don't know why I'm putting up with this

EDnursetobe · Oct 25, 2011

i meant "every single thing"... can't type right now haha

JQ'sChick · Oct 25, 2011

I understand you are frustrated. Try not to think of what you are doing as "just a job". It's a career, one that you have chosen. You have spent time and money, studied many hours and worked hard to become a nurse. Don't let your current position discourage you. If you are truely unhappy at work you need to find a job where you will be happy. If you are miserable at work it will eventually be reflected in the care you give your patients. That's not fair to them. There are so many different types of nursing these days. Look at other options. Life is too short for you to continue to work where you are not happy. I wish you the best of luck. :hug:

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

I know this sounds cliche'...but it's true- it does get better. :) If you didn't feel like things are horrible, you'd actually be much scarier !! In the grand scope of your career, these first years are going to be a very small part- but very important in how you learn to deal with the mayhem. That just changes form in different areas, but it's always there- sometimes it's more the co-workers, sometimes the patients, sometimes the families, sometimes the docs, etc.

But, getting through it is also a sort of milestone. It is the pits- no doubt about it- but it does get better- and it ends!!

The saying says "this too shall pass"...NOT "this too shall stick around" :)

SweetheartRN · Oct 25, 2011

You can treat it as a job or as a career. That is up to you. I'm about to start treating it as a job b/c I have decided to become more focused on my family life than on my "career". By doing that however I am choosing to go work in a lower stress environment. I don't think I could treat it as a job if I were continuing to work in an inpatient setting.

I don't want to discourage you at all, as I'm sure it does get better if you stick it out. I cannot give you advice on that b/c I am choosing not to do so as far as hospital nursing goes. I don't have the desire to stick it out and be miserable unnecessarily. (I.E. I have no student loans, I don't need the money, etc...)

You are a new grad and when they give you that look (I'm assuming this is during report) just keep on going with your report as if you didn't even see it. This is what I've done. I've gotten a little better everyday and take note of the things I missed even thinking about, let alone, did, but don't let their dissatisfaction consume or frustrate you. You did the best you could that day. It takes a while to fully integrate everything that a nurse has to pull together caring for a patient. It takes awhile to see the full picture and be able to care for that patient on a highly competent level. Day by day you will pull the time management, med management, adl management, diagnosis, clinical picture, etc. all together on your patient and will actually know what you're doing and why you're doing what you're doing for the patient and where their plan of care is headed. I truly believe that.

I think it would happen for me to if I were going to stay long enough to find out........but I realize I no longer have the desire to do all that needs to be done in the hospital setting and I just want a familiar daily routine where I'm helping people but in a non acute care setting b/c my life really begins when I clock out not when I clock in.