Job Advice Please!!

Nurses New Nurse

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Hello all. I find myself in a very difficult situation and am in need of advice. I won't go into too much detail. I have been working as an RN as a new grad for 6 months in an extremely busy cardiac step-down unit. I was told in my initial interview that we would only have 4 patients during the day shift and no more than 5 from the 3-11 shift and that there would always be at least one PCT on the floor at all times. I have been taking on 5-6 patients at a time during day shift without patient care. When we actually do have patient care, they don't do anything except vital signs. I leave work feeling like I went through a tornado hanging on for dear life. My BP was 150/90 the other day which is extremely high for me. I am hesitant about leaving the job because I've only worked there for 6 months, but I feel like it's just too overwhelming. The other nurses on the floor feel the same and it seems no one is doing anything about it. Any advice?

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Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

I don't know how much advice I can offer you, because our floor is in pretty much the same position.

I work PCU, and was told 3-4 pts on NOC shift. The reality has been 4 pts, and fairly often (mostly lately it seems) 5 pts, with no techs or just one. We have been frequently having to work with no monitor techs, and no US either.

I can't count the numbers of times we will have one tech on, and have to do our own I's & O's, baths, even vitals. I totally understand that one tech can't do all 25 pts, but it is killing us RN's.

Anyway, I guess the only thing I can say is that you aren't alone. :(

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Specializes in Adult Acute Care Medicine.

Man do I feel lucky...I work in a busy med/surge unit. The pts are pretty acute...but we never get more than 4 (in my limited 6 week experience)....the aids are all so excellent at getting vitals, I/O's, doing baths, answering call lights...

My nurse manager has worked hard to get enough $ to keep a good RN/pt ratio...everyone is better off I think.

I would be pretty upset if I was given false info! Do you feel comfortable bringing that conversation up?...("When I accepted the position I was under the impression that I would have 4 pts....")

Hope you figure out something to keep your sanity..its stressful enough being new..let alone what you are going through.

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Specializes in NICU.

It's ok to LEAVE!!

They're not living up to what they told you in the initial interview. They lied. That's not a good thing.

Don't feel bad for leaving a place like that after only 6 months. You shouldn't feel so stressed out about work EVERY day. Nursing is stressful at times, but it shouldn't be affecting your health like that all the time. Please do something good for yourself and leave.

The first job I got right out of school was extremely stressful, my patient load was horrendous, and I was always crying before work. I put up with it for 5 months and then left. I have a great job now and while I'm stressed out at times, it's not like the constant stress at my old job. It's so nice being able to say I enjoy my job now.

Start looking elsewhere, there is NO reason you need to put up with this and there's no reason you should be putting your license in jeopardy like that, you've worked too hard to get it!

Good luck to you, let us know how it goes!

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I really appreciate all of your advice and comments! I've heard that the other hospitals in my area have both quality and quantity sufficient PCTs. I thought that the reason I was so stressed out was because I'm still relatively new, but all of the other "seasoned" nurses feel the same way. I go back and forth trying to decide on whether or not to quit. I guess the only good thing is the fact that most of the nurses are helpful. In the meantime, I'll look around at my options. :uhoh3:

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