I am soooo Stressed at my Job I want to quit!!!!!

[platanos1]

I have been on a med surg floor for almost 2 years. I am a new nurse. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to quit. And I only work part time. I work nights which messes up my sleep so bad. The patients are horrible, the aides are lazy. I never have any time to just sit and talk to my patients. I hate it. We have 8 patients a night and the acuity level seems to get higher and higher. I feel like all I do is push narcs. The ones you really want to help you can't because the rest are asking for their pain medication, or falling, or making a mess on the floor. And of course your aide is no where to be found. I spend about 1/2 my time doing the aides work. Delegation my butt. I hate that I hate nursing. That is not my personality. I like to care for patients but its to the point I am sooo exhausted that I just want to pass out. MY husband tells me to quit. I am seriously thinking about it. I don't think I have thick skin to work on this floor. You have to be tough. But I have seen seasoned nurses in tears. I made a narc medication error last week and I had to meet with my boss. I was soooo upset. Most nurses would laugh at it and say you better get over it quick. Any advice from a seasoned nurse who still works on med-surg. I was so panicked I just went to the doctor to get on some anxiety medication. COuldn't take it.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

you appear to have done your time --

maybe you are eligible for parole, even if you cannot get a complete release for sentence served! just kidding - sort of!

i agree with those that advise to find a speciality. that did recharge me a time or two. work toward a certification and broaden your skill set. other than finding a new path, your options are limited in nursing. i think the best thing about nursing is that you have the option of any number of different practice areas. explore those - maybe you could shadow a few that interest you. we, in nursing, are doing a very poor job of making nursing the profession it should be for the long haul. sad. we need to find ways to keep great nurses like you - being great nurses. it is not uncommon to be getting crispy given the "challenges" of your position.

of course, you could always go. i understand that well. i left facility nursing over 3 years ago - and i swore i would not go back. i have not been back. i went into transport, then flight - and now i'm hoping for law school in the fall. like you, my husband was willing and encouraging in my exit from nursing. the thing to remember is that there is one you - and many jobs. anything that kills your very soul - is not worth it. imo.

write out all the options - pro and con. try something else - and try again. i am not sure of much at times, except that i will not fritter any more time being miserable. life is short and fragile - no guarantees, make your life count for you.

good luck

[latorita123]

My dear Planatos,

I know exactly how you feel! I have walked in your shoes every time you went to work and had also a narc error! I too worked in a medsurgical floor where the "RN" is it, the aide, LPN and RN. You have more than enough experience to switch your specialty. I do recommend you find something low in stress for now. I am a visiting nurse and love every single minute of it. I get TIME to spend with my patients!!! Isn't that amazing? I get to teach them about their dx, meds, etc!! I have time to return to school and pursue my education. It really is a huge change from running like a chicken without a head to actually making a difference from your patient's home! Consider this avenue as well. But do yourself a favor, its time to leave that place. You worked too hard to have your license taken away for mistakes that could have been avoidable. Whatever route you choose to take, I wish you the very best of luck.

Latorita123, RN

[meluhn]

I totally agree with Cfitz and dirtyblacksocks. You have paid your dues and you have every indication that it is time to move on. I am so glad I came across this post because I interviewed last week for a job on a med-surg floor where they have 8 pts: 1 RN on day shift. The NM was really nice and I was actually entertaining the idea of accepting the job until I read your post. You reminded me of everything I ever hated about med-surg nursing. I actually think med-surg floors are abusive to their nurses, have unrealistic expectations and leave the nurse feeling totally depressed. You are like a hampster on a wheel because you will never meet all the expectations even on your best day because they are unrealistic. Stop beating yourself up and look for another job. I also agree with the poster that said to try home care or hospice if spending time with patients is what you want.

