I really truly think I chose the wrong department

Jolie, BSN · Aug 23, 2005

I don't think your problem is OB, per se, but rather an employer that seems to lack the commitment to giving you a thorough orientation.

Please sit down with your nurse manager and draw up a plan for a minimum of 12 weeks of orientation 1:1 with a consistent preceptor. Schedule weekly evaluation sessions so you can assess your progress and ID areas in which you need further teaching. Set a time frame for your classroom instruction as well, such as fetal monitoring and NRP. Insist on a "no-floating" policy until you have a minimum of 6 months experience. How on Earth can you care for unfamiliar patients on an unfamiliar unit when you don't even have a good knowledge base and set of skills in your own specialty?

If you can't work out a suitable plan, give your notice, and ask your instructor/mentor for assistance in finding a better position. Good luck!

Altra, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2005

Hugs, Jen.:icon_hug: I'm a new grad too, in a Level I ER, and believe me, I've had my share of conversations with myself that start (and sometimes end) with, "What have I done??"

First things first: your health. By the last term of nursing school I was feeling progressively crappy. Eventually there were s/s I couldn't ignore, and I finally saw my doc. Who knew that GERD could make a person feel so terrible all over? In my case, a script for Zantac has made a world of difference. Make sure you work w/your doc to get the care you need.

How long was your orientation? How long have you been off of orientation? Can you talk to your manager about working w/a preceptor again, or at least being assigned to one area for a little while until you feel more together?

Only you can truly assess whether you're feeling the typical overwhelmed new nurse kind of stuff, or whether L&D really isn't for you. You can always start looking for something else. Stressful, yes, but it can be done. Someone that I graduated with in mid-June has already changed jobs.

Feel free to vent anytime ... take care. :specs:

kahlo · Aug 23, 2005

i'm so sorry that this is your first job experience.

i don't think that you're being sensible about the situation that you described. i think that a more thorough orientation is definitely needed; you shouldn't be expected to function on the level that these patient's needs require -- especially if they expect you to float to diff dept!

i'm still in school but i agree with the post above; that you need to sit down with your nurse manager and make a plan that gives you the skills that you need.

another important point: continuing to work in this manner will put your license and your health on the line, as well as the health of the patients you're caring for.

JentheRN05, RN · Aug 23, 2005

I don't think your problem is OB, per se, but rather an employer that seems to lack the commitment to giving you a thorough orientation.
Please sit down with your nurse manager and draw up a plan for a minimum of 12 weeks of orientation 1:1 with a consistent preceptor. Schedule weekly evaluation sessions so you can assess your progress and ID areas in which you need further teaching. Set a time frame for your classroom instruction as well, such as fetal monitoring and NRP. Insist on a "no-floating" policy until you have a minimum of 6 months experience. How on Earth can you care for unfamiliar patients on an unfamiliar unit when you don't even have a good knowledge base and set of skills in your own specialty?
If you can't work out a suitable plan, give your notice, and ask your instructor/mentor for assistance in finding a better position. Good luck!

I think I've made my decision. I'm gonna sit down my my nurse manager and tell her how I'm feeling. Let her know that I can't continue like this and give her notice. I plan to make suggestions that they shouldn't hire a new nurse straight out of school and run her through and float her. It's just too much. Thanks guys

kahlo · Aug 24, 2005

good for you jen -- you have to realize what you're capable of, and not expect that you can deal with a situation like that, especially when your body is telling you otherwise.

good luck in the meeting -- hopefully they'll design a more thorough orientation --- or you can find a hospital that will have one in place for new grads already.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Aug 25, 2005

Hi - okay, this is my second post along the same line. After today I think I come to realize something. I started as an OB nurse, straight out of nursing school. It was a small hospital, so I work L&D/PP/Nursery/NST and when we're not busy I float to medsurg. I haven't trained in any one department. I've went to C/S and L&D, basically following a mom all the way through. It hasn't been enough of an orientation for a new RN, in my opinion.
Today, I realized my job is now affecting my health. About 3 weeks ago I had floated to medsurg I had 3 difficult patients, very little by the way of a preceptor, and one of my patients was definately on his way to crashing. I started feeling nauseated, had diarrhea, and just felt like crap. I barely made it through the day. I was made to eat a banana at around 4 that day because I hadn't eaten because I felt so sick. Looking back, I think it was stress that caused those symptoms. Well today, it happened again. I was on with a perfectionist nurse, and we had a labor patient. I started feeling nauseated, had diarrhea, and finally got dry heaves. I told them I need to go home and find out whats wrong with me by going to the doctor. So I did. I went to the doctor. He said, that I am/have developed an ulcer most likely and is sending me in for a gastr/colonoscopy. He's figuring that I have a gastric or peptic ulcer as well as ulcerative colititis. He also asked what was going on when I developed those symptoms. I told him. He said that I need to get out of that job, it is plain too stressful, especially if now I have an ulcer. I would've thought if I was going to get an ulcer nursing school would have done it. I am wondering now if I really wanted to be an OB nurse. I think I would be fine in PP but not in L&D unless I had more training. I feel very overwhelmed and anxious. I get so stressed the night before I go to work that I can barely sleep. Please tell me your thoughts. I know my husband will be so upset with me if I quit. We have bills to pay of course, and he hates his job too. I just am so frustrated and upset I am near tears. I broke down and cried talking to my old instructor/mentor on the phone. I just haven't been so miserable.
Sorry so long, I have so much on my mind and I'm so stressed I tend to ramble.

