is it just new nurse adjustment period? or a bad fit?

[surfer betty crocker]

hey all just looking for some pespective. first and foremost thank you to all on this site that provide real world perspective and encouraging feedback.

basically my story is the same. have been a new nurse on my own for about two months now and i am just in shock. i work on a busy cardiac floor with about 7-8 pts. i do work nights. i cry going to work and driving home from work. i hear it gets better, but each shift i work seems to get more and more difficult and im not sure what is going on here.to add to my confusion a lot of people i talk to say 'oh that is a great facility" -really? i feel physically and mentally ill. my floor is considered 'young' as i began to notice a trend: management and staff that i come across have been there for the most--2 years. a majority of nurses that i come across have been there for one year at most, and by majority i literally mean 9/10. is this a red flag? i had a question about a specific policy, went to my charge not once, not twice but three times and was given incorrect info. from which then i proceeded to take the advice and subsequently get 'written up' for it.now i do not trust that charge. and i stated to the NM exactly what i was told, but still it all came down on me. i do not shirk responsibility, but as a newbie that repeatedly questioned/working nights/went up the right 'chain of command' i feel like i was set up. that was my last straw. i have prior hospital experience. i am green but i am a 2nd degree and a bit older than the ave. newbie.

sorry this is a long rant but my bottom line is how long is long enough to decide that maybe its the facility/floor and not JUST the adjustment? i am physically ill, stress is interfering with personal relationships. i can't think at all some nights and it is not getting easier. i feel like the only things i am learning are that i am a weaker person than i thought and have major anxiety in regards to being able to manage details and 7/8 patients who are all high anxiety. the only thing that helps me with my anxiety is calming anxious patients down. given the nature of the floor, i cannot spend too much time w patients or i will just put myself behind the eight ball. sorry this is so long but from all nurses who read this: when does a new nurse know 'when to say when?" in regards to a bad fit vs. normal newbie 'adjustment'??

[eccentricRN]

As a newbie myself I have to say I'd be questioning the fit myself in your situation. I am having a really good time orientating on my unit. The staff is mostly newer as yours sounds, but there are plenty of experienced nurses as well. I can ask anyone anything & they'll take time to help me out or get me pointed in the right direction. I feel like my schooling was more than adequate and I actually look forawrd to going to work.

I, have had postions in the past that I absolutely DREADED the days I had to work. So I would suggest looking elsewhere if you are truly becoming emotionally & physically unwell @ your current place of employment.

I think when the fit is right you'll know it in short order.

[snortzmom]

I am in exactly the same situation. A couple of weeks ago I decided that my work environment was toxic. I started not sleeping, feeling ill all the time. I love being a nurse and I am not going to let some burned out nurses take that away from me. I want to be at a facility where the staff is happy, and appreciates the fact that I am enthusiastic about nursing. If I have a question, I want to be able to ask it and get accurate information. I am a green 2nd degree nurse too. I want to go in, work hard, and have people appreciate the fact that I am there, not hold it against me that I am a newbie and some sort of liability. I don't date people I work with and I should be allowed to have a personal life outside of work. I want to be at a place where people are encouraged to achieve amazing things. Nursing is stressful enough without people trying to break you and your self esteem. My advice is to get out, now. Life is too short and the nursing opportunities too plentiful to work in a toxic environment. My new job starts March 17th!!

[surferbettycrocker]

kristink congrats to you for having hte courage to make that decision and get out. may i ask did you at your facility for a year or more? the reason i ask is that i am at my current hosp. for 6 months and i dont want to be considered a jobhopper. people that work there keep telling me things will get better but i have yet to experience that.i feel like most shifts are worse than the one before! since i have very limited hospital experience to go by..what is 'normal' i wonder?

staff on my shift is very very helpful but the patient load feels too much for me. i dont want to jump from the frying pan into the fire.

to all nurses out there reading this: i know the first year is stressful but is it supposed to be 8patients-acuterenalfailure-newonsetchestpain-allrightat change of shift stressful? i know 'sick' people go into the hospital but on a floor how sick are sick? meaning i am beginning to feel like the pt. load is too much for the types of people i get.

how do you know when your limits have been reached? when is it normal to feel 'overwhlemed' and when does that turn into unsafe? when the details become so many even lists arent enough? i know everyone has to know their own limits but as a newbie nurse, i often find it tough to really have a good litmus test and to establish limits. i dont want to leave this profession but im not sure i can keep at this rate. is there really such a thing as being able to learn on the job or is feet first into the fire everywhere "just do it" because hosp. are such busy environments? or is it just that :heartbeatcardiac in general thats extra tough

any advice?

:icon_roll

[snortzmom]

I have been there for 8 months now and I know what you are saying about not wanting to be a jobhopper. From what everyone says, it is normal to feel overwhelmed for about 2 years. I am fine with overwhelmed. What I am not fine about is working for a facility that lacks resources (like right now we have 1 ER tech for 14 nurses) and isn't supportive (makes me feel stupid for asking questions). When I feel like a) I might hurt someone or b) my license is at risk, it is a pretty good indication that I might not be in the right fit for my current skill set. The new place I will be has 1 tech for every 4 nurses, nurses work as a team, and people are encouraged to ask questions and go even go to grad school.

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

The ratio you're working with sounds pretty unsafe. I work in telemetry and our ratio is 4:1 (granted, its california and we have ratio limits). I'm am so sorry to hear that you have to go through this. Have you talked to your manager about your issues? I think a reasonable manager would want to know about these issues, but maybe she is having issues of her own (staffing, FTEs, etc). Who knows if anything would be resolved if you talked to her, but it never hurts to try. Good luck to you and I hope you get it worked out soon!