I'm sorry, but this needs to be said. I hope there are some nursng management types reading this:
I graduated from nursing school last August. I went to one job and the experience was so horrible I found another position on a more med surg type floor in one of the so-called "Top 50" hospitals in the nation. Now, granted, this position seemed to come with a better orientation process and they at least try to orient us in some ways with special classes and pull outs, but it still SUCKS.
Hospitals, administrators -- you are failing at orienting us. Just look at the unhappy posts here by dozens of new grads. The typical experience seems to be: You walk on the unit your first day, no one is expecting you, none of the other nurses bother to introduce themselves or welcome you (they usually think you're a travelor or a float nurse), you are given an "official" preceptor, but then in the following weeks, you may never see this official preceptor again. You then follow ten different nurses who do things ten different ways, and in total, have about 30 different personalities between them all.
You are left to flounder around for hours on the floor, and if you attempt to ask your Preceptor of the Day a question, you get the look and that attitude that you are just plain stupid and how dare you even ask such a question because, well, "you should know that by now," or some other such comment. Many times you are treated with outright hostility when you are just an honest person trying to do an honest job, and busting your butt in the process.
Come on, hospitals - take a look at corporate America or some other large institution, and try to figure out a better way to train the BACKBONE of your business!!! I mean, I can't figure out why it isn't any better than this?? Do you EVER wonder why nursing retention rates are so POOR?? Can't you find nurses who CAN educate us with respect and make them the consistent "preceptors," and not just throw us in with the nurse of the day?
Coming from a prior career, I am just astounded at what nurses are responsible for, yet how poorly they are trained, how poorly they are treated, how nasty some of the nurses are that we are supposed to be looking to for guidance, and how little respect is given to individuals who were not only accepted to rigorous nursing schools, but managed to graduate, even managed to achieve very high marks in these schools of nursing. I mean, you're being given the most quality individuals around, yet you can't seem to teach them in a way that is professional, thorough, consistent, and even the slightest bit enjoyable.
In my own experience, my own management "team" did a really slick sales pitch for their unit. Once I joined the unit, it seemed their personalities changed almost overnight -- all smiles and wonder at the sales pitch, and all nasty, rude and demanding once you've been on the floor for a few months.
So, in summary, I hope it changes someday. I am really taken aback by just how unprofessional many of the nurses are -- the gossip and backstabbing is just pure evil, there is no morale or cohesiveness in the units, especially with all the travelers, and many of the management types just walk around like prison wardens, yet never bothering to take a patient of their own for a day to remember what the demands are like.
Do I plan to stay in nursing? No FREAKING WAY. I want to return to the corporate world where I came from in some capacity, where professionalism and respect for employees is the norm -- I have yet to find this in the nursing profession. Yes, perhaps I am one of the whiners, and need to change jobs, but it seems I'm hearing this from more than one person here, as well as many of my classmates.
God help the state of nursing and healthcare in this nation. ..something just needs to CHANGE.
I'm sorry, but this needs to be said. I hope there are some nursng management types reading this:
I graduated from nursing school last August. I went to one job and the experience was so horrible I found another position on a more med surg type floor in one of the so-called "Top 50" hospitals in the nation. Now, granted, this position seemed to come with a better orientation process and they at least try to orient us in some ways with special classes and pull outs, but it still SUCKS.
Hospitals, administrators -- you are failing at orienting us. Just look at the unhappy posts here by dozens of new grads. The typical experience seems to be: You walk on the unit your first day, no one is expecting you, none of the other nurses bother to introduce themselves or welcome you (they usually think you're a travelor or a float nurse), you are given an "official" preceptor, but then in the following weeks, you may never see this official preceptor again. You then follow ten different nurses who do things ten different ways, and in total, have about 30 different personalities between them all.
You are left to flounder around for hours on the floor, and if you attempt to ask your Preceptor of the Day a question, you get the look and that attitude that you are just plain stupid and how dare you even ask such a question because, well, "you should know that by now," or some other such comment. Many times you are treated with outright hostility when you are just an honest person trying to do an honest job, and busting your butt in the process.
Come on, hospitals - take a look at corporate America or some other large institution, and try to figure out a better way to train the BACKBONE of your business!!! I mean, I can't figure out why it isn't any better than this?? Do you EVER wonder why nursing retention rates are so POOR?? Can't you find nurses who CAN educate us with respect and make them the consistent "preceptors," and not just throw us in with the nurse of the day?
