Hello to all. I am a new grad in the ICU. I have been on my own for two weeks after SIX weeks of orientation. Needless to say, I am not only swamped by the miracles I am expected to perform with two heavy patients, I am disheartened. I can't believe how overworked and miserable the conditions are in my non- unionized hospital. On a good day management is "kooky"...on a bad day, certifiably insane.
I have been reading these posts for two years now...I have always found strength in reading about similar circunstances I have gone through. It has helped enormously to relate my experiences to others.
I really need some help now. From the firts day I hit the floor and met the first of my five preceptors (it was scheduled that way), I became suspicious of the quality of care. In and out..are they septic...what's the Mag..didn't you check the MAG!!!assess the patient, determine what's needed...find the young md right out of school who like me, has no clue how to run the archaic DOS system in order to print me out an order (as a new grad, I wait until the order is in my hands- I have to cover my bootie)
In the beginning, I chalked up all my frustrations on being new and overwhelmed.
But now the fog is clearing (somewhat) and I am looking up and seeing the nurses around me miserable. Fabulous, wonderfully smart witty nurses with plenty of years under their belt being overworked and stressed. BECAUSE...get this...there is NOT enough time in a shift. Surprise? No? I didn't think so...But why is it we need to suffer the effects of a nursing shortage when we are the nurses the hospitals so desperately need. The distribution of roles and responsibilities are all on the nurse.
Florence Nightingale would be appalled if she stepped onto the floor I work on. It's nuts. I need to leave for the safety of patientsa and the sake of my license. The resources I need as a new grad are NOT reliable when I am on the floor (NO time to look up a protocol..too busy looking for a thermometer, finding a glucometer, or reordering the missing med...nurses say"not now...I am too busy) I am not proud of the work I do. When I feel there is a serious problem eg bp goin down to the 70's I say in my man voice " I need some help here" firm and direct and no bs. Nurses do come help, overworked nurses who I know I am pulling them away from their precious moments of doing their workload. I get the vibe. "Sink or swim" is a direct quatoe from management. I got better orientation in a video store. And its the ICU. My goodness...if the world only knew the reality...not simply "nursing shortage" but nursing abuse. I don't want to take this crap. It stuff like this that turns nursing from a proffesion to a joke. Any suggestions on how I can help my unit from continuing on in this disorganized chaotic manner?
Hello, its MKZ again. It has chilled me to read the insight you all have provided. There is too much truth to ignore. And it bothers me I made the mistake of thinking this is okay...this is what I want to do.
I always wanted to be a good worker. I wrote a resignation letter and carried it around for a few shifts. That was about three weeks ago. I got sick (surprise!) and called in sick, I had a full week off. I show back up and somehow the floor is lighter, the patients I got were usually well enough be transferred out to another floor or they were not on the brink of death (the senior nurses got those.) The new orientees would usually report off:and me not being the only one super freaked out and insecure, would usually give good report organized structured information...admiiting diagnosis, past med hx, neuro, CV, resp, gi and gu. Then labs relacements, trends. The stress made us acutely aware of our situation and we all just wanted to do good for the patient.
I took a good look around, the place was cluttered, stained in some areas. I found a blood smear on a monitor, on the floor, on the nurses tables. BLah blah blah, as I write this the realization of how much this sucks comes reigning down upon me And I am sick of complaining. I love nursing. And have. I believe in every person being a healer, I chose this career because it feels good to help this way. And its a good job. I just spent the last four years getting ready to do this.
Once again, it scared me to read some of the replies. Why did it scare me? Because it's the cold hard truth. Thank You.
MKZ
11 Posts
Hello, its MKZ again. It has chilled me to read the insight you all have provided. There is too much truth to ignore. And it bothers me I made the mistake of thinking this is okay...this is what I want to do.
I always wanted to be a good worker. I wrote a resignation letter and carried it around for a few shifts. That was about three weeks ago. I got sick (surprise!) and called in sick, I had a full week off. I show back up and somehow the floor is lighter, the patients I got were usually well enough be transferred out to another floor or they were not on the brink of death (the senior nurses got those.) The new orientees would usually report off:and me not being the only one super freaked out and insecure, would usually give good report organized structured information...admiiting diagnosis, past med hx, neuro, CV, resp, gi and gu. Then labs relacements, trends. The stress made us acutely aware of our situation and we all just wanted to do good for the patient.
I took a good look around, the place was cluttered, stained in some areas. I found a blood smear on a monitor, on the floor, on the nurses tables. BLah blah blah, as I write this the realization of how much this sucks comes reigning down upon me And I am sick of complaining. I love nursing. And have. I believe in every person being a healer, I chose this career because it feels good to help this way. And its a good job. I just spent the last four years getting ready to do this.
Once again, it scared me to read some of the replies. Why did it scare me? Because it's the cold hard truth. Thank You.
MKZ