I NEED HELP!

[amellis2]

Hello my fellow peers. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I used to be a LPN for just about 7 years in a skilled nursing facility. When I became an RN, I started on a med surge unit about 6 months ago. I must say medical surgical nursing is definitely not where I want to be when I think about my future in nursing. However, I felt I would try to start there in order to gain experience as an RN. Well the transition has been super challenging for 2 reasons. One reason is that I have learned, in a hospital setting, it is so different, it is as if I am learning things for the first time. This has been quite an adjustment for me but I welcome it.

The second and probably the most significant challenge is dealing with my manager. My manager is extremely knowledgeable and that I can not take away from her. But, my manager is not a very nice person to me. My first 2-3 weeks at work she barely spoke to me. Not even hello. I would say, "good morning" and smile and she would not even acknowledge my presence. For me, that set the tone. From that point on I was extremely uncomfortable to be around her. After a while, she started to speak to me but it is often in a tone that makes me feel stupid and incompetent. Even when I feel I've done the very best I could for my patient, she makes me feel like an idiot. Now, when I see her walk on the unit in the morning, I immediately get anxiety.

Yesterday. was just was the icing on the cake. I was in the middle of caring for a pt. that was in trouble. She arrived and I immediately just wanted her to go away. But of course I knew I had to deal with her for the best outcome for my patient. But throughout the whole experience she did nothing but point out things she saw that were wrong and continued to speak to me like an idiot. When things were finally starting to resolve with my patient I was so relieved because it meant I could get her out of my presence. But during the process of working out the details of getting the patient transferred, we couldn't get in touch with the unit we were transferring the patient to so I thought well let me run down there and get someone to talk to us. I honestly didn't think anything of it because there were 5 RNs at the patients bedside besides me. So in front of all of my peers she barked at me in a tone that was so disrespectful, I was completely embarrased. In that instant, I thought of my mortgage and my children and the fact that I can not allow her to get me in a place where I may end up in a position where I can not provide for them and so I took it. It was so hard to face my peers after that whole experience to finish my shift. So, with that being said, I have decided that was her very last time I will allow her to speak to me that way. NO MORE! And, I believe God knows this is it for me mentally and physically. The blessing in all this is that one of my peers she barked at me in front of was my mentor and she was very empathic to me and she comforted me after my manager left. It made me feel much better. When I got home. I received a text from my manager checking on me but I didn't respond because I couldn't lie to her and tell her I was okay because I wasn't, and I'm not sure I had anything nice to say so I didn't say anything at all.

My next steps is to apply in different areas of the hospital that are conducive to me mentally and physically. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I need to leave. Physically and mentally, I can not be on a med surge unit. I leave work now in pain and it never stops. Does anyone know of any area of a hospital setting that is less physical than a med surg unit? And is there anyone who agrees with my exit from my current unit? Sorry this is so long. I've been dealing with it a while so I have a lot to say.

[sevensonnets]

I think that when she did reach out to you by text to ask if you were okay and you didn't respond to her text, you missed a great opportunity for discussion with her that might have been a solution to your unhappiness. Sounds like she realized she had been unfair to you and was taking a first step to resolve that. A little chink in her armor if you will. Other than that I don't have any real advice for you; I've never worked med surg. All units have their particular stressors but if you speak up for yourself at the time you encounter difficulties it is possible to create better relationships.

[amellis2]

Yes I replied this morning. But, last night I was not in the right head space to do so. I think I could have messed things up more. Thank you for your advice. ☺

[amellis2]

Yes I replied this morning. But, last night I was not in the right head space to do so. I think I could have messed things up more. Thank you for your advice. ☺

[seaofclouds21, BSN, RN]

I've worked in multiple departments in the hospital. All of the bedside care is physically demanding. There are other departments, such as IR that may be less physically demanding. What areas of nursing interest you? Are you interested in returning to LTC? Only you can decide which area is going to be best for you. What aspects of the med surg floor are too much for you?

[amellis2]

Med surg is chaos. I run back and forth all day long. I can't even take a decent lunch without someone calling me on my phone. It's so chaotic. My feet and ankles are beyond painful. I worked in ling term care for 7 years as a primary nurse on a respiratory unit. All of my patients were totals and I still did not leave work in so much pain. So, I am just looking for something that is busy, but not chaotic.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"my manager is not a very nice person to me." Never expect to be treated "nice". You are a commodity.. not a person, your manager will do what they want with that.

You have many years of experience and are a VALUABLE commodity. You realize med-surge stinks.

There are many threads here, as what you can do with your skills. Pull up your big girl pants.. research here and elsewhere , for what you can do with your skills.

Best wishes.

[amellis2]

Thank you so much!