I still haven't found what I'm looking for

[shabbychic23]

i am a recent graduate with a bs in nursing; since june 2008 to be exact. after passing the boards i was hired for a med/surg floor and have been doing this for 4 months. i am miserably dissapointed because it's not the painted picture of nursing i was thought in nursing school.

in fact, i almost had a breakdown last week from all the pressure involved with the job. that being said, i welcome any suggestions for other areas in nursing because as far as i'm concerned, i deinitely haven't found my niche.

how limited am i with a bs in nursing and only 4 months experience in med/surg? it sounds like one can only get somewhere if they have a masters nowadays. i want to feel good about nursing and find the passion i once had for the profession, however, i can't see that happening with a district of 8-9 patients, doctors pulling from every direction, transporters picking up patients, having to make sure meds are administered on time (and thats if the pharmacy send it up), providing wound care, writing progess notes, picking up orders, attending rounds with md's, providing na's with their assignment sheets, while on the subject of na going to the pharmacy due to insubordination on their part, allowing senior rns to step all over me by always being the last one to take lunch (thats if i take a lunch), apeasing argumentative patient family members who are demanding and the list goes on and on. of course this is all within a 12 hour sift which happens to fly be.

kindly pass on ideas of other possibilties in nursing with my qualifications.:bowingpur

[travis73]

I don't know anything about being a nurse (I've just started school to become one tho), but, if I may, I'd like to tell you these two things:

1. Stress is YOUR reaction to the world, it only exists if you allow it.

2. People will treat you however you let them treat you.

Hope that helps in some way

[MultipNP, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

I really feel for you! I know this is a rough spot to be in -- med-surg is really tough, but will prepare you for whatever specialty that may appeal to you.

It may be that med-surg is good for you -- just not your current environment! Some units are just not run well, and some DON's don't really value their staff as they should.

If you are truly miserable, it doesn't hurt to look around and see what else is available that interests you. See if you can get some interviews for other positions that may suit you better. The kind of stress you are describing has been felt by MANY nurses (including me!) -- and isn't good for you. Your 4 months of med/surg is experience. It might not be a year -- but it's still valuable to many employers! Are there other positions within the hospital/system that you could possibly transfer to? If that is the case, then you wouldn't even have to worry about all the insurance details that one deals with when switching jobs.

Also, ask friends who are nurses what places are best to work. See if you can find out how other units in your hospital are run -- see if you can switch to one with a better DON.

If none of these work, at least you tried -- and can re-visit it again in time. Don't give up!

Good luck!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I don't know anything about being a nurse (I've just started school to become one tho), but, if I may, I'd like to tell you these two things:

1. Stress is YOUR reaction to the world, it only exists if you allow it.

2. People will treat you however you let them treat you.

Hope that helps in some way

That seemed pretty condescending to me.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

How's the job market in your area? If there are many open nursing positions, you might have some luck in applying to different positions on a different unit or maybe a different hospital with better nurse: patient ratios.

What about visiting nursing?

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

I don't know anything about being a nurse (I've just started school to become one tho), but, if I may, I'd like to tell you these two things:

1. Stress is YOUR reaction to the world, it only exists if you allow it.

2. People will treat you however you let them treat you.

Hope that helps in some way

In nursing, this is easier said than done. It's hard to not react to the stress when the responsibility of people's lives is on your shoulders along and you don't have any support from management.

[MultipNP, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

What about visiting nursing?

At the risk of seeming dumb, what is this?

[Scooter5]

That seemed pretty condescending to me.

I think travis73 gave us some good info that helps put situations in our daily lives into perspective. That said, each of still have things that will push our buttons and cause us stress.

shabbychic23, have you considered applying at the Public Health Department for the county that you live in? The hours and benefits are usually good, and around here, a BSN is required. Maybe if you have a different DON and different co-workers things would be different. Don't give up! You worked too hard for you degree- you just need to find your niche.

Best Wishes!

[RNKITTY04]

um.... no offense Travis but until you walk at least one 12 hour shift in her shoes, please don't say catchy little phases, they really don't help. I have never met a nurse in Med Surg that wasn't stressed, the demands on nurses these days are inhuman.

Shabby... I can totally relate to what you are feeling, I have been a nurse for going on 5 years and I still have not found my niche, I am very close to just giving it all up. Its just not worth all the stress. NURSING SCHOOL IS ALL A BIG LIE. You are nothing but a warm body with a pulse to management. Sorry if I sound bitter but the truth hurts baby.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I left hospital nursing after about 4 months for school nursing and I am much happier (despite a whole different set of stressors!) It can be done, but I recommend not leaving until you have a job offer from another setting, as it can be difficult to find another job especially in this economy.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I also think Travis had good advice, but maybe could have explained it more.

There are stresses in nursing that you can't control, like pharmacy. You can explain to the families why they aren't getting meds ASAP, and how the hospital works, but in the end both you and the patients have to make do within the system. They may be yelling at you, but they are angry with the system, and you have to remember that so you don't personalize it.

You need to act appropriately when someone is abusing you. Write up your NA's. It may not make them more responsive, but you have shifted the responsibility over to your supervisor, especially if you write them up enough. Sometimes you need to write up the situation, and let them know you are doing it. If you are both busy and something has to be delayed, that too is not your fault.

If someone is yelling at you walk away. You can have a statement ready to let them know they are being abusive, or you can just say "you're yelling at me" and walk away.

After 4 months you don't have all the time management skills to thrive. Don't expect to be finished perfectly at the same time as older RNs. Don't be afraid to ask for help or clarification. What you need most is time and confidence. If you have decent coworkers at you current job I recommend you stay to finish at least 6 months, try for a year, just for the experience. No matter where you work the first year is hellish, and you've gotten the worst part over with where you are.

If you work with coworkers that put you down, don't anwer questions or don't help, leave as soon as you find another job. If even the experienced workers are floundering you can't expect to give safe care yourself- leave that job too. Remember that a solid year of any kind of experience is better than a spotted work record, even in ICU's. Take time to look around and consider what you want to do next.

[travis73]

I don't think it's condescending at all. Whichever statement you didn't care for dosen't matter. They are still both true.

Stress is the symptom of your reaction to a stimulus. It is completely internal. I'm not saying it's as easy as flipping a switch, to control your stress level. But I am suggesting that the realization that stress is a personal reaction might help that person to control it. It did me, anyways.

And, people will treat you how you let them. Why shouldn't they? If a person doesn't speak up (and the first person isn't guided by good manners or good morals) then how is anyone supposed to know that there is a problem? It's OK to stand up for yourself, weither someone else likes what you have to say or not.

I can appreciate the stress that must be a natural reaction to nursing, however I think people will agree when I say:

"Performing the exact same job now is less stressful than performing that exact same job when you first began."

So, with familiarity, your reaction to 'stress out' has lessened. Which I feel supports my statement.