I got hired at a local hospital February 15th. Passed the boards April 13th, but didn't find out until about June 1st. I got my CCRN cert... I'm not even sure what that is anymore... I don't think it's an add-on, but it's worth 72.0 CEU's. [it says I completed the following course "Critical Care Nurse Training Program." Again, I'm not even sure what that is anymore... I don't think it's an add-on. If I go to the BRN, I can't find anywhere where it says I've even completed the course, but maybe it might not be up yet. Some people haven't even received their certificate yet. It also says in small print "Provider approved by the State of California, Board of Registered Nursing CEP #144. This certificate must be retained for four years from date of course completion."] [i work in med-surg] I feel like I've been struggling more days than not. I work nights, 7 day schedule [7 days in two weeks] and 12 hour shifts. I am tired of feeling like I failed. How come I'm the only unrested nurse? I have trouble sleeping at night. I still get occasional patient-crashing nightmares. I don't feel like I have a handle on nursing yet, like I'm missing some sort of logic. I rememebr finishing the NCLEX feeling reeealll over-confident about the test. 75 questions... no trouble at all. In fact I took the CCRN final exam the day before and passed both. Now, I feel like I completely suck, like I have no logic in nursing. I feel like I screw up a lot. It's not the staff, either. I get along with everone. People that don't knwo me think I'm really good, and when I start to tell them about my problems... they tell me I'm exaggerating. Here I am, still awake. I called in sick to get a grip on myself. I've made two mistakes already!!! One was forgetting to document that I called the MD for a Temp of 101... (Who the hell orders Tylenol 650mg Q4 around the clock, anyways? It barely made the 4 gram rule.) The second one, I don't even want to talk about. It's not like anyone was hurt or no one died from it... it just got me even more frustrated. Crap, I feel like I want to give up already. The thing is, I feel like I am missing the logic and I will never catch on. My friend became a charge nurse after 6 months. Another, after 10 months. I've been in nursing for almost 6 months already. I suck. Ugh! (Get the Ativan ready... 2mg IVP Q4H PRN agitation.)
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I had to clarify some things, so I edited the post. I apologize for the confusion.
NO WAY can a new grad pass the CCRN exam by AACN first you don't have enough clinical hours and secondly you would never have the knowledge base. This is definitely another type of exam
I'm pretty sure that they check into how many years of critical care that you have to sit for the CCRN. I saw the application for the CCRN course and it was pretty intense. I don't think you can slide by and get into that class without all od the requirements. Also, I don't think a new grad or a student nurse could pass the CCRN, as it is really geared towards things you have learned through experience and critical care training. Maybe it was just a critical care course. We offer them at work and they do count as CEUs. If there is one to take while you are still a student nurse, then I would LOVE to attend.....but it seems like the OP is suffering from depression. Maybe you should talk to your boss about changing shifts, or decreasing your overtime. Or maybe you need to talk to someone in your employee health department.
i didn't know it was possilbe to have a job that was 12 hours per day 7 days per week. are you picking up overtime or something? Wow no wonder you are tired. Not only physically but you must be mentally exhausted as well. This schedule leaves NO TIME for outside activities to revitalize yourself and connect with the important people in your life. PLease consider going to a more normal and healthy schedule.
NO WAY can a new grad pass the CCRN exam by AACN first you don't have enough clinical hours and secondly you would never have the knowledge base. This is definitely another type of exam
My friend worked as a tech in the ER and critical care areas about 20 hrs a week through RN school; so she had qualifying hours with AACN. She took an optional Critical Care course in her senior rotation where their focus was CCRN level bookwork. Their clinical area had a strong education support environment and they got more experience than most in their segment.So...she was able to pass. BUT she had a hard time as a new grad in a big ICU....which didn't surprise me. not enough hands on/experience under her belt...and booklearning is not enough to make a competent CCRN IMHO.
And remember PCU telemetry units count as critical care now insofar as hours of credit worked towards eligibility for CCRN. This is part of what I mean about the 'watered down' requirements.
