It finally happened to me....

[Bezoars]

Well, I said it wouldn't happen to me... but it has. I have hit that "6 month slump" that some talk about. You know the one where you are positive and peppy and a go-getter just out of nursing school, and then at around 6 months, you get up one morning and hate your job?... Somewhere in the past week, I have developed an angry, cynical, depressive attitude toward nursing. It could have to do with the horrid day I had on Oncology the other day (I am in float pool) where I got a horrible assignment and every pt was "needy" and I couldn't meet all of their needs and the CNA's don't help much on that floor, and the charge nurse wouldn't do what I asked of her until I bugged her several times and the doctors wouldn't come up and look at my pt's infected peg site that they just put in and yadda yadda yadda. Left there saying "I will never go back to that floor". OR it could be the clique on the Pediatrics Unit that sticks to their own and their charge nurse who always has an attitude with me and everyone else on the floor. OR it could just be me. Or it could be that I still don't feel as comfortable as I want to feel with my skills and hate having to ask questions after I have been doing this for 7 months now, and hate how there is so much I still don't know. At any rate... I'm bitter and angry and trying to snap out of it. I feel like a need a Carribean Vacation.

Any moral support would be appreciated....

[Bezoars]

Zookeeper... you make good points. I have been able to identify those on the various floors that want to help and teach me. I was set up with different preceptors on different floors originally and when I found one that was good... I requested them every time. I always try to help others when I'm not busy and I try to do procedures like NG's and IV's whenever I can - both for me and for the other nurses on my shift. The hardest part has been that you don't build those mentoring relationships that you can rely on time and again (on some floors I have), but to combat that - I am very assertive with co-workers about my needs and with getting help, and I'm not easily flustered or intimidated by others... I temper that with an easygoing, no-drama, helpful to others attitude and we're all usually happy. Generally, it works, but YES, it has been hard and at times, overwhelming.

The light in the tunnel is that usally the shift nurses are happy to see me coming because without me, they would have been short staffed. They are generally appreciative.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

You need to re-read your last post..you sound happier and are actually defending what you do and why you work Float!

I think you had a day that was worse than usual, are tired and need to take a few days for you. You sound like you love being a nurse and are good at what you do.. Congrats..it will always be a tough job with so much to learn. If you ever get comfortable and feel you know it out..that is the TIME TO WORRY!!