Coming from a prior career, I am just astounded at what nurses are responsible for, yet how poorly they are trained, how poorly they are treated, how nasty some of the nurses are that we are supposed to be looking to for guidance, and how little respect is given to individuals who were not only accepted to rigorous nursing schools, but managed to graduate, even managed to achieve very high marks in these schools of nursing. I mean, you're being given the most quality individuals around, yet you can't seem to teach them in a way that is professional, thorough, consistent, and even the slightest bit enjoyable.
In my own experience, my own management "team" did a really slick sales pitch for their unit. Once I joined the unit, it seemed their personalities changed almost overnight -- all smiles and wonder at the sales pitch, and all nasty, rude and demanding once you've been on the floor for a few months.
So, in summary, I hope it changes someday. I am really taken aback by just how unprofessional many of the nurses are -- the gossip and backstabbing is just pure evil, there is no morale or cohesiveness in the units, especially with all the travelers, and many of the management types just walk around like prison wardens, yet never bothering to take a patient of their own for a day to remember what the demands are like.
Do I plan to stay in nursing? No FREAKING WAY. I want to return to the corporate world where I came from in some capacity, where professionalism and respect for employees is the norm -- I have yet to find this in the nursing profession. Yes, perhaps I am one of the whiners, and need to change jobs, but it seems I'm hearing this from more than one person here, as well as many of my classmates.
God help the state of nursing and healthcare in this nation. ..something just needs to CHANGE.
You got that right! I had a bad orientation experience. I stood up for myself and did it calmly and professionally and later pretty much was told that i was no longer needed. I was lied to and accused of things that werent true. I have a ADD and generalized anxiety disorder due to disability and was wondering if it was because i mentioned it to them and it being what they focused on. Every one is different and we all have different personalities and own way of doing things. I feel cheated and not given a fair chance because i was not allowed to finish my full orientation which was supposed to be 90 days. And ended up being 60. I got no input on things i needed help with. besides them telling me just my areas for improvement. The preceptor was also too busy and tired. I worked for the hospital for 2yrs and 10 mos as a nurse tech before this happened to me. so i resigned instead of letting them fire me. I should have consulted an employee representative. I just can't believe they treat new nurses like this. I honestly think they didnt want to deal with me. I have been told that i would be and am a great nurse by other nurses, patients/families and other preceptors while in nursing school and while a new grad and new RN. Lots of complaints have been voiced by new nurses and it is a shame. I want to be the best nurse i can and provide safe care to my pateints. Todays nurse patient ratio is unsafe. I encourage nurses to join The ANA and take action in legislation and congress so it can be heard. I hope to find a better place to work. im looking at all my options.
In the UK we left hospital style training at the start of the 90's. there are discussion's by the licensing board that new nurses should a 1years internship before being licensed after finishing the academic work much like how doctors are trained.
In the UK we left hospital style training at the start of the 90's. there are discussion's by the licensing board that new nurses should a 1years internship before being licensed after finishing the academic work much like how doctors are trained.
I would love that. I may not hold the same responsibility that a doctor does, but I'm still responsible for the well-being of my patient's. I have a license for crying out loud! 8 weeks of orientation can NOT be enough!
That is a great practice. I wish we had that type of program here. Eight to twelve weeks of orientation after graduation is not enough for a new grad.
I wonder if enough people get in touch with the NCSBN and express our feelings, I wonder if they would in fact look in to this process and implement some changes for the new grads in the future. I know it can't happen overnight, but it's a start.
I would love that. I may not hold the same responsibility that a doctor does, but I'm still responsible for the well-being of my patient's. I have a license for crying out loud! 8 weeks of orientation can NOT be enough!
we don't do this yet, its just an idea that it supposed to addresse the increasing nurse degree programs that are seen as lacking in clinical skills. even though even degree programs have 50/50 clinical to theory with minuim hours 2300/2300
however as a student nurse the idea of having this year would be good and yet bad, yes extra time to practice however no license would that mean not able to fully undertake the roles and duties of a registered nurse, therefore would you be learinng all you need, and of course wouldn't be paid as much as a RN.