My friend worked as a tech in the ER and critical care areas about 20 hrs a week through RN school; so she had qualifying hours with AACN. She took an optional Critical Care course in her senior rotation where their focus was CCRN level bookwork. Their clinical area had a strong education support environment and they got more experience than most in their segment.So...she was able to pass. BUT she had a hard time as a new grad in a big ICU....which didn't surprise me. not enough hands on/experience under her belt...and booklearning is not enough to make a competent CCRN IMHO.
That does not meet the requirements for AACN here they are
1. Unrestricted licensure as an RN
2. 1750 hours of bedside nursing as an RN (not tech or student) with 875 hours in the previous year. So your friend could not have taken the CCRN exam because soemone has to verify on the document. In addition no one with no RN experience could guess well enough to pass the exam it is impossible IMHO.
I mean... I have been nursing for over a year now and I am still very unconfident.
That's probably part of your problem. You had yourself so worked up, then when you fail you couldn't deal with the fact that you weren't perfect. A realistic view of all aspects of life (family, work, etc) will help you deal with things a lot.
Are you sure that was CCRN? Everything I have found says what the above posters say.
Sorry for the late reply... I just woke up. I think I misled everyone into thinking I work in critical care. I work in a regular med-surg. I don't work in any other field because I intend to go back to school ASAP. I don't think I sound over confident at all. Not even confident. The exam I felt real good about. I knew I passed that right away, the critical care course also... I was doing very well in the beginning. I was happy. To clarify the seven day schedule, that means we work seven days in two weeks. It's been rough, but since the new schedule just came out, I am thinking it may get better. I used to work random days: one day on here, two on every now and then. Never more than two days off. Now it's going to look a little more structured. Most of the RNs here work the six day schedule. (Three days a week.) I am sorry for being so vague about everything. I think I was just a bit tired. As for the certificate, it says I completed the following course "Critical Care Nurse Training Program." Again, I'm not even sure what that is anymore... I don't think it's an add-on. If I go to the BRN, I can't find anywhere where it says I've even completed the course, but maybe it might not be up yet. Some people haven't even received their certificate yet. It also says in small print "Provider approved by the State of California, Board of Registered Nursing CEP #144. This certificate must be retained for four years from date of course completion." I'm even more retarded now. I can't even communicate on a message board.
What you are experiencing is the end of the honeymoon. CCRN aside, you are now expecting to be the first class nurse you will be someday. It takes a lot of baby steps before you can climb alone.Believe me it takes a lot of work and a lot of mistakes to get to the top. Just be honest and truthful. If given a task you aren't familiar with look it up and ask someone to go with you.
My niece works that horrid schedule in OB. She says those last days she is a total zombie just making all the moves, but slowly. 84 hours straight is a killer and shouldn't be allowed.
I graduated in 1974, and I still have the occasional night sweatting dream that I forgot a patient, didn't chart, charted in the wrong place and even hearing the IV and PCA pumps beeping. My dishwasher has that particular tone. Sometime I want to cut its throat!
If you still feel disillusioned perhaps a short vacation doing nothing nursing. Or perhaps volunteer to be a visiting nurse with some of the aid organizations . Doctor's without borders springs to mind.
>I work nights, 7 day schedule and 12 hour shifts.
I work 12 hour night shifts and have a hard time after the second night. Sometimes I don't even know how I made it home. I have a 60-75 minute commute each way. No wonder you are tired.
>I work nights, 7 day schedule and 12 hour shifts.
I work 12 hour night shifts and have a hard time after the second night. Sometimes I don't even know how I made it home. I have a 60-75 minute commute each way. No wonder you are tired.
No... seven day schedule is working 7 days in 2 weeks... sorry, I didn't clarify. No way can anyone work 84 hours a week.
My friend worked as a tech in the ER and critical care areas about 20 hrs a week through RN school; so she had qualifying hours with AACN. She took an optional Critical Care course in her senior rotation where their focus was CCRN level bookwork. Their clinical area had a strong education support environment and they got more experience than most in their segment.So...she was able to pass. BUT she had a hard time as a new grad in a big ICU....which didn't surprise me. not enough hands on/experience under her belt...and booklearning is not enough to make a competent CCRN IMHO.
