I've worked on a tele floor for 6 months. Great hospital, great co-workers. I'm 50x faster than I was, and 110% more experienced, but I feel grossly inadequate. (I'm a LPN, finish RN in Dec.) I'm haunted by being told (4 weeks ago) that I was "unsafe" by a charge nurse. (ESRD pt w/low platlet count and possible PE, MD ordered heparin. I couldn't start IV #2 on pt and asked charge to help. I then thought (duh), isn't heparin contraindicated w/ low platlet count?? Why didn't MD see that in the labs? Anyway, I was told that I'm unsafe because I didn't catch the contraindication right away. ~geez, I'm an inexperienced LPN.)
I've talked with the charge nurses, and with the manager who hired me, and they are all very supportive. I just feel like crap, and can't seem to get out of this rut. I'm told this feeling is "normal", but I don't think that crying myself to sleep every night seems normal. How long will this go on?? I don't want to quit my job, but I hate my job. I feel pulled in every direction all at once, as if I'm required to be all-knowing and all-seeing. (I'm sorry if you got d/c orders at 0830, I've got meds to pass before I can do your paperwork, and the charge nurse has to approve the paperwork... after I track down the MD who ordered "continue home meds" without specifying on that pesky MEDICATION RECONCILIATION FORM exactly which meds are to be continued. And, oops, the pt across the hall claims to be having 10/10 chest pain.)
I recognize that this is stuff that happens every day, and will continue to happen forever. I just HATE the way I feel about it. How do I get through it without being so miserable?
I just started working on a med surg/telemetry floor. Very tough. ONly 3 weeks in and feel I am being eaten alive. Will give it 6 months. Using this as a platform to move to other units. Thank God nursing has much to offer.
Hey, this week is my 8th week of orientation on a med/tele floor and I wont lie, it has been HELL! But today was GREAT! I had 6 patients and I was busy but it was good.......I am feeling more confident and learning the routine. Every1 keeps telling me that orientation sucks for every1 and that it gets better, so hang in there, I am trying to!
I wonder how many nurse managers know how miserable we newbies are. I graduated a year ago, and am giving it until December. I talked to one of my nursing school friends today, and he is ready to leave bedside nursing, too.
Maybe we should all somehow send a link to this thread to every nurse manager we can think of! (Not that it would do any good, but I can dream).
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I wonder how many nurse managers know how miserable we newbies are. I graduated a year ago, and am giving it until December. I talked to one of my nursing school friends today, and he is ready to leave bedside nursing, too.
To answer your question. . .I was very aware of it when I was a nurse manager. I had a miserable start as a new grad myself. I was always checking up on any new grads working on my unit and not only checking to see how their nursing progress was going, but their emotional state as well. This was very important to me. How well I know how the emotional drains can make or break you. I wish everyone could have a mentor who was sensitive to these needs, but unfortunately that is not always what happens. Try to separate the nursing part of the job from the emotional and psychological part, if you can, because that is usually the culprit, not the actually nursing.
smileysenior
87 Posts
Hey, this week is my 8th week of orientation on a med/tele floor and I wont lie, it has been HELL! But today was GREAT! I had 6 patients and I was busy but it was good.......I am feeling more confident and learning the routine. Every1 keeps telling me that orientation sucks for every1 and that it gets better, so hang in there, I am trying to!