Well my manager and I finally had the big talk. I told her that I was not happy on my unit. Med/surg is too much for me. I graduated school last December. I knew Med/surg was not right for me even then..but I took the job because I had no experience and my mother knew the DON. I cannot handle the stress of having as many as 7-8 patients a day, with admits and discharges. I was fine working in ICU with a preceptor with 1-2 patients that were on a normal schedule.
But I've been working for three months now. I just can't seem to get a pace set down and my own rhythm going. Orientation is horrid, I was on it for 5 weeks, got to work on my own for 2 months then they decided after I had a panic attack on nights to do orientation on day shift. I've not been trying to get back on my own for three weeks now and they still don't feel I'm ready due to my pacing and organization.
The issue is now I need to start looking for another job asap. I need to keep working there until I do find something.
Is this just going to be a problem on any unit? Is there somewhere I can go where pacing is more even and I can actually collect my thoughts?
Thank you everyone for all the advice, I am signing papers to move to a rehab unit today that is a little closer to where I live and actually provides us with a CNA (we had to do our own vitals and CNA work for our patients unless there were over ten on the floor) and the manager is very down to earth. I told her of my issues on the last floor, and she is willing to work with me about those things. The one thing that makes me nervous is it involves paper charting. But it looks like its a better opportunity for someone like me who has a difficult time handling fast paced environments.
I don't think I will go back for a while. I think i want to try this new rehab facility and see how it works out. Maybe when I can get a better pace and organization there I can consider going back to acute floors.
I don't know. 7-8 patients is a lot for M/S. I think the high ratios are doing you in..follow Commuters advice. See if your manager will let you transfer to a different unit at the same hospital....maybe a unit that is better staffed/with a lighter patient load....
WE only have Med/surg, ER and ICU where I work. Unfortunately I don't think ICU or ER is fit for me either at this point.
One of the things that screams out to me in your post is that your hospital only gave you 5 weeks of orientation. Sorry, but 5 weeks for a brand new grad is inadequate. Period. And I know that there are places with less orientation, etc... But the fact of the matter is that you have to set a new grad up for success. Only giving them 5 weeks of orientation and then giving them a patient load of 7+ patients is generally a recipe for failure.
As far as the ICU goes, I would probably steer clear of that if I were you right now. Yes, you only get 1-2 patients, but the amount of work you do per patient is often at least the same amount of work you would do for your 7+ med/surg patients.
I recently discussed this with a family member, and they told me that it was wrong of them to move me around so much. This place is in the middle of moving its management around and right now it's very chaotic. Half the time we're so understaffed we beg nurses to stay five or six hours after their shift is over or have to place security with 1 on 1-ers. Heck, if there's not more than ten patients on the floor nurses have to do full CNA work for their patients and we have new charting to fill in every other week it seems.
I have a new place to go to, the only thing that makes me nervous is paper charting for it. But maybe it will help me focus on good care and assessment of my patients instead of computers and whether or not one patient is wanting a soda and complains to the staff if they dont get it instantly.
If you are in Florida you are basically screwed - almost all m/s units are going to grossly understaff you.
Sheri Lynn
This is why MedSurge wasn't a good fit for me. Live in FL, loved my last job and co-workers, but the unit was always, always, always short. Now I do UC and I am so much happier!
This is why MedSurge wasn't a good fit for me. Live in FL, loved my last job and co-workers, but the unit was always, always, always short. Now I do UC and I am so much happier!
I feel your pain. What state are you working in? If you are in Florida you are basically screwed - almost all m/s units are going to grossly understaff you.
I agree with trying another area like a medical office or NH. NH can be fast paced, but in a different way. At least there are other areas to try. M/S is not for the faint of heart or someone who can't negotiate the changes throughout the day while doing all the necessary assessments and care. It's not easy.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I thought Florida had mandated ratios?
Nope.
California is the only state in the union with legally mandated nurse/patient ratios for acute care facilities. The other 49 states have no legally mandated ratios whatsoever.
One of the things that screams out to me in your post is that your hospital only gave you 5 weeks of orientation. Sorry, but 5 weeks for a brand new grad is inadequate. Period. And I know that there are places with less orientation, etc... But the fact of the matter is that you have to set a new grad up for success. Only giving them 5 weeks of orientation and then giving them a patient load of 7+ patients is generally a recipe for failure.
As far as the ICU goes, I would probably steer clear of that if I were you right now. Yes, you only get 1-2 patients, but the amount of work you do per patient is often at least the same amount of work you would do for your 7+ med/surg patients.
I only received six weeks of orientation as a new nurse for Med-Surg with a five to seven patients load. It seems to be pretty common and expected for new grads to be able to hit the floor running after a short orientation.
snow22
32 Posts
Thank you everyone for all the advice, I am signing papers to move to a rehab unit today that is a little closer to where I live and actually provides us with a CNA (we had to do our own vitals and CNA work for our patients unless there were over ten on the floor) and the manager is very down to earth. I told her of my issues on the last floor, and she is willing to work with me about those things. The one thing that makes me nervous is it involves paper charting. But it looks like its a better opportunity for someone like me who has a difficult time handling fast paced environments.