Nurse training in the UK is different from the USA we spend weeks in univesity and then weeks in placement on placement working 37.5 hours and rotate throught various clinical areas. i'm in my last semester and my last placement is for 13 weeks i intend to start with a RN half load of patients and work towards a full load.
however i will be superivised in meds and in procedures were i would perfere. however i know i will truely know a RN load till you are one.
unless there is a programm developed by the licensing body like the Doctors and implemented by the hospitals then i wonder if it will work
wow I thought I was the only one feeling like this. I have been a nurse for about 5 months and many a times I wanted to quit. The very first day I started I was greeted with such negativity and anger. The nurses wanted someone experienced to work with them and I was very told so clearly of it. I did cry alone what kind of place was this? What was I thinking!!! But I stayed, I am not a quitter. My DON thinks they are helping me, and sometimes they do, but it is always talked about in report how I did not know this or I did this wrong and quite frankly I feel belittled by this. My hospital is a small hospital and we practice team nursing. I do not think this is working for me. I want to quit so bad for the reason I feel incompent working by these15-30 year veteran nurses. I have been recently been put in ER by the older nurses and it scares me. I feel stupid all the time. The back stabbing is horrible!!! I work the evening shift it does nothing but complain of the day shift and scheduling may I add. I started to work the day shift and the only thing the night nursed said was "I hope you can teach her something" I felt humiliated!! Maybe I should not vent so much, but we are all in it for the same reason, to help our patients get better to provide a genuine service of love and compassion to those left in our hands. Some nurses are really nice but the ones that are spiteful really do not understand what some of their actions will effect the care that someone could of recieved if only they could have given some amount of the experience that they have mastered during all their years of practicing as a nurse. They hold such a key to the future of care and do not even know or do not care that they have that gift. When did they stop caring? I will alway work with compassion even in the darkness of my own inadequacies.
oh, another thing I did not have any orientation. I was thrown in to do all the meds, It was horrible. The nurses will joke about it sometimes how I was just thrown in. I know it was just meds but for 13 patients and no aids even though it is team nursing was just as horrible. my asking questions is suppose to be orientation. No perceptor or mentor. Just do it, keep up!!! The only good thing I lost 20 pounds the first 2 months.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I had wonderful orientation and it was pretty consistent for 10 weeks (ICU step-down), BUT my first day on my own...........was the worst. Actually that is the day I joined this allnurses.com (I wish you could have read the post). I was so stressed out after sacrificing so much to become a nurse, I was ready to quit. Fortunately, their were people here that told me it gets better and I actually believe them.
IT DOES GET BETTER with the more you learn and experience. Next week will be my first full year as an RN. I love bedside Nursing but I've learned to schedule myself with the other nurses that I enjoy being with. Good days are really good and bad days are the worst but in time you will learn how to balance those days. The same support you utilized when you were in nursing school, try to utilize now. AND enjoy your days off not thinking about what's going on at work.
wow I thought I was the only one feeling like this. I have been a nurse for about 5 months and many a times I wanted to quit. The very first day I started I was greeted with such negativity and anger. The nurses wanted someone experienced to work with them and I was very told so clearly of it. I did cry alone what kind of place was this? What was I thinking!!! But I stayed, I am not a quitter. My DON thinks they are helping me, and sometimes they do, but it is always talked about in report how I did not know this or I did this wrong and quite frankly I feel belittled by this. My hospital is a small hospital and we practice team nursing. I do not think this is working for me. I want to quit so bad for the reason I feel incompent working by these15-30 year veteran nurses. I have been recently been put in ER by the older nurses and it scares me. I feel stupid all the time. The back stabbing is horrible!!! I work the evening shift it does nothing but complain of the day shift and scheduling may I add. I started to work the day shift and the only thing the night nursed said was "I hope you can teach her something" I felt humiliated!! Maybe I should not vent so much, but we are all in it for the same reason, to help our patients get better to provide a genuine service of love and compassion to those left in our hands. Some nurses are really nice but the ones that are spiteful really do not understand what some of their actions will effect the care that someone could of recieved if only they could have given some amount of the experience that they have mastered during all their years of practicing as a nurse. They hold such a key to the future of care and do not even know or do not care that they have that gift. When did they stop caring? I will alway work with compassion even in the darkness of my own inadequacies.
