I worked for 6 weeks (on training and in some days left on my own) at a LTC, then I resigned without 2 wks notice. I was drowning and couldn't get my job done. I only have up to 24 patients but some are high acuity, some need more time, and there are those that have increased temperature, or aspirating, wheezing, having seizures etc etc.
There's too many interruptions, too many details to learn as a new nurse. It was very unfortunate, I couldn't get it right. I felt dumb in the latter part. At first it was okay, stayed in one home with 20 patients for 12 days and got to establish rapport to residents, learn every resident by name, face and how they behave. Then I go training to different areas and to different schedules. I was scared, overwhelmed and couldn't get my work done. It was so frustrating to some of my preceptors because being new I was slow. I had problems with signing MAR/TAR but there's no time for me to recheck because I eat up so much time preparing and giving meds, giving attention to interruptons. By the time I finish giving meds and Trx, it's time to report.... I had to resign because I was miserable, I can't stop thinking about my job even if I'm at home, can't sleep well. It really felt like drowning. I resigned after my schedule because I felt if I stay it will be more risky for my patients and my license.
I'm scared now, they might look after my misses and they have me reported... I am poor, no money, and if things go wrong for me, I don't know how it's going to be...
Please tell me about your experiences on quitting without 2 weeks notice. How you dealt with it? If you're on trainng will your employer report you to the BON for mistakes even if you didn't cause a patient's death?
Hi, don't get me wrong, most of my co workers were great... my only problem was being overwhelmed. THe kind that makes my stomach go upside down and when at home, I only think of what I've missed. It's very stressful especially when my patients get sick, they're elderly and makes me feel frustrated, being new, I can't do much.
Trust me, I know...... from experience You'll learn one of the "perks" about nursing soon enough, and you'll hear it often, is that "nursing is a 24/7 job". That's what report is for. That's what the next shift is for. Do what you CAN (and even then try a little more, in my opinion), but that's what you have the workers after you for! If you tried to wrap up EVERYTHING, well, hell, they might as well rent you out a small room in the building with a cot and a small microwave for you to live at.
You're right though, that you can't control much of what happens with the elderly. Their conditions change rapidly, and often times, their conditions are so individualized, so its even harder for you being a new grad because you don't know their baseline to begin with. But I promise, once you begin to know them and understand their norms, it becomes much, MUCH easier. You'll have to learn to let go of the guilt that you feel at first when you're just starting out, because you can only control whats within your means of doing so. As long as you're up on your assessments, you're doing your meds correctly, and reporting to the next shift what's appropriate, well, you're doing all that anyone can ask for.
If you want my opinion, I'd say Medical/Surgical might be a good start for you at first. I HATED Med/Surg, and will NOT do it again or hospital work anytime soon, but I'll give it credit on one thing.... it made me a better nurse. It helped me develop time management skills, and it helped me on my prioritization skills. Give it a go for a bit, and it may help you feel more comfortable with all of the basics!
Goodluck, and if you have any questions feel free to ask! You'll be ok. You realized when something wasn't right for you right off the bat, so you're ahead of the game on that aspect
jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN
333 Posts
Trust me, I know...... from experience
You'll learn one of the "perks" about nursing soon enough, and you'll hear it often, is that "nursing is a 24/7 job". That's what report is for. That's what the next shift is for. Do what you CAN (and even then try a little more, in my opinion), but that's what you have the workers after you for! If you tried to wrap up EVERYTHING, well, hell, they might as well rent you out a small room in the building with a cot and a small microwave for you to live at.
You're right though, that you can't control much of what happens with the elderly. Their conditions change rapidly, and often times, their conditions are so individualized, so its even harder for you being a new grad because you don't know their baseline to begin with. But I promise, once you begin to know them and understand their norms, it becomes much, MUCH easier. You'll have to learn to let go of the guilt that you feel at first when you're just starting out, because you can only control whats within your means of doing so. As long as you're up on your assessments, you're doing your meds correctly, and reporting to the next shift what's appropriate, well, you're doing all that anyone can ask for.
If you want my opinion, I'd say Medical/Surgical might be a good start for you at first. I HATED Med/Surg, and will NOT do it again or hospital work anytime soon, but I'll give it credit on one thing.... it made me a better nurse. It helped me develop time management skills, and it helped me on my prioritization skills. Give it a go for a bit, and it may help you feel more comfortable with all of the basics!
Goodluck, and if you have any questions feel free to ask! You'll be ok. You realized when something wasn't right for you right off the bat, so you're ahead of the game on that aspect