Is the Honeymoon over? 1st year blahs???

[pink2blue1]

Hey all! I am a new grad LVN (Will be 1 year next month!) I started working on the floor as a Nurse on December 31st last year. So I am coming up on the year mark in about 4 months.

I remember those first few days,. I was scared to death. Then I got to a point where I could not wait to go in. I jumped up out of bed, no matter how tired and was excited about working.

Lately, there have been changes on my unit. We are losing nurses left and right. The patient's are becoming more demanding. I work on a med-surg floor. We have 30 beds, the ratio is 5 patients to 1 nurse. We get 2 CNA's on a GOOD day, but recently have been stuck with one or even none. Even with 24 patients on the floor. There are times we don't have a charge, and as an LVN that is a huge challenge. I can handle the load, believe me. I have done very well. It just seems that with all the negativity going on around me and all the more seasoned nurses complaining, I have fallen into that routine too. It makes me sad as a new grad, because I LOVE what I do!

But here I sit, Friday afternoon, knowing i have 3 days ahead of me and I am getting DEPRESSED! This is the first time I have experienced these feelings since I was a CNA on this floor.

I feel over worked, WAY over worked. I mean, we have 1 aid per side of the floor and the last 2 days I worked it was one thing after the other. People who were incontinent, IV's infiltrating, someone couldn't pee after having a foley removed, one man couldn't have a BM and went to the bathroom and took matters into his own hands. As I was removing a Foley, the charge went to check on him, came to me and told me he had poop on his hands, but did NOT get him a washcloth! Poor man had to wait for me (He had the emergency light on by the way) It was just crazy. There was this 365 lb woman who got up ok, but couldn't lift her own legs back into bed. Needless to say, I still feel like i am recovering from doing it. She had taken lasix and was having frequent loose BM's. Where was my aid when I was trying to get a discharge done for 2 other patients?? IN THE BREAK ROOM not answering her phone. Ugh.

Just want to know if it's normal to feel like the honeymoon is over so to speak. I still love my job, I am just frustrated I guess.

All in all, none of my patients ever saw that I felt frustrated, tired or overworked and I feel good for that. But boy oh boy!

[abundantjoy07, RN]

There's a honeymoon period?

Mine was about 2 weeks. Then it abruptly ended. I'm just waiting to be comfortable and more competent in my job. That's what I'll call the "happy" phase.

Like you, I enjoy what I do, but it is frustrating, it is tiring. And sometimes it's just beyond overwhelming.

I just graduated this past May, so I haven't been working long, but that excited newness wore off quickly for me. I realized that the hard work wasn't over it was just beginning. Nursing school was nothing compared to the real world of nursing. It's got its pros and cons. But you're not alone. I think most nurses feel tired quickly.

Just take it day by day. My happy point to remember is that I work 3-4x a week. I look forward to those 3 day weeks. That's where my joy comes from when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

But think long and hard about the changes on the floor and how they are affecting you. Think about the working relationships with the staff. Think about this particular floor at this particular hospital. If one place isn't working for you there's a million more that will. You've got a year there...you can pretty much go anywhere now.

Good Luck!