I don’t know what to do

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in New Grad.

I am a New grad in a nurse residency. I have been working there for almost 3 months and recently out of orientation. Unfortunately, I do not think my unit is in a good situation right now and I am aware that with COVID-19 it’s been even more challenging. I’ve heard that is not easy at the beginning. However, I really dislike going there and a lot of the nurses are leaving the unit because of how bad it is (including my preceptor and nurse manager). Other RNs that I got to know throughout my time there are also leaving. It makes me very nervous knowing I won’t have the full support I used to. I really feel like I’m pushing through but I do feel pretty miserable. I have already mentioned this to my nurse residency directors and they told me to talk to my manager, but as I said my manager is leaving as well. I find myself to be in a very hard position.  I don’t know what to do? 

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In order for us to help you we need you to clarify what the issue is , other than people leaving, that is impacting you. Why do you think you won't have support? Since you are off orientation what do you mean by "full support"? We're happy to provide you with advice but we need more context.

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Specializes in New Grad.

I believe it affects me emotionally and mentally.    At first I thought it was because I was new and maybe even was exaggerating. However, most of the time coming home I don’t feel happy or motivated. So, the unit was initially for surgical patients. It became more of a geriatric/psych unit. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Talking to the nurses there they all say the same thing, it is not a good unit at the moment. Some nurses have even moved and got a pay cut just because they feel elsewhere may be healthier mentally and physically. And now that I’ve been there for some time I’m able to feel and see what they meant when I first came in. I’m not sure how I can explain it anymore. Like one of my fellow nurses said “you won’t understand until you experience being here.” Hopefully this makes more sense.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

You are in a difficult situation for sure, being newly off orientation in a unit that isn't what you expected. However, being so early in your career, you don't have the same mobility as more experienced nurses in your unit. A lot of what you are experiencing is also compounded by being a newer nurse, you are just developing your own practice and it will be a challenge if there's a turnover in staff that you have relied upon. However, you will deal with staff turnover wherever you are in this field, and that will bring some other experienced nurses in as well. A switch from surgical to geri/psych is certainly an unexpected change, but I think you need the get experience you can out of it and when you have more mobility you can look for something else. If you're able to find something else now, since nurses are in demand, then maybe you look elsewhere, but right now most places aren't "normal". Good luck.

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Everything she said ^

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Specializes in New Grad.
On 3/15/2021 at 10:40 AM, JBMmom said:

You are in a difficult situation for sure, being newly off orientation in a unit that isn't what you expected. However, being so early in your career, you don't have the same mobility as more experienced nurses in your unit. A lot of what you are experiencing is also compounded by being a newer nurse, you are just developing your own practice and it will be a challenge if there's a turnover in staff that you have relied upon. However, you will deal with staff turnover wherever you are in this field, and that will bring some other experienced nurses in as well. A switch from surgical to geri/psych is certainly an unexpected change, but I think you need the get experience you can out of it and when you have more mobility you can look for something else. If you're able to find something else now, since nurses are in demand, then maybe you look elsewhere, but right now most places aren't "normal". Good luck.

Thank you so so much I really appreciate your response! I think I will power through and hope to be able to transfer soon. 

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

If the main issue is the type of patients isn't what you expected, I think it makes sense to stay. If the issue is terrible/unsafe staffing and all that comes with that I would look for other jobs. I also started out on a "surgical unit" that was more of a catch all. We did have surgical patients, but also psych, long term residents with dementia or substance induced permanent brain damage or TBIs, nursing home type total care pts waiting for placement, medical overflow... it wasn't what I expected but I learned a ton. I hope you are working with a good team. In my opinion that is the most important thing as a new grad.

No matter what type of patients you have you will learn critical thinking, time management and hands on skills. When you transfer to another area you will learn the skills specific to that area, but at least for now you will get the basics. And, psych experience is useful in any job! It's too bad the job didn't turn out to be what you signed up for, but hopefully it won't be too bad and you can get your magic year of experience. If it does affect your mental health very badly, that would be a reason not to stick it out. Good luck!

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

This pandemic is making nursing harder than ever. I believe it is the same everywhere. Many nurses are leaving to go travel, changing hospitals, specialties, but I keep hearing the same stories over and over. I am riding it out where I am. I love ortho and I know things will change, slowly, back to whatever "normal" used to be. 

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Specializes in New Grad.

Thank you so much everyone for the responses! They are extremely helpful and it makes me feel like I’m not alone in this whole new process!! 

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On 3/15/2021 at 9:16 AM, Adelaf02 said:

I believe it affects me emotionally and mentally.    At first I thought it was because I was new and maybe even was exaggerating. However, most of the time coming home I don’t feel happy or motivated. So, the unit was initially for surgical patients. It became more of a geriatric/psych unit. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Talking to the nurses there they all say the same thing, it is not a good unit at the moment. Some nurses have even moved and got a pay cut just because they feel elsewhere may be healthier mentally and physically. And now that I’ve been there for some time I’m able to feel and see what they meant when I first came in. I’m not sure how I can explain it anymore. Like one of my fellow nurses said “you won’t understand until you experience being here.” Hopefully this makes more sense.

I totally agree with not being able to understand unless we're in those shoes! I'm a new nurse seeking my first job and I'm excited, but very anxious too. I've heard several nurses say that they feel drain and unmotivated when they get home. Honestly, I think it's so sad to have a job that makes us feel that way. I'm new so I have no advice to offer, but just to say that I sympathize and that I know there are nurses feeling the same way you do, and they're not even new nurses. I hope things get better for you! Good luck to us all!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

OP I was wondering; how are you doing? What did you decide to do? I wish you well whatever is going on.

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