Lots, Lots, and Lots of anxiety with new job

[AngRN6726]

Just started new snf job and was placed on the floor after 4 shifts of orientation.

1st night had about 25 patients, I was running literally running all night to give pain pills, help answer call lights, and give morn meds and did not finish on time so supervisor was upset and said I cannot be doing overtime then DON approached me as well.

2nd night by myself was supervisor and again walking fast all noc trying to finish everything I had to do them then I was reemed by am supervisor (which the staff developer was present at that time and agreed with her) because I completed the CNA staff assignment wrong and she had to fix it, also forgot to update some forms that upset the nursing staff and I could tell they were complaining about me in their language to the supervisor.

I stayed quiet and gave report, stayed late again and felt horrible and stupid all the way home.

Ive been off and start again tomm and having a lot of anxiety. Husband is upset because he says if I cared about us getting back on our feet financially I would not let it bother me and stick out.

The place is 90% of a certain culture and whenever I smile and introduce myslef to my coworkers they just look the other way or when I ask for help or ask where could I find something they say "I dont know" or "go look over there", and these nurses have been there for years so I know they just dont want to help me,maybe because I am from a different culture.

The other small percentage of my coworkers also not of the majority culture are very helpful and always seem to be nice and available.

I have been a nurse for years but am new grad RN and in the past I have been in a leadership position where I also had to train new employees and I never treated them like this.

If I saw they were putting the effort to learn and do their job I helped them in any way I could or just reminded them in a calm manner if they forgot to do something.

So it is a little hard to understand why people treat each other like this especially when this company and their managers go on about wanting their employees to stay but like the SD that witnessed how the am supervisor treated me and agreed how she handled the situation.

I feel that if this treatment from the am supervisor continues I have to take it because she has been there for 30 some years and no one will do anything about it since I am new and a new grad.

I apologize for the ongoing rant, I am sure many nurses out there with lots of experience have gone through this and probably worse and didn't complain. But it helps me to talk about here.

Thanks for reading.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Welcome to LTC.

All you can do is tough this out and provide the best patient care you can until you can find another job. They know that's what you are going to do too so they are treating you like dirt.

Ok, so now you know the situation.

The first thing to do is to stop allowing your coworkers to make you feel bad. Of course they want to make you feel bad, they are the enemy. So don't be surprised when they treat you like the enemy. The other thing to do is to immediately stop saying, "But I wouldn't do that to them. I don't treat people like that."

Of course you don't. You are not an evil moron - like your enemy. So don't expect your idiot coworkers to act right. This attitude sounds harsh, but it sure helps you understand what you are up against.

The best way to stick it to them is to take care of patients. They hate that because it means you succeeded in spite of their efforts to torpedo you. Residents and families will gush about how good a nurse you are to your supervisor. (This really cheeses off your slacker colleagues.) When you leave that job, turn in a proper notice, smile and say, "Nice to work with all of you."

Then, on the inside, say "Smell ya later you jackholes!" and float on out the door.

I know this won't be easy. Because I've been there and it's not.

Good luck!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You have not received the proper training to this "facility".STOP beating yourself up!!!

Sounds like there is plenty of that already going on. Husband included. He does not care WHAT you are going through.. as long as you bring home a paycheck???

Of course you will make mistakes. At least it wasn't with resident care, just some paperwork that sounds like should not even be your responsibility.

I also worked a year with that "culture". You will NOT change it, start looking now.I would even just leave and do some agency/ home care while I was looking.

In the meantime..look them in the eye.... each and every time and say "I am new here.. I expect you to do this/ help me ..etc. Works occasionally;)

Seriously, it's a no win situation... get out and good luck.

[AngRN6726]

Thank you both for everything you said! I have been beating myslef up and feeling so down. I dont have any nursing friends that I can talk to about this but I am sure if I did they would tell me exactly what both of you said. Your words mean so much and they made my week. I am now ready to start again tonight, do my job and go home, until it is time to look for another place to work. I will remind myself I am there for my patients and not for anyone else!

THANK YOU Been there done that and MN-Nurse!!

"What doesnt kill you makes you stronger!"

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

That quote from Nietzsche is hanging up in my cubicle.

Good luck.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

That sucks. I don't have advice, but just offering support.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Get out pronto.

