Help! WWYD? Need advice!

[shellbell55]

I graduated from nursing school in December. I did most of my clinicals at small hospitals. I saw 1 chest tube and only started a handful of IV's. I got a job in a huge hospital upon graduation on a step down telemetry floor. My orientation was to be 12 weeks. The first 2 were in the classroom, 1 week I was off for my boards and 1.5 weeks I was off for computer training. When i actually got on the floor I had 7.5 weeks orientation and the preceptor I thought I was to have was out on med leave. I got assigned to a nurse that wasn't even supposed to precept. On my first day she explained how the floor worked and I just followed her for the most part. The second and third days she gave me half the team (4 patients) 2 of them post CABG and with chest tubes, I felt so overwhelmed. When I would ask a question her eyes would roll and she would mumble to herself "I can't believe she's a nurse". I went home every night crying. This went on for four weeks, my confidence dropping everyday. She would give me the most critical of the patients and would get angry if I asked questions. Then I went to work and she was sick I got two different preceptors to follow and on the third day, the nurse who was supposed to precept me in the beginning returned to work. I was put with her and omg what a difference, she took her time with me and actually made sure I knew how to do things. I started IV's, something the 1st preceptor wouldn't let me do. I learned to check orders, again not shown how to do. I actually started learning. I realized this is how to be precepted, I went to the nursing superviser and asked if I could stay with my new preceptor (bad mistake, she is best friends with my old preceptor). I was told yes and everything seemed ok. After that I was told I was not ready for the floor I needed more confidence. Yes, I made a med error but caught it before it got to the patient. I asked for two more weeks orientation. I got it and was put with two other preceptors. After the two weeks the preceptors said I was ready to be on my own, I had been taking the entire team for the last 4 weeks. But at my meeting with the supervisor and manager of the floor I was told I was not ready and I was to be moved off the floor. The reason-confidence, I was told get more experiance and I could come back. My preceptors were shocked. I was moved to the gero-psych floor. I have developed confidence, had great preceptors on psych. Started IV's and inserted foleys. I can actually talk to the dr's now and manage up to 9 patients on my team. But now I'm told I am not considered a nurse because I'm a psych nurse. I'm happy on my floor, but I don't want to lose skills cause although I've done procedures they are rare. I also don't want to be considered not a nurse. I want to go to a med surg floor, but I don't want to leave psych. Any advice?

[AliciaRN2008]

I graduated from nursing school in December. I did most of my clinicals at small hospitals. I saw 1 chest tube and only started a handful of IV's. I got a job in a huge hospital upon graduation on a step down telemetry floor. My orientation was to be 12 weeks. The first 2 were in the classroom, 1 week I was off for my boards and 1.5 weeks I was off for computer training. When i actually got on the floor I had 7.5 weeks orientation and the preceptor I thought I was to have was out on med leave. I got assigned to a nurse that wasn't even supposed to precept. On my first day she explained how the floor worked and I just followed her for the most part. The second and third days she gave me half the team (4 patients) 2 of them post CABG and with chest tubes, I felt so overwhelmed. When I would ask a question her eyes would roll and she would mumble to herself "I can't believe she's a nurse". I went home every night crying. This went on for four weeks, my confidence dropping everyday. She would give me the most critical of the patients and would get angry if I asked questions. Then I went to work and she was sick I got two different preceptors to follow and on the third day, the nurse who was supposed to precept me in the beginning returned to work. I was put with her and omg what a difference, she took her time with me and actually made sure I knew how to do things. I started IV's, something the 1st preceptor wouldn't let me do. I learned to check orders, again not shown how to do. I actually started learning. I realized this is how to be precepted, I went to the nursing superviser and asked if I could stay with my new preceptor (bad mistake, she is best friends with my old preceptor). I was told yes and everything seemed ok. After that I was told I was not ready for the floor I needed more confidence. Yes, I made a med error but caught it before it got to the patient. I asked for two more weeks orientation. I got it and was put with two other preceptors. After the two weeks the preceptors said I was ready to be on my own, I had been taking the entire team for the last 4 weeks. But at my meeting with the supervisor and manager of the floor I was told I was not ready and I was to be moved off the floor. The reason-confidence, I was told get more experiance and I could come back. My preceptors were shocked. I was moved to the gero-psych floor. I have developed confidence, had great preceptors on psych. Started IV's and inserted foleys. I can actually talk to the dr's now and manage up to 9 patients on my team. But now I'm told I am not considered a nurse because I'm a psych nurse. I'm happy on my floor, but I don't want to lose skills cause although I've done procedures they are rare. I also don't want to be considered not a nurse. I want to go to a med surg floor, but I don't want to leave psych. Any advice?

You sound like you are doing a great job! Hang in there! A psych nurse is a nurse indeed. It takes a lot of patience and care to handle these patients especially at night with the sundowners. It takes a special person to do this, and it seems you are that person. If this feels good to you, then I'd say this may be your calling. Stick with it and forget the rude remarks which I feel are totally uncalled for. I have always heard that nurses eat their young, and while I have found it false for the most part, there is the occasional nurse that has forgotten how it is to be brand new and they do not have any compassion for newbies. Great job sticking in there! You are going to be an awesome nurse!

[JunebugRN28]

Who says that you aren't a nurse?!?! That is ridiculous. There are many different areas of nursing, and anyone who has said this to you is simply closed minded. Working with geriatric psych patients is incredibly challenging and, as the previous poster said, takes a special person. If you like where you are now I'd stay stick with it. You can always move to another area later AND without difficulty. Nurse managers will realize that you have gained plenty of skills during your experience on this floor (how to manage a lot of patients, working in difficult situations, and communicating with the rest of the team, to name a few). Don't let other people bring you down. If you enjoy your job, be happy about it. Sounds like you are doing a great job as an RN!! :)