should i quit?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN

1 Article; 909 Posts

Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

First, My heart breaks for you!

You must have a bad taste in your mouth for nursing already, but better is out there. And, as long as your in the position you are in, are you doing your shift the same way everyday? Or, are you trying new things like organization, and delegation when possible? Are you trying to handle everything yourself?

You are probably surrounded by resources you didn't realize you had. Talk to your nurse manager about how you feel, and see if she/he has constructive criticism for you.

Several studies have been done about breaks in the nursing profession. They always turn out the same information: Breaks make you MORE productive, sharper thinking, less frustrated, and gives you a chance to plan and re-evaluate your daily goals. This all said, if it's just the unit you are in, and thats 95% of the problem, take a day off to job hunt.

On the working off the clock, thats just blatently against Federal Labor Laws, and this makes me Sick! You have a right to be "on the clock," and if anyone is forcing you off, they are a CRIMINAL! (Unless it is for you to go home, or end your shift work).

Slavery ended in the 19th Century (200 Years ago!), and you don't have to put up with that.

As far as supporting your parents go, I totally feel you their, my parents financial lives are in ruin, and I have always helped them out, and I know the stress that causes you. If you don't change your situation, you will definitely burn out, lose your health, and NOT be able to support anyone. Be good to yourself, and know that you deserve a fair work environment, and that we alone are the masters of our on fate. Once you have that great job, come back and help someone else on AN, I know it can happen, just take those reigns and make it. Start by sending out your resume, reading classifieds, Networking with friends, and reading about other areas of Nursing you can potentially move into.

We only live once, and you have achieved way to much to go out like this! Take a deep breath, form a plan, and act on it!

May Good Luck, Fortune, and Peace come your way.

Wishinonastar, BSN

1 Article; 1,000 Posts

Why are you not paid for your overtime? Is this forced by management? If so they are breaking the law. I have done this in home care, worked on my charts at home n my own time. But this was at a time when I was very well paid. Now my pay has dropped considerably in terms of real dollars and I will not work off the clock. You must claim your overtime. All nurses need to do this and stop letting management force you to work unpaid overtime. It is only through unity and pressure applied to employers that we can ever hope to effect change.

I agree, LTC is draining. You will get better, faster, and stronger in time. The hardest part of any job is the first 6 months. Acute care is not much better, but staffing wise it usually is. If you want a slower pace there are other areas of nursing to consider. Try to stick it out for a year. It looks better on your record. Then if it still stinks move on.

I am sorry for you but reality is that few nursing jobs are enjoyable. Work is work, otherwise they would call it fun.

I remember my first job on a miserable Ortho unit in a hospital. I hated going to work every day. I worked at that same hospital for five years previously as an aide and LOVED it. This unit was full of fighting, backbiting, turnover. Three head nurses in one year. Just a miserable bunch. I marked on a calendar the one year point and crossed off every day until that day came. Then I quit. I never looked back. A terrible experience but I learned so much in that year. I am glad I stayed. I wish it had gone otherwise and I could have stayed at that hospital, but you never know what life is going to throw at you. I wanted out of there so bad that I took the first job I found. Anything to escape. I feel for you.

newpn04

14 Posts

I just worked my first shift by myself yesterday from 3-11. and I have to say I did not get a break or even get to sit down till 2315 when I was writing my nursing notes. I work at a ALF so that is a little different because really none of the residents there need full care, but they all need alot of meds. For me I think it is just having to get used to the environment, getting to know the residents and getting in the flow of things. I have to say for me I felt good, because I got everything done and left at 2340.

Also, I see it as a common practice where I work too for staff to clock out but stay longer or clock out for lunch but not go. I will say that I know that is illegal and I did not clock out for lunch because I did not go to lunch. I will see if there is a problem with this later!

Wishinonastar, BSN

1 Article; 1,000 Posts

There is definitely a problem with it because it is illegal, but if you can't go to lunch, you can't. We used to have to write "No lunch" on the time card to show that we did not get a break. They nagged about it, but oh well. When you cannot stop work, you just can't. You are not alone, at least know that.

i was in your same position. i am new graduate RN, passed my NCLEX this past october. i applied for hundreds of jobs and nothing came along until a nursing home/rehab center called me. i took the job with no hesitation as i needed one. it was great money and full time. so i started there in december. right away i knew this job wasnt for me. i weighed 133 when i started and quickly lost 10 pounds because of stress and not eating. no time for breaks. no time to pee. no time for lunch. stayed after 2-3 hours a night on the days when i had an admission come in, just to finish filling out the ridiculous amount of paperwork. working the crappy 3-11:30pm schedule, 5 days a week. basically not even having a life outside of work. some nights i would just cry because of how much i hated it there. i would literally get a stomach ache walking in the door of that place.

