New grad frustrated, but trapped...in a "profession" i HATE.

ToxicShock · Jun 16, 2009

You are 'naturally a little ADHD'...self diagnosing kills me. If I hear something like "I'm OCD about that"...it just grinds on my nerves. Aren't we all a little picky about someting or distracted at times? Most people that say things like this have NO IDEA what it's like to actually live with the disorder.
Anyway, give it time. Those experts you see didn't start knowing it all. The first year really is the hardest (hence a forum just for that!) and most new grads seem to hate nursing at first.
Out of curiosity, if you don't pay back for a broken contract, what do they do to you? Does it hurt your credit score? Black list you? GIve you a bad reference? Surely a hospital will not take you to court because that could cost way more than you even owe them.

Not to hijack the thread, but I agree with what you said about the OCD and ADHD thing. It really bugs me when people say that they're OCD because they check to make sure the doors are locked, or that the stove is off. If they really knew what OCD was like, they wouldn't use that term so ignorantly. Sometimes I will joke about it with my friends, never would I seriously make that claim.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 16, 2009

Not to hijack the thread, but I agree with what you said about the OCD and ADHD thing. It really bugs me when people say that they're OCD because they check to make sure the doors are locked, or that the stove is off. If they really knew what OCD was like, they wouldn't use that term so ignorantly. Sometimes I will joke about it with my friends, never would I seriously make that claim.

Or people will dismiss OCD and ADHD (and other MH issues) with the usual, "But I get impatient and daydreamy sometimes," or "I always have to check my locks twice before I leave the house, no big deal," etc., etc. Of course everyone does little things like this. People with ADHD (and OCD, etc.) have their life, work, marriage, finances, and stuff absolutely disrupted and sometimes ruined by the symptoms that wind up taking over their lives when gone unchecked. Not fun at all. To claim it's just behavior we just have to quit is not helpful, because we can't quit them by sheer willpower.

mariasmomma · Jun 16, 2009

I felt this way during my first two years. I was convinced nursing was a terrible career choice for me and spent a lot of time thinking about what else I could/should do instead.
Then I got out of that first job. I realized every place goes about things differently. I became more aware of what the flaws in me were vs. the institutional breakdowns that were out of my control. I then worked to fix the things I was in control of. I also became more aware of the nurses I wanted to be like and paid attention to how they went about their day.
With experience, you'll know how to get into a more desirable job. Being a travel nurse and changing jobs every 13 weeks showed me the warning signs of a bad unit. I got very familiar with what a low moral unit looks like from the outside. That came in handy when I wanted to go back to being a staff nurse. I took the position I felt offered the best possibility at being comfortable at work. I turned down a higher paying position that had a lot of the "low moral" red flags pop up during the interview.

Sorry to change the subject, but I am starting an accelerated program in the fall and was wondering what these "red flags" might be. I'm sure I will learn some of them in clinicals, but it sounds like you have a lot of experience to draw from. Thanks!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 16, 2009

This is enlightening to know that there are many nurses that have ADHD. Of course, there are sufferers across the board in any career, but I guess I had my head in the clouds. I am also happy to read that so many have faced their demon somehow and are able to share with someone else. Great to know that you all are surviving and proving that you can still be excellent nurses!