That does not meet the requirements for AACN here they are
1. Unrestricted licensure as an RN
2. 1750 hours of bedside nursing as an RN (not tech or student) with 875 hours in the previous year. So your friend could not have taken the CCRN exam because soemone has to verify on the document. In addition no one with no RN experience could guess well enough to pass the exam it is impossible IMHO.
Well obviously someone signed and verified it...AACN doesn't thoroughly check many do they....they are more interested in getting their $$$ these days IMHO. I am not telling a lie...I SAW the CCRN credential.
Yes it was likely obtained through some type of fabrication of the truth, but her critical care instructors in school felt justified in this, apparently. I don't agree with it; I just pointed out I had heard of this type thing being done as described by the OP..
Well obviously someone signed and verified it...AACN doesn't thoroughly check many do they....they are more interested in getting their $$$ these days IMHO. I am not telling a lie...I SAW the CCRN credential.
Yes it was likely obtained through some type of fabrication of the truth, but her critical care instructors in school felt justified in this, apparently. I don't agree with it; I just pointed out I had heard of this type thing being done as described by the OP..
If you look on the application it asks for your RN license number and a student would not have it.
Heymickey, hang in there. I too was hired in February, and I'm on a Med/Surg/Tele unit. I've had my highs and lows since I've been hired. I too sometimes wonder if nursing is truly for me. Ultimately, only we can answer that for ourselves. But I also know what you are feeling is very normal for a new nurse. I did well in school and on the NCLEX, but I always sort of knew that there would be another huge learning curve for me once I was on the floor. I'm learning several things and maybe they will help you too:
Try to leave work at work when you go to sleep. I would wake up at 2am and just have such anxiety that I forgot something, or dwell on what I didn't do quite right. Now I almost have to "train" myself to let go and get back to sleep. I did the best I knew how and will do better tomorrow. I'm also going back to reading my med-surg book...it is refreshing my memory and reading it outside of when I had to do it for school is more enjoyable. And now I'm applying my real life situations to the readings.
I'm learning to be more assertive in how things are assigned to me or run in my department. I will no longer "be the trooper" and take multiple admits at once. I'll professionally state what I feel should be done to ensure patient safety.
Mistakes will be made. Learn from them. Take note of what the circumstances were that may have contributed to them and rectify that situation in the future. EVERYONE makes mistakes. I've made some already. I too hope that I'll always stay on my toes and hopefully won't make a mistake that truly hurts someone.
I work the exact same schedule you do. I've recently asked my manager to reduce my hours. If you can do just the three 12 hours per week, it's better. You have to ask for it, or they'll just assume you're doing fine. I know I have difficulty with the 12 hour days. I'm better than I was when I first started, but it's still hard for me. The good thing about nursing is that it's so versatile. Ask your manager about different options, or when the time is right, find that position that has the hours you like.
Med/surg floors can get crazy. (Well all floors can, but med/surg floors seem to have the reputation for workin' nurses like dogs!) So be kind to yourself. Rest when you can. Maintain a good support system of friends/family. Try to remember to laugh and find the humor in things when you can. Take those deep breaths during your workday, and MAKE TIME to take your lunch. The patients and work will be there whether you take lunch or not...so you may as well take lunch!
cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN
4,106 Posts
I'm pretty sure that they check into how many years of critical care that you have to sit for the CCRN. I saw the application for the CCRN course and it was pretty intense. I don't think you can slide by and get into that class without all od the requirements. Also, I don't think a new grad or a student nurse could pass the CCRN, as it is really geared towards things you have learned through experience and critical care training. Maybe it was just a critical care course. We offer them at work and they do count as CEUs. If there is one to take while you are still a student nurse, then I would LOVE to attend.....but it seems like the OP is suffering from depression. Maybe you should talk to your boss about changing shifts, or decreasing your overtime. Or maybe you need to talk to someone in your employee health department.