My First Month and I want to Quit! Help!

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Specializes in Tele/Interventional/Non-Invasive Cardiology.

Well, I feel like a big baby, but I wanted to try and reach out for support. I moved to NYC to Florida to take a Graduate Nurse position at Florida Hospital. I thought it was going to be great. However, it has been a nightmare. For one, the transition from having multiple CNAs to do blood draws, vitals, bed baths, toileting, etc to NONE and having the RN to do it all has been a challenge. I didn't draw blood in nursing school and I am really stinking it up now. Granted I am on a Vascular Unit and their veins really aren't great.

Also my preceptor stresses me out, rushing me, making me feel stupid if I make a mistake, and just can be really rude. I am supposed to change to another preceptor but I heard she isn't much better. I can't sleep, I cry all the time, and I just feel like a flop. I am questioning about whether or not, I made the right decision to become a nurse. Nursing school does NOT prepare you at all for this. AT ALL. Maybe it is a mixture of moving to new place, having new responsibilities, and lack of support. I am not sure what to do. I just want to run and hide.

PLEASE HELP! :(

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Maybe this unit isn't for you. My first RN job isn't going the greatest (bad preceptor and management) but I don't take it as nursing is bad. Try and find another unit or different setting. Maybe floor nursing isn't for you. I know it's not for me! Ha. Maybe try clinic nursing? Get away from the bedside and see how you fair! Another word of advice, no one has all the answers and no one is perfect. Nurses with 10 years experience still learn something everyday. Don't feel dumb, we are just new! :)

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Specializes in Public Health.

Also, no way you have any idea whether floor nursing is for you after such a short time. Give it more time.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

I couldn't relax or eat at work for months after I started. To be honest, I'm over a year out and still struggling. It takes time. It got better for me and I'm thinking it will get better for you. Maybe things will be better with a new preceptor. Give yourself a chance to be good at this. Maybe it isn't the floor for you, but like PPs said, it's only been a month.

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Moving to a new area has to be tough all by itself and combined with a first job at a career that is difficult at first, it has to be horrific. I totally sympathize!

That said, if your preceptor is not really teaching you, and is actively getting in your way of learning, it's a good thing you are getting a new one. One thing I would do is make a (short) list for when you first meet with the new preceptor "these are things I feel I need help with, and these are things that I feel confident with, can you please help me learn". Most nurses are receptive to new nurses expressing a desire to learn and will help if they are slapped gently with the reality that half their job is to teach us!

I think every new nurse feels the way you do at first. I do, and everyone on these boards who is a first job-new grad expresses similar feelings. I hope it helps to know you are not alone!

I am in my first month and I am happy to report an amazing preceptor, but even at that, I have some of these same feelings. We are just out of school and suddenly lives depend on us! How could we not feel that way? I found other new grads at my facility and we formed a support group. Meeting with them is the high point of most weeks. It is unbelievably helpful to get together and vent and whine and learn that others are in the same boat. You are lucky enough to be in a new nurse res program, it should be easy to find others at your facility who would be interested in participating.

Honestly, I don't understand why hospitals don't think to set this sort of thing up. I suggest giving it try, it may be just what you need to go forward. Don't give up! I believe those who say it will get better!

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Hello, I noticed this post is from June o this year. I, too, am a new grad at a palliative care hospital. Felt the same way with my preceptor. Just wanted to see how things are going for you now-did you change jobs, or are you still there and are making progress?

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I started in the GN class before yours. I can honestly say, it is tough!! It will get better over time. You have to hang in there. I am still not proficient with blood draws and I stink at IVs. Like you, I had a preceptor who was not very warm, but once your preceptorship is over, you will have more control over how you manage your day. I like scaredsilly's idea of a support group. Lets start one!

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You are right. Nursing school doesn't prepare you for the "real world" of nursing so great. You will take what you have learned in school and practically, on the job and intertwine them eventually. Was told the first yr. Is the hardest. I'm getting toward my first year of practice, and it has been a bumpy road for sure, but it HAS gotten better!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Pps are providing great advice. You are certainly not alone. Hang in there wannabenycnurse2011.

But - if that is your picture, PLEASE change it to a more anonymous avatar.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

It gets better. A bit better. But not good. Not acceptable for me. Still most days are composed of running like a crazed maniac. I am coming to understand that for some of us floor nursing will never be our niche. If you are an adrenaline junkie I'd say it is more for you, but that is definitely not me. In my short time in nursing (less than one year), I've come to realize the only way it gets better enough to be tolerable, IMHO, is to do it much less or get out of the hospital setting. I'm hopefully opting for the former, at least for now.

Honestly, this will most likely be the toughest year of your life and it will take everything in you not to walk out of that job every night and not come back. At least that is how it has been for me. In fact, just last night I joked with another new grad friend I work with, "Don't you wonder why we keep coming back here?" We complain we dislike it but here we are. We laughed. You just don't want to give up but you want to see things are going to get better....that you will eventually like it....it will get easier. But I think the only thing that happens is you get smarter, know procedures and what to do, but the crazy pace? The clawing and screaming for a lunch, the too many tasks for a nurse to do crap....not going away any time soon. THAT is why I'll leave the bedside. Sorry, but I have to put myself first. (ducking) ;)

One month is not long enough but I guess my advice would be......are there things you like about bedside nursing? My list just didn't have as many pros as cons so there you go. Maybe you can do the same?

Hugs to you, it's tough. Keep your head high and know that no matter how it turns out, you tried! :)

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