Jen, Hi! I'm a new RN & I know how stressful work can be. But you have to remember that your health & happiness come before anything else. If you're so miserable with your job that you're upset all the time & have trouble sleeping at night, then I would talk this over with your nurse manager & see if you can get more support at work & anything else you may need. good luck!

-Christine

JentheRN05, RN · Aug 25, 2005

Jen, Hi! I'm a new RN & I know how stressful work can be. But you have to remember that your health & happiness come before anything else. If you're so miserable with your job that you're upset all the time & have trouble sleeping at night, then I would talk this over with your nurse manager & see if you can get more support at work & anything else you may need. good luck!
-Christine

I quit today. I am starting to feel better already. My nurse manager was very understanding and supportive. Even suggested I get a job in a PP unit and work my way up. I never had a problem with my nurse manager, too bad she didn't work in the department, I might have been able to learn more and maybe I would've stayed, doubt it, but that would've increased the chances. Oh well water under the bridge.

Not to mention the fact that I have an interview on Friday for a PP/nursery couplet unit! NO L&D. She said they will train me in both, but over time, and ONE at a time!!! I hope this goes well. It's only part time, but you know what, it pays better than my other job! So it will probably equal out to the same. Wish me luck, and thanks everyone for caring. It meant alot!

Jen

ORSmurf · Aug 25, 2005

Wow! Good for you Jen :) Congratulations on having the courage to take action and make a change. It's funny how things work out. It sounds like you've found an excellent new job opportunity. I'm so happy for you.

Christine

I quit today. I am starting to feel better already. My nurse manager was very understanding and supportive. Even suggested I get a job in a PP unit and work my way up. I never had a problem with my nurse manager, too bad she didn't work in the department, I might have been able to learn more and maybe I would've stayed, doubt it, but that would've increased the chances. Oh well water under the bridge.
Not to mention the fact that I have an interview on Friday for a PP/nursery couplet unit! NO L&D. She said they will train me in both, but over time, and ONE at a time!!! I hope this goes well. It's only part time, but you know what, it pays better than my other job! So it will probably equal out to the same. Wish me luck, and thanks everyone for caring. It meant alot!
Jen

calirn05 · Aug 25, 2005

I quit today. I am starting to feel better already. My nurse manager was very understanding and supportive. Even suggested I get a job in a PP unit and work my way up. I never had a problem with my nurse manager, too bad she didn't work in the department, I might have been able to learn more and maybe I would've stayed, doubt it, but that would've increased the chances. Oh well water under the bridge.
Not to mention the fact that I have an interview on Friday for a PP/nursery couplet unit! NO L&D. She said they will train me in both, but over time, and ONE at a time!!! I hope this goes well. It's only part time, but you know what, it pays better than my other job! So it will probably equal out to the same. Wish me luck, and thanks everyone for caring. It meant alot!
Jen

I'd LOVE to work part time for PP/nursery! That's awesome and I hope you enjoy it! :balloons:

kahumai, RN · Aug 25, 2005

One door closes and another has opened.....

Good luck to you at your new job. Hopefully it'll be a better fit for you than your last one. I'm glad that you were able to see that you needed to stand up for yourself and get out of there before even more damage was caused. Everything happens for a reason.

Hope you're feeling better, too! :balloons:

pfister03 · Nov 30, 2005

i am a mere lvn nursing student but i can understand the whole not feeling confident enough because we are new and there is so much to know. stress causes everything heck i have been having asthma like symptoms and i know some say stress doesnt really cause it but can play a role- i think it started it caused it and keeps it going -- back to you pray and if you dont believe in god try some of those stress management techniques they tell us in school hot bath, walk deep breathes, and take your mind off of it totally for at least 30 min, warm tea --good luck i know things will work out for you once you talk to your nurse manager and find out her stance on it all and take it from there.