i wanted to quit so bad, but knowing that i am a new RN and it would not look good on my resume that i quit my first nursing job. i toughed it out, and began looking for new employment. i am still currently there, but accepted a new job in a hospital and put my 2 weeks in. i am so happy to be leaving. it is very tough, and i totally understand where your coming from. my advice is to tough it out, until something new comes along. you have to be persistent and something will come.

Anne36, LPN

1,361 Posts

How long did you get for orientation as a new Grad? Do you see other Nurses staying after for 2-3 hours to chart? Im getting nervous about having my first job. I certainly did not plan on working over my shift regularly.

Specializes in ICU.

Start looking while you stay there. But in the mean time, STOP working for free. Thats BS. Your not the only one apparently. If you all decided to STOP giving them free labor they will eventually have to hire someone. Talk to HR. 3-4 hours your there after your shift? Unacceptable. Ask for more orientation, or you guys need to group up and tell them your not going to continue doing that anymore. Im pretty sure thats illegal. I just have never understood the mentality of nurses who are willing to stay over and not get paid. Especially that much. But yes start looking elsewhere. And when you interviewing because you still have a Job you can be more picky, ask more questions so you will really know what your getting into.

lavender59

186 Posts

What you are experiencing is not uncommon. That's when your time management comes in. Gain more experience while you are there before going somewhere. However, you need to take care of yourself as well like using the bathroom and eating on your breaktime.

KRODD

116 Posts

I start as a LPN on Monday, how many pt. do you have?

interleukin

382 Posts

Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

If you do not learn to say "no" you will slowly be eaten alive.

And if you do internalize that your health and well being is more important(yes, that's right) than the of the residents you care for, the place in which you work, and the management that views you as a warm expendable body, then you will have a short career in nursing and you will end up hating everything.

sunny4you

10 Posts

Coming from a nurse who has been there and done it for 12 years, I can finally say I got a better job. But I totally know what you're talking about, coming from a 42 bed unit, working 37.5hrs, but really 40+ because I 90% of the time, I never took a am break. I would work my am break to cover CNA'S that were on their am breaks they never missed, plus, I worked through my break, so to speak. I not only covered my side but I made sure people did their work and that they were accountable. Many times I would cry silently simply because people weren't accountable or it just wasn't as important for them to take care of this elderly population as I was. In my last two years, before I took another job, I was constantly trying to find a less stressful job, and thank God, I was graced with a job that wasn't as damaging as far as the stress was concerned. I don't know how I made it, between coming on the unit, doing BG's, giving insulin, helping people to get onto the toilet or prevent them from falling r/t cognitive impairment, give meds, wound dressing changes, incident reports, answer phones as needed, take orders off, help people again to get on or off the toilet, help with lunch seeing I couldn't help with breakfast meal, pass water seeing that I needed to remind the aide to pass H2o, (which she many times didn't get), straighten out rooms/closets, and sometimes give baths/showers. In between then, go to the bathroom and swallow my food many times in 20 min. for lunch. Also, put cd's/videos in for them, pass nourishments, and sometimes take them off the unit for a change of scenery. Its too much work, for those of us that really care because people do take advantage of you, Oh, yeah, and God forbid you work OT, like the time I worked 2 hours and the nm told me I can't work overtime but the lazy sacks of poohs that had worked as cna's extra shifts, lets say two extra 8 hr shifts that week, couldn't pull their weight during the week were approved for their shifts but I got pulled in office for 2 hrs of overtime, I'll never forget that!! Oh, and cleaning nails cutting nails and putting on make-up was also put into my weekly shift. Many days, I don't know how I did it, except my God who gave me the grace to hang in there, its so sad!! I don't know what to say to you except you have to look at yourself and decide if you can really do this at the intensity that you do, because you come first ultimately, or you or your family will suffer unfortunately.

pyocola

6 Posts

30+ beds with lots of psych problems. they frown upon the overtime and you will get "the talk" from the manager. and feel that i should be competent enough to be able to finish everything on time or its my fault if i do not. but it seems just impossible to do so. i don't mind staying up and about for 8 hrs straight, but the paper works afterwards, off the clock just breaks me.

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