Miserable first experience

[omoolu, BSN]

I'm 6 months in on my first hospital job on a busy med surg unit and while i'm grateful to be working, i'm unhappy under the following circumstances. I work nights, 5-8 hr shifts along with several other new nurses. I find that we are loaded up with 7-10 patients on a regular basis. We never seem to have enough aids to support us and when we do they float one off to another floor. There are times when they don't even schedule a charge nurse and none of us have been oriented to that role.

The other frustrating thing is that we're usually out of medications and critical supplies like iv fluids, dressings, insulin syringes, etc. So we leave our 9 patients with another new nurse who has her own 9 to make trips to other floors to look for supplies needed because the supply room is closed at night.

The other disappointment is that many of the more experienced nurses are unsupportive. Many of them who were preceptors during training openly told us that they never wanted to train anyone in the first place. For alot of us, training was severely lacking and some of them were pretty mean to the new nurses.

I'm so discouraged by this first hospital experience and I wonder if this is as widespread as some try to lead us to believe. Many have told me to stick it out for 1 year for the experience but this is simply miserable (not to mention unsafe) in my opinion. Would love any thoughts/advice you have to share.

[softrbreeze]

oh my, it is SO true that saying "Nurses eat their young". I had similar experiences myself and all I can say is that it DOES get better. Sometimes it is just a matter of getting into the groove and learning what to expect and how to deal with it- that 1st year everything is so new. However, let me tell you- I graduated nursing school in 2004 and EVERY position I have held (4 so far) there has ALWAYS been at least 1 person in a supervisory position that seems to have made it their MISSION to make as many people as possible miserable. The one I've got now seems to have laid off of me for a while (I'm guessing one of her higher ups 'cause no way would she do this on her own) so things are flowing by fairly smoothly without her constant interference. Hang in there and good luck! Once you find your niche, it does generally get better.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

Medsurg can be difficult especially when it's your first job out of school. No, it's not widespread to have the supply room locked at night that the nurses can't access. No it's not widespread to not have a charge nurse or an assistant manager for the nurses to go to on every shift. Taking care of 10 patients in acute care is unsafe. The most I've gotten was 8 patients but they were all walkie-talkies and I still thought that was too many. Lack of techs on the floor is pretty common. One hospital near me have gotten rid of many techs because they want their nurses to be the face patients want to know and see.

All new nurses have their struggles but it is often exacerbated when there is lack of support. Have you all brought up your concerns during Practice Council meetings (if you have one)? Does the manager know the supply room is inaccessible during night shift?

You can either address some of your concerns, look for another job, request a transfer, or stick it out 6 more months.

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

[omoolu, BSN]

iPink...it's central supply that's closed nights. our supply room is always accessible but short on supplies. And the times we've been without a charge nurse we "borrow" the one from a nearby unit, otherwise there are no assist mgrs staffed. As far as techs are concerned i guess i just have to get used to doing more care on the easier patients. often, we each have a vent and several total care patients each. As for my options, i've already started looking!

[iPink, BSN, RN]

Then someone needs to check to make sure supplies are replenished before Central Supply closes. What a shame.

Good luck!

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

OK - I may be moving into uncharted waters here, but if I repeatedly encountered a "no dressing supplies" or "no IV fluids" situation, & this was not addressed by my manager even though s/he was fully aware of it, I'd fill out an incident report...or whatever you call it at your place. These reports are processed via different channels so managers cannot squelch them. This is a HUGE safety/quality issue that must be addressed. I'm sure OP would find it easier to take care of patients if there was no need for 'road trips' to hunt & gather needed supplies & medications.

This situation may also be one of those red-flags... which indicates that the facility is in extreme financial difficulty. Have they also clamped down on linens? patient nutrition supplies? tape? alcohol preps? Yep.. that would fit the pattern of a facility that is on the ropes.