Do you have other options? I've encountered a couple nasty nurses but nothing that sounds as heart-breaking as your situation. When I don't know how to do something, I ask and receive the help I need. If people are complaining about me, I don't hear about it. I don't know if I've risen to the challenge, the nurses are good-natured overall, or it's a combination of both. I've had days where I've cried (either during or after work or both), but it's usually because I'm being hard on myself. I don't think I could handle being in your situation at all though. I'd be dehydrated from all the crying I'd do! Good luck on whatever you do!
wow I thought I was the only one feeling like this. I have been a nurse for about 5 months and many a times I wanted to quit. The very first day I started I was greeted with such negativity and anger. The nurses wanted someone experienced to work with them and I was very told so clearly of it. I did cry alone what kind of place was this? What was I thinking!!! But I stayed, I am not a quitter. My DON thinks they are helping me, and sometimes they do, but it is always talked about in report how I did not know this or I did this wrong and quite frankly I feel belittled by this. My hospital is a small hospital and we practice team nursing. I do not think this is working for me. I want to quit so bad for the reason I feel incompent working by these15-30 year veteran nurses. I have been recently been put in ER by the older nurses and it scares me. I feel stupid all the time. The back stabbing is horrible!!! I work the evening shift it does nothing but complain of the day shift and scheduling may I add. I started to work the day shift and the only thing the night nursed said was "I hope you can teach her something" I felt humiliated!! Maybe I should not vent so much, but we are all in it for the same reason, to help our patients get better to provide a genuine service of love and compassion to those left in our hands. Some nurses are really nice but the ones that are spiteful really do not understand what some of their actions will effect the care that someone could of recieved if only they could have given some amount of the experience that they have mastered during all their years of practicing as a nurse. They hold such a key to the future of care and do not even know or do not care that they have that gift. When did they stop caring? I will alway work with compassion even in the darkness of my own inadequacies.
ohmygoodness! That just broke my heart a little! In my opinion, NO ONE should have to put up with that kind of treatment. NO matter what, there is a professional line that should not be crossed. You are co-workers and deserve some respect. Is there no one who can help you? If you're really not getting any help from your nurse managers, then look somewhere else. Nothing is worth you being miserable. There's got to be other options within your area. Whatever your reason is for staying, if you are that unhappy you should examine other options. Nothing is worth your health and happiness. Hope this helps and good luck!
I agree, Brio -- your situation sounds incredibly awful. I would absolutely leave that hospital if you can. They dont' sound like they have much of an organized preceptorship program in place. Very, very inadequate sounding.
I think writing to the NCSBN is a super start. I am willing to draft a letter and perhaps we could put signatures to it? It might be the only thing that gets their attention.
Dramatic move, I know, but it seems something's got to give.
I had my own bad night the other night with yet another new preceptor who seemed as if she had ADHD or was on some sort of stimulant or something. I mean, she was so flighty, taking control out of my hands, not backing me up, nasty to me at the end, etc., etc. Manager didn't seem to want to back me up either. It was quite confusing as I have been doinig well with 3 pts for about a good month. All of a sudden, it's all me?? I'm sorry, but I just can't accept that. Just yet another example of how preceptorships are extremely INCONSISTENT and expectations are not clear.
I don't know how an additional year-long residency could work -- I feel we should definitely have our licenses so as to be able to give meds and to get into that nurse role as much as possible, yet not have that whole weight on our shoulders and that pressure to get to 2 pts, then 3, then 4 within a matter of weeks.
How about calling up a few of these graduate nursing students and asking them to design a program as a master's thesis or something. Just throwing out ideas -- but it CAN be done somehow. Someone just has to design a different program. A RESIDENCY.
amers573
14 Posts
You got that right! I had a bad orientation experience. I stood up for myself and did it calmly and professionally and later pretty much was told that i was no longer needed. I was lied to and accused of things that werent true. I have a ADD and generalized anxiety disorder due to disability and was wondering if it was because i mentioned it to them and it being what they focused on. Every one is different and we all have different personalities and own way of doing things. I feel cheated and not given a fair chance because i was not allowed to finish my full orientation which was supposed to be 90 days. And ended up being 60. I got no input on things i needed help with. besides them telling me just my areas for improvement. The preceptor was also too busy and tired. I worked for the hospital for 2yrs and 10 mos as a nurse tech before this happened to me. so i resigned instead of letting them fire me. I should have consulted an employee representative. I just can't believe they treat new nurses like this. I honestly think they didnt want to deal with me. I have been told that i would be and am a great nurse by other nurses, patients/families and other preceptors while in nursing school and while a new grad and new RN. Lots of complaints have been voiced by new nurses and it is a shame. I want to be the best nurse i can and provide safe care to my pateints. Todays nurse patient ratio is unsafe. I encourage nurses to join The ANA and take action in legislation and congress so it can be heard. I hope to find a better place to work. im looking at all my options.
AP