New Grad in CA needs Advice

Published

my likes: fast-paced, adventure, kicking back and relaxing, hands-on stuff like injections, maybe even some trauma, high pay (the higher the better), friendly faces.

my dislikes: a heavy workload, working my ass off, stress, psych and geri, teaching (if i wanted to teach, i'd get a teaching credential and be a teacher), talking to the patient (especially about random meaningless stuff), family members who stare at you, mean and strict supervisors who works you like a dog, nurses who don't seem to care or take their job seriously, nurses and doctors who are mean and unfriendly, doctors (and nurses) who think they are God and could care less about a nursing student like when i was in school, no collaboration between healthcare team (yes, your CNA is part of your team and is as important as the physician himself, and if you don't think so, then i wouldn't want to work with you).

what i like about the ER: fast-paced, adventurous, random patients (i dont see the same face each day), time flies, and you see all types of cases.

what i dislike about the ER: random patients (never know what kind of psycho will walk through that door), high risk for TB or similar type infection.

what i like about NICU: minimal talking to the patient, no TB risk (if i am correct), saving an innocent life.

what i dislike about NICU: very strict infection control (dont want to have to wash my hands every 5 minutes), teaching parents, giving emotional support or consoling parents when their baby dies, handling fragile preterm newborns.

what i like about the OR: patient is sedated so no talking to the patient, just "kick back" while the surgeon does the work, the trauma of a surgery (cool to watch).

what i dislike about the OR: when equipment malfunctions (i'm no techie).

what i like about Urgent Care: less critical cases than ER, seems more relaxing than ER.

what i dislike about Urgent Care: too many illegal immigrants seeking free services who can't afford to go to a real ER. you're limited in the type of patients you see (you don't see real trauma, like gunshot wounds, etc.).

sorry for being so blunt, but i need some advice other than to leave nursing because you might think it might not be for me (if i wanted to leave, i would already have). i am from los angeles and a new grad who just took the nclex recently and will assume for this thread's sake that i have passed. so, what unit sounds the best for me? thank you for your response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You have a lot of dislikes, a poor work ethic, and don't play well with others. I'm not sure in which way to direct you, except another profession.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.

Not to be harsh, but maybe the OR wouldn't be a right fit.

You do have to talk to the patient pre-op, and surgery can make people very vulnerable/anxious/needy.

There is no "kicking back while the surgeon does all the work". I wear a pedometer to work as part of a fitness challenge, and it's not uncommon for me to have logged 4 or 5 miles at the end of an 8 hour shift. Whether you are scrubbing or circulating, you are on your feet the majority of the shift. You need to pay attention to what's going on and be very adaptable and able to think critically in a crisis. There is no just "watching" in a trauma..sometimes you leave that room covered in blood.

Like anywhere in a hospital, you are going to have difficult personalities and if you come to work each day wanting to "kick back" you are going to make enemies and fast. Lots of technology in the OR too, this cannot be avoided.

Come to think of it, there aren't many specialties in nursing that could be classified as "laid back".;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA.

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with the above poster...there will be some days where you have a heavy workload (and well, that's what happens sometimes when you're a nurse) and teaching patients is part of every type of nursing (you don't have to go into extreme detail, but you have to let the patient know what is going on). I dont know what advice to give you, but you will definitely need to be very flexible because you will face some of your listed dislikes, whatever type of nursing you choose.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DOU.

Maybe you should have gone to school to be an undertaker.

Benefits:

No teaching

Clients are not unfriendly

Not too much "techie" equipment

Gruesome cases (good for cocktail party stories)

You never have to talk to anyone

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I think you are in for a rude awakening. You will work your ass off more often than not in any of those areas. You will deal with psych and geri patients and undocumented immigrants almost anywhere you work. The NICU is all about handling "fragile preterm newborns" (what else would you expect?), and, even if the babies can't talk, you will be expected to deal with the parents all day (not just when a baby dies--good grief). I don't know of any new grad nurses who've found jobs that they can just "kick back" in.

I know that you think you were just being blunt in your post, but I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to work with you or have you as my nurse or as a nurse for anyone I cared about. None of the units you mention sound like a good fit for you. Since we were advised by you not to suggest the obvious (that you find a more suitable profession) I would instead advise you to apply for an RN position in a correctional facility, where your lack of compassion and work ethic will be less likely to cause injury to the innocent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I really would not recommend neonatal icu for you. There is alot of patient/family teaching. These infants are fragile and nosocomial infections are trouble in ANY area of the hospital.

That is all I can say and maintain my "niceness" so I'll stop here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I am not sure exactly what you are trying to do -- your post doesn't come across as being honest or "blunt", but rather you are trying to prove a point (what point, I am not sure), perhaps due to some sort of insecurity.. I am not sure what it is.

That aside, if you truly are the way you come across, then nursing is not for you. If I were a manager and someone like yourself came to interview in my department, I would show you the door.

Perhaps you could find some sort of desk job as a nurse where you don't need to interact, but unfortunately those jobs require experience as a floor nurse.

I find it interesting that you repeatedly said you don't want to talk with your patients. In almost any field of work, it is a requirement that you interact with customers/patients/clients/public. There are very few jobs out there that have no interaction with the client/customer.

Perhaps you could go back to school and pursue something where it doesn't require any interaction with people -- not sure what that would be, but I am sure there is something out there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

wow!!!! thats all i have to say about that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First I just want to say that not washing your hands often when you are dealing with paitents is DISGUSTING. It sounds like a walking, talking lawsuit to me. If people working in the food industry have to wash thier hands every five minutes, you are going to have to as well.

Second, you are not going to ever find a job, in any field, where you enjoy every part of your job. You are going to have to deal with things that you don't want to, and you are going to have to do things that you don't want to.

Third, the economic background of your paient has nothing to do with the type of care that they recieve. If they can not pay thier bill, it is the hospital/dr's issue, not yours.

With all that being said, I think that for you, OR might be a semi-good fit. You can learn technology rather easily, and it does not seem like you are a people person, so this offers limited interaction with people other then the OR team. However, you are going to have to realize that no matter what area you go into, you will be working a lot, and very hard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

not very "therapeutic" responses from most of you, not to mention judgmental. the first things i learned in school were about therapeutic communication, being nonjudgmental, and never assume and read into something that may not be true. where did you fellow nurses go to school? the only half-decent response was from NOCnewbie, recommending correctional nursing. in fact, i heard that is a great area to go into. it's kickback and pays great. i think that fits me too because i had wanted to be a police officer before i got into nursing. do they let the RN carry a gun? doubt it. that would be perfect for me. as far as not wanting to work with me, etc....that's fine because i wouldn't want to work with anyone who wouldn't want to work with me. remember, i don't work for you, so you're not my boss. i work for the patient. as a new grad RN in a high-demand profession with such shortage of nurses, i hold the cards and call the shots as to where i want to work and who with. boy, school sure has taught me how to be assertive well huh?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh, munchkin i just saw your response after posting my last one. OR huh? something to think more about. now that's more of a therapeutic response i was looking for. thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment