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.