[camoflower]

Well written CFitzRN!! I totally agree. I too am under so much stress, not from my job so much..but all the drama on our floor, dealing with colleagues. I just had a run in with a CSA that I had asked to bathe a patient 3 times in four hours... and she in so many words refused to do it.. 3 times!, she even said twice.. "I'm not going to do it" with attitude..and I said to her...what if you were coming on shift at 7 and you walked into his room what would you say about the CSA on the prior shift? or what if you were him, or his family?? He needs a bath!!..and she repeated "I'm not going to do it"....he was in for observation, no surgery...just smelled like urine, not lying in it. This patient was found on their home floor, no telling for how long, and being an alcoholic, smelled to high heavens like a pub crawl urinal. I am a new nurse, a mothering nurse, and like my teens - if I ask and you don't do your job, I will try my best to find 10-20 minutes to incorporate your job into my schedule, and live with it. I agree with someone else that those lazy CSAs will see you as a weakling and run all over you. Another RN on our floor who is known as Nurse"write em up!" said just that...as she always says.."well, I'd write her up in an instant-that is insubordination!!" ...and the writing up works, it brings tears, gossip, and lots of drama to the floor for hours, too many wasted hours, like a fish feeding frenzy, they should all be ashamed of themselves, backstabbers, but it works. When the CSA heard that she was going to get written up - she begged and begged.. to bathe the patient, "its too late, we have him almost bathed now" said Nurse "write em up" and her CSA...glaring at her. The worse part is that Ms "I'm not going to bathe that patient boldly lied to the floor manager (scared of that write up) that she was only asked "once"...not three times, by me, and that "the RN (meee) clearly misunderstood her intentions of bathing the patient, why.. she was going to do it if she had to work overtime and stay until 8 am it was going to get done" (lier, lier) I just listened to her cover ups..and thought..we have wasted so much time on chatter drama and lying......and the tears and the drama...I should have never opened my mouth to ask..and just should have done it. lol:uhoh3: This CSA also told me that the floor manager wanted to know if the RN was too busy..and the CSA replied..(I love this)said "I don't know what she was doing between the hours of 1-7am"..now of course I'm thinking..I hope my floor manager knows better. MED SURG NIGHTS have big turnovers for a reason!

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

Find a new job.

This job is not worth your health.

[Info(RN)matics]

I have been on a med surg floor for almost 2 years. I am a new nurse. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to quit. And I only work part time. I work nights which messes up my sleep so bad. The patients are horrible, the aides are lazy. I never have any time to just sit and talk to my patients. I hate it. We have 8 patients a night and the acuity level seems to get higher and higher. I feel like all I do is push narcs. The ones you really want to help you can't because the rest are asking for their pain medication, or falling, or making a mess on the floor. And of course your aide is no where to be found. I spend about 1/2 my time doing the aides work. Delegation my butt. I hate that I hate nursing. That is not my personality. I like to care for patients but its to the point I am sooo exhausted that I just want to pass out. MY husband tells me to quit. I am seriously thinking about it. I don't think I have thick skin to work on this floor. You have to be tough. But I have seen seasoned nurses in tears. I made a narc medication error last week and I had to meet with my boss. I was soooo upset. Most nurses would laugh at it and say you better get over it quick. Any advice from a seasoned nurse who still works on med-surg. I was so panicked I just went to the doctor to get on some anxiety medication. COuldn't take it.

May I say I understand? I am in the exact same situation. You know that heavy feeling in your chest - I have that uncomfortable feeling whenever I am scheduled to work there. I am a good person, and a good student, and I work each day praying that I slowly but surely learn to be the best nurse I could possibly be. However, I feel helpless knowing that I have to return to the same hopeless situation every single night.

Where I work, input from nurses is unwelcome. There are no processes in place for conflict resolution or quality improvement. The leadership is transactional - "You will do whatever I tell you to do. Not a word out of you!" kind of leadership. Things just promise not to change. There is no scope for growth.

I want to specialize in neonatology or informatics. However, I cannot quit my current job until I have found another job to sustain my family and me.

I just want you to know I understand. I hope for your sake as I hope for myself... to find a place where we are valued.