Male RN wanting to get some advice.

Nurses Men

Published

Nurses Month 2024 | Discounts & Freebies AORN Celebrates Nurses Month

About Me: I'm a 32 yo male RN, a hard working RN just like the rest of us here!

My story: I have been a great and safe RN for the last 2 years and I work in a PCU department. But my anxiety level from a scale of 0-10 is somewhere between 7-8 which occurs the day I'm scheduled to work, the time before I go to work, when I get to work, and while I'm working. I probably feel my anxiety level going up aybe because our patients' acuity are high. (BTW let me include the heart palpitations :D and I think I'm sacrificing my health). In addition, I'm tired mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Anyways, my anxiety has been high from the moment I became an RN. To make the long story short, here comes the opportunity knocking on my door to transfer to a lesser acute unit which is a 24 hour observation unit minus the vents and CABGs.

My Question: is should I switch over to a lesser level of "Stress" or should I stick with my unit to gain more experience? Just an FYI, I do plan in getting my BSN and I'm thinking the 24 hr unit observation would somehow alleviate the, again, stress, thus I'll be able to focus on my studies.

Basing upon your experiences: What would you recommend? Would advice me to go to a lesser level of care. I don't think one would lose his or her skills right? Because that's the only reason why I'm having second thoughts. Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA: LTC & DD.

I'm a CNA, and when my last job stressed me to the point where it affected my health, I found another one that wasn't so stressful. I think that's just taking care of your self and plain common sense for anybody in any field. You've been there 2 years, you gave it more than a fair chance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Men in Nursing Forum

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Your health comes first. Do you feel you have more that you want to learn/experience from your current job?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

a little bit of serenity goes a long way in my book. all acute care nursing is stressful whether it be acute rehab or icu or tele; however, if there are areas that one feels more comfortable with, that's where they should go. less stress= living longer & sleeping better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

After 12 years of intense ICU, I have just started working in dialysis. Talking with the staff at the new unit reveals that many have 15 to 28 years of nursing experience in many different areas, or perhaps the same area of expertise, but different institutions. For many RNs, that seems to be the secret to longevity.

Do what you have to do and don't feel bad doing it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, telemetry, Medical and Surgical.

Hey DudeinNursing,

Nursing is one of the stressful professions. Depending on what type of nursing you do, the level of stress varies. I understand how stressful to be in PCU and it is even more stressful in ICU. I am pretty sure that when you decided to become a nurse, stress is one of the factors that you considered. To help you out with your concern, identify first what causes you to have an increasing stress. If being busy makes you too stressful, take a break. If the acuity of patient make you stressful, talk to your charge nurse maybe your assignment can be modified. If a co-worker is giving you stress, express out your feelings by yelling and kicking your co-worker's butt (just kidding, I just want to make you smile while your reading this). Kidding aside, talk to that person and make your co-worker aware of the situation. Communication is a way of expressing your concerns.

About palpitations... are drinking too much coffee? limit or possibly stop. Hospital coffee are high in cafeine because they are cheap. :jester: Deep breath and compose yourself everytime you feel that. I agree with the rest of the responses you got here, HEALTH is a priority. Advancing your career is a good choice. Take your BSN but make sure that you will be able to manage your time. I really don't know if you need to change nursing area. Transition is also stressful. The fact that you will undergo orientation or preceptor process "again"... what if your preceptor is a monster? Think about it first especially that you plan of getting BSN degree. List down your priorities and the challenges that you will encounter. I will say this again, HEALTH will always be a priority.

Good luck on your career. Despite of the stresses you have, I am proud of your achievements!!!:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Anyways, my anxiety has been high from the moment I became an RN.

This statement really stood out for me. Will that anxiety follow you to a "less stressful" sitaution? Is the anxiety within you, or is it truly the job...or a combination of...are your coworkers as anxious and stressed out as you? Only you can answer that. I'm not saying you shouldn't find a less stressful job if this one is killing you. I've left several stressful jobs without regret. It's not worth your mental and physical health.

However, you also need to take a good hard look at yourself and how you react to stress. Things can, and do wrong wrong in an obsv. unit...you might find you pick up a whole new set of anxieties as you stress about the "what ifs........".

I agree with the poster above, that nursing is stressful no matter where you go....since those areas tend to have a high RN to patient ratio and still are a lot of work.

All the best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in informatics for 10 years.
But my anxiety level from a scale of 0-10 is somewhere between 7-8 which occurs the day I'm scheduled to work, the time before I go to work, when I get to work, and while I'm working.

Do you enjoy being a nurse? It might just not be that the acuity of patients makes you anxious, but the fact that you don't like your job.

If anything, health is above all. I would take the less stressful job and then, I would see if the anxiety remains. If the anxiety goes away, then it was definitely your previous job. If it remains, maybe find another role within nursing, or find a new career.

All the best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Moved to the Men in Nursing Forum

why did this need to be moved to the men in nursing forum? not sure where it started out. he never said he was looking for advice from male nurses only, seems the female colleagues would have similar situations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

I know this is a late post, but if you happen to check it, I'll write: Your stress level is high, so instead of switching (if you haven't already), why dont you nurse yourself? Stress reducing techniques, learn more about your patient's Diagnoses and medications to give you more capability, etc. These things will lessen your anxiety. Of course, if you want to switch, DO IT! Dont feel like you're giving up or you're not good enough so you have to transfer to an easier task/floor- EVERY task/ floor is important, and every experience is imporant, regardless of the acuity. If you've already switched, awesome - there's no wrong answer here! BRIAN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been literally breaking my back in a Medical ICU taking care of patients who are all bigger than me, on vents and need to be turned every 2 hours with one other person my size. I have recently developed a facet joint inflammation in 2 lumbar vertebrae from all the heavy lifting I've been doing. I was on a 3 month contract in this unit with 6 weeks to go and I resigned the other day b/c I think the same thing will happen again once this heals and could be worse the next time around. What the real red flag was was when the director told me they sent many nurses to workman's comp for back injury after finding out that I did not file an incident report b/c I didn't want to do the workman's comp thing. Anyways, my Medical ICU days are over...not worth jeapardizing my back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment