obviously low temps 92. I am all alone with noone to go to for guidance and don't feel at all qualified to do the job. Hospitals are not hiring new grads and I feel lucky to have a job but am beginning to feel as though working elsewhere whether nursing or not would be safer for my license than staying. Thank you all who have replied, maybe I just need to vent. Thanks again for listening and giving your feedback.

This is neglect on the part of management. Report the facility to the appropriate local and state agencies. Document document document....

[morte, LPN, LVN]

get. out. now.

[CorpsmanRN, BSN, RN]

Report them ASAP! Remember, would you want your family member subject to that type of environment? Like someone else mentioned...DOCUMENT everything (keep you're own little notebook of all those incidences - lack of supplies, etc). CYA & don't give up just yet. :) Good luck!

[Moogie]

I normally wouldn't advise this, but you may want to give your two weeks notice immediately and start looking for a new nursing job. That environment sounds absolutely unbearable and like a disaster waiting to happen--it is the problem, not you.

You also don't know when someone's going to throw YOU under a bus. Your co-worker's 3-month suspension sounds bizarre and capricious, like maybe the management is trying to intimidate all of you into being good, complacent little worker bees who will shut up and put up with unfavorable working conditions, unsafe ratios and an utterly obscene lack of supplies. I agree with Perpetual Student and the other posters who have advised you to get out of there ASAP.

Sure, the economy's tough right now, but it sounds as if you've stumbled into a toxic environment that can poison your attitude and destroy your nursing career. There are many better LTC facilities---or you may want a complete change of pace and work in an office, hospital or other type of facility for a while.

Good luck---it will be better for you somewhere else. And please don't get out of nursing. Sometimes it takes a job or two to find your niche and an environment that will help you thrive---not tear you down.