Is nursing for me? New job, nice people... still unhappy 😓

[branthebrat0789]

Hello everyone. I graduated in 2016... I always wanted to be a nurse. I was so excited to give care that I once experience In the ICU setting. I told myself I will be that nurse.... she was so inspiring. Well... I'm currently going on my 3rd month of my new job and I'm so upset. I honestly do not like it. I can't even explain why? I work on a med surg/ tele unit. I can honestly say everyone has been so supportive and kind. I have nothing negative to say about anyone. However, my nurse to patient ratio I do believe is rather high. We are averaging 9 patients for night shift. Yes, we have aides for the floor but still isn't this high? Sometimes I have seen someone have 10! As a new nurse that scares me!!!! That to me is dangerous. I have talked to fellow graduates who are averaging 6? I don't know 😓 I feel so sad wondering did I make the right career choice? I come home and I am just so thankful to be home because I am so stressed. It kills me that by the end of the shift I feel like I barely know my patient. That's upsetting because I don't feel like I am a nurse. I feel like a robot constantly trying to beat some clock. Assessments before a patient falls asleep, meds, chart chart! Everything is such a rush, the other day I had 5 and I was so thankful! I didn't mind that day. But in all reality I am not happy and that makes me so sad. This was suppose to be it for me.... my career and here I am now contemplating if I chose the right one 😓 Any advice would be helpful from more experienced nurses and heck even nurses that may feel the same as I do. I'm thinking maybe it's just the unit? Or the hospital setting? I feel so unhealthy body and mind. i just want to be happy. Is there any other settings that you guys have experienced that are less stressful? At this point I'm just overwhelmed with fear of being unhappy. That's not why I chose nursing. I also don't want to give up so quickly? Maybe I should stick it out because I am newer and things will get better? I just feel that many of my fellow grads are super happy and here I am so unhappy... I don't understand 😓

[hermioneRN]

I was miserable in my first nursing job. One of the perks of being a nurse is that you have options. I personally am not a floor nurse, and that's okay. There are people who absolutely love it and excel at it. My advice is to take a look at other options once you have the experience (the general concensus seems to be 1 year on the floor, at least). Research, infusion, clinic, OR are all other options to look at.

9 patients is a lot for a med/surg floor. You aren't wrong in that.

[amzyRN]

Work at a facility with safe staffing ratios. That's always a question I ask during an interview "what are your staffing ratios?" "do you have CNAs?" with that said it might be that that was your only option and/or you can't work in a state with ratios. I work in CA with mandated ratios. 5:1 for med/surg. 4:1 for tele. 2:1 for ICU, 4:1 for ED, etc.

I would be already applying for other jobs and you might starting to get some responses. Don't wait, go for it. It's not nursing it's your hospital that sucks (for being unsafe).