Hello! :[anb]: I have a few concerns and I need some advice/ encouragement. I LOVE nursing and I am so thrilled I have a job! Just wanted to say that to start off! I am a fairly new grad. (never been on a hospital) and I am starting my first real RN job this week. It is on a busy Med Surg unit. I did very well in school (book wise), but have not had a lot of clinical experience. Knowledgw wise, I have it... DOING IT is another story. I have a lot to learn. I am Ok with that. My biggest concern is getting through the 12 HOUR SHIFT. My health is Ok, not the best. I have had 'dizzy' 'weak' like spells over the past few months. The docs. thought it was sugar related, BUT it seems worse around my period. I am close to 40, and perhaps my cycle is starting to change. I do get hot spells on occasion after the 'dizzy' spells. The only thing that really helps is laying down for a bit, but obviously I CANNOT do that on the floor. So, brain wise, intelligence wise, I can handle it, PHYSICALLY I AM NOT SURE, and I am scared. I have worked REALLY HARD for this. REALLY HARD. I don't want to fall out and fail. I have a family to supprt too.
Anyway, how difficult is Med Surg? Is it pretty strenous? And how do you get through 3 twelve hour shifts in a row?? THANKS!!!
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
Yeah, I wonder what it is in coffee that does it? I've never known caffeine to cause it. It sure happens though. Sorry to OP for the shift in topic! Back to the subject at hand. :)
Yeah, I wonder what it is in coffee that does it? I've never known caffeine to cause it. It sure happens though. Sorry to OP for the shift in topic! Back to the subject at hand. :)
It has something to do with caffeine causing a surge in insulin... my doctor explained it to me once because I also get hypoglycemic after having a caffeinated drink.
Just wanted to say that to start off! I am a fairly new grad. (never been on a hospital) and I am starting my first real RN job this week. It is on a busy Med Surg unit. I did very well in school (book wise), but have not had a lot of clinical experience. Knowledgw wise, I have it... DOING IT is another story. I have a lot to learn. I am Ok with that. My biggest concern is getting through the 12 HOUR SHIFT. 
My health is Ok, not the best. I have had 'dizzy' 'weak' like spells over the past few months. The docs. thought it was sugar related, BUT it seems worse around my period. I am close to 40, and perhaps my cycle is starting to change. I do get hot spells on occasion after the 'dizzy' spells. The only thing that really helps is laying down for a bit, but obviously I CANNOT do that on the floor. So, brain wise, intelligence wise, I can handle it, PHYSICALLY I AM NOT SURE, and I am scared. I have worked REALLY HARD for this. REALLY HARD. I don't want to fall out and fail. 
I have a family to supprt too. 
THANKS!!!
CFitzRN, ADN
386 Posts
Yeah, I wonder what it is in coffee that does it? I've never known caffeine to cause it. It sure happens though. Sorry to OP for the shift in topic! Back to the subject at hand. :)