Very hostile place, that has set you up for failure on many levels. When you're facing hostility of this nature on all fronts the chance for success is remote, and the price you'll pay for attempting to succeed may not be worth it, even if it is possible.

Oh, and show your husband this thread.

[FutureRN_NP]

I can relate to you in most part 99.9% I am new. Just started out 2 1/2 months ago. I also dislike how I am treated at work. I have to chase for my schedule. I was not told when to work but literally have to hunt down the staff developer for it. It is getting old by the way and I believe this should not be happening despite the fact that I am PRN. As for the husband, tell him to suck it. My husband said the same to me which irate me. They do not understand that we are being thrown to the wolves and all they can think of is money. What they also do not realize your license can be in jeopardy. I apologize but when I hear a husband says that it irritate me. As for the co-workers, they treat me the exact same way you describe. I am the baby nurse so they normally do not care taking time to explain. However, a few are very nice and would not mind at all answering questions. My supervisor is great.

[AngRN6726]

Thanks CrunchRN for the support! Really need it.

GutterCat I have been thing the same thing. Sure the pay is great! But man I just dont think its worth all this abuse!

FutureRN_NP, thank you! It feels good to know someone else is also going through this.

To update, worked last noc and back to my running running running. This time I had wonderful CNA's that helped me as much as they could. Boy did that make my night that they acutally cared. However, I ran late with meds due to sending out a pt 911. Tried really hard working fast, no break, and passin meds to 23 pts.

I ended up trying to finish pass meds at 0750, which made me more behind because pts were awake or family members were there and were requesting pain pills or other PRN meds.

When I told oncoming nurse what they wanted all she did was step aside from the med cart and said oh ok go ahead and give it or ok here it is take it to them.

Gave report to the manager because the am nurse said she was busy passing meds and then after I gave report I got lectured that I shouldnt be staying late and that I need to work on my time management and should be finished with my meds by 0630 meds by 0630 because then I make the am nurse late with her meds.

When I asked her give me a ballpark figure how long does it take a new staff member to get their routine down she said she couldnt answer that because everyone is different. ( yeah right) and this was just icing on the cake compared to the night I just had.

Everyone I see stays over, the nurse who gave me report stayed 3 hours because of new admits. Everyone does it, nurses that have been there for years stay over , Oh but thats ok because they clock out and finish. I guess not ok if its me.

This place is craaaazzzyyyy!!!!

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

When I asked her give me a ballpark figure how long does it take a new staff member to get their routine down she said she couldnt answer that because everyone is different. ( yeah right) and this was just icing on the cake compared to the night I just had.

This place is craaaazzzyyyy!!!!

You asked a non-supportive manager a ballpark question, and you received an evasive, ballpark answer.

Imagine that.

:)

You'll know when it's time to leave.

Do the best you can do and don't beat yourself up. Learn from this experience, and use it to your advantage as such, but protect your professional interests and your future, because they're not.

Someday, this will be a distant memory. :)

[lrobinson5]

When you leave that job, turn in a proper notice, smile and say, "Nice to work with all of you."

Then, on the inside, say "Smell ya later you jackholes!" and float on out the door.

Best. Advice. EVER.

If I could like the post more than once, I totally would!

[AngRN6726]

You asked a non-supportive manager a ballpark question, and you received an evasive, ballpark answer.

Imagine that.

:)

You'll know when it's time to leave.

Do the best you can do and don't beat yourself up. Learn from this experience, and use it to your advantage as such, but protect your professional interests and your future, because they're not.

Someday, this will be a distant memory. :)

Thanks GutterCat! I like your advice very much. Im going to listen to my instincts of when its time to say bye, and Im going to do it just like MN-Nurse said saying nice working with you and thanks for the memories jackholes!! LOL love that!

Both the other new girl and me got yelled at by the night super last noc for not doing the refridgerator temp checks and how we need to be faster at giving the 6 am meds and should be done by 630am for 25 patients. I think I am getting used to all this abuse cause it didn't phase me. I just said ok and went back to my charting. Like you said, its just not worth it beating myself about it, but it feels good that someone else understands like all of you here at allnurses. At least now I know I am not the crazy one....they are!

Thanks again GutterCat!