Need Advice out of hosp. for 6 years

[constantlylearning]

I started working in Jan of 2002. Did one year part time in a burn unit and 8 months in a neonatal unit. I LOVED both jobs but felt overwhelmed by some of the nurses who were rather "hard on me". Up until that time in my life everyone liked me and then I went into nursing and there were the select few who seemed to hate me. I wasn't strong enough to "fight" back or even stand up for myself so I ended up leaving the hospital to go to long term care.

I miss the hospital.........I miss the skills.......I miss so much of it. BUT I am terrified of those particular nurses that will constantly be on me or make my life hell. I am not assertive enough.

I need some input. Any suggestions would be great. Anyone have any ideas on how to grow a thicker skin or an assertivenss training course?

Thank you for your time.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

becoming assertive takes practice. unfortunately, the only practice you will get are the challenging settings you left years ago. books can give tips, seminars can give tips, people can give tips, but the only way you will change is to actually implement different behaviors over time. btw, if you really like nursing, get angry enough with yourself to stand up for yourself in such settings. people only treat you the way you allow them to treat you...

[Eclectic1]

There was a very good book years ago called The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense. Also as one is away from a situation for a while we evaluate and strategize-- actually learning-- by thinking the problem through over time. However, do a reality-check that your perceptions of the past were actually accurate. Self-awareness focused honestly is how we grow. You've probably come a good distance already since that time; especially if you were young and/or inexperienced. The good news is you have the opportunity to start fresh, in a new environment with stronger life-skills. Truth is if you're fairly normal (whatever that is) you learned the lessons you'll need to succeed already, sometimes we just don't recognize how we've grown!

[constantlylearning]

Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. I hope you have a very Happy New Year!

[constantlylearning]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and for being kind. Happy New Year!

[RNnik07]

I was recently getting some of my notes done early on one shift. A co-worker and friend looked at me and decided that I wasn't busy and told me "since you're not busy you can take the first admission." This was about an hour after her telling me she didn't want to take first break so I had to. I looked at her and said "Ok so I'll take first break and the first admission, is there anything else you'd like me to do tonight?" I have recently learned to enjoy "giving it back". I use to be so quiet and let people walk all over me, then I became a nurse and decided I was NOT going to let people do that to me anymore. Empower yourself :) Oh, and later that shift at around 3am she had something else to say, I don't remember what it was and I snapped but it felt so good and I felt proud of myself for standing up for myself!! If you don't stand up for you, no one else will!