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?
no I don't recommend you go to LTC, you will get pry at the very last bits of you on the floor!!! you will freak out and have an even worse anxiety attack... trust me, I know... try to stick with 7-8 patients for med surg. Look into your organizations skills. Look into what's the usual routine there once u clock in and prioritize your schedule.
OP, I wonder if this rehab facility will have better numbers (staffing & patient ratios). Generally, as acuity declines, the number of patients goes up, at least that's what I've usually seen. And, for the most part, to me rehab is usually lower acuity than med/surg.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
OP, I wonder if this rehab facility will have better numbers (staffing & patient ratios). Generally, as acuity declines, the number of patients goes up, at least that's what I've usually seen. And, for the most part, to me rehab is usually lower acuity than med/surg.
Your point is really salient. I'm a CRRN and rehab has been my specialty for the past five years. On a good day the nurses at the specialty hospital where I work will have 7 to 8 patients. On an understaffed day we'll have anywhere from 9 to 11 patients.
And don't get me started on subacute rehab units inside nursing homes. The nurses there can have 15 to 25 sick postsurgical, post-CVA patients.
Your point is really salient. I'm a CRRN and rehab has been my specialty for the past five years. On a good day the nurses at the specialty hospital where I work will have 7 to 8 patients. On an understaffed day we'll have anywhere from 9 to 11 patients.
And don't get me started on subacute rehab units inside nursing homes. The nurses there can have 15 to 25 sick postsurgical, post-CVA patients.
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.
Believe me paper charting is quicker and easier than all the computer crap. The real question is how many patients will you be responsible for. I've heard rehab places that give 14 patients to a nurse. Hope this is not the case for you.
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.
I know that it's probably more common than I can imagine, but that doesn't necessarily make it right. Our hospital gives a little over 2 months of orientation for med/surg, 3 months for step down, and 6 months for ICU/ED. I think the other big variable is the quality of the preceptor; your mileage may vary.
I know that it's probably more common than I can imagine, but that doesn't necessarily make it right. Our hospital gives a little over 2 months of orientation for med/surg, 3 months for step down, and 6 months for ICU/ED. I think the other big variable is the quality of the preceptor; your mileage may vary.
I understand what you are going through, Med/Surg was not for me either; however, in my case, only having 8-9 months of Med/Surg under my belt took me out of the job market for so many other nursing jobs...Most all employers, regardless of the specialty, want that nurse to have a Med/Surg background. I ended up travel nursing so I am away from my home sometimes over a year at a time but I need to work. My travel contracts have been wonderful and I am grateful for the experience, but it would be nice to not need to travel for work so much of the time. I do recommend getting a PROFESSIONAL resume done; however, be prepared to spend up to $200.00 to get one done. I wish you luck.
Specializes in Med-Surg; Infectious Diseases; Research.
That red flag jumped out at me too. Five weeks of orientation may even be pushing it for a seasoned nurse; I can't imagine that for a new grad. It takes 1-2 years to get out of the Novice Stage. Give yourself some grace. Also, I'm surprised that your manager moved you to day-shift AFTER you had a panic attack on nights. Usually, nights are a lot less chaotic than days. I agree, ICU needs to be off the table for now. ICU is more like 1-2 patients on the brink of death. Someone else mentioned exploring other options outside of Acute Care. The fast pace of AC is simply not for everybody and that's OK! Nursing gives you options, take them.
I know a big hospital in my area who only orients for TWO WEEKS in med surge... They say they want the nurses to learn to help each other out/learn where to find answers to questions. Sounds pretty terrifying to me.
PacoUSA, BSN, RN
3,450 Posts
Lmao!!! 😜