Is this really happening??

[rue2235]

I have heard of burn out from being in the job awhile and needing a change, sure, but here I am just through my one year mark and I feel like I'm there. I'm beginning to question whether this profession which I thought suited me so well, is just not for me at all. I work in med surg in a small hospital and due to the flux of census we are horrible at staffing. I am often the only floor nurse, sometimes not even with a tech (aide) with a patient ratio up to 7. At times I have taken 9 patients, doesn't matter acuity, nobody looks at that. Even so I do not feel I am growing as a nurse as my exposure to things are limited, my experience narrow. I am just rushing to shove my meds, the only nursing part i have time for, my time is spent doing hygiene, bathroom, etc, then charting due poor staffing/teamwork. Maybe I am thinking too self righteously and if so please, that why I seek counsel, but is it necessary to come into the break room to get me on my unpaid time to answer a patients question/demand that moment? These are non emergent things. I am finding it difficult dealing with a lot of our patients, argumentative, who don't seem to care why or what I need to do for them. I am angry all the time, dread going into work, and am taking it out on my family . nursing is making me feel...used? I am happy I made it through my first year, the positives are I like a lot of the people I work with and the place is close to me. Please I need encouragement.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

With no help? That is nuts.

[cocoa_puff]

That sounds very unsafe, I would look for employment elsewhere....

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

If you're not bound by contract anymore or were never, I would have already started looking for another position elsewhere long ago. I'd encourage you to find a more safe and suitable place than this one.

[Everline]

You have one year of experience. Start looking for a new and better job. You don't have to work under those conditions.

[zeeblebrox, BSN]

Run don't walk away from this job. They obviously don't care about safety the patients or yours. They don't care about your license either. to not even have an aide with that many patients is ridiculous. You need at least an aide to keep an eye on the other patients when you inevitably get stuck in a room with a patient. Med Surg is great for learning your basics but it is nearly impossible to learn to do it the right way or the experienced way if you don't have anyone there to even bounce theories of what is happening with your patients off of , preferably someone with experience who can help you to recognize the subtle changes that develop during pulmonary edema for example. I truly believe that if you were in a more supportive environment that you would be a lot happier.

[christina731]

I was hired on a post op medsurg floor a week after passing NCLEX. I had ratios and situations that echo yours. After 6 months of nights, I was burnt out by it, and I was truly terrified that I would walk in on a dead patient (it happened to other nurses). I stuck it out for a little over a year and then I got the heck outta there. I now work 2 per diem jobs in ambulatory surgery centers and I love it, I'm so much happier. Take my advice from a fellow nurse who burnt out early. RUN! For your sanity, your family's sanity and the safety of the patients.