new grad high turnover

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I am a recent new grad RN from May,2018. I have always been very passionate about nursing and the positive impact we are able to make in someone's life. But lately i've been feeling im not enjoying nursing so much and honestly it's more so the people i work with and not the actual job/labor itself...why is this? I've learned that Nursing units are very cliquish and you have to look the part to try to fit in? Again, why is this? Statistics show that a high percentage of new grad nurses leave their first job because of bullying and unfair treatment from experienced nurses! It's like the experienced nurses gotta " break you in" and make sure you have thick skin to fit into their unit culture...with all the BS we endure from patients, family/friends and some arrogant physicians...why do nurses put more pressure on each other and love to see the weakness/failure on the unit in newer nurses who are trying to do their best! Bullying from nurse to nurse is a real thing...i have experienced it myself. Experienced Nurses/Preceptors already know the " typical mistakes" new grads are gonna make ..but instead of them setting you up for success and teaching you the right way to do a skill, they'd rather you make the mistake so they can embarrass you while correcting you in front of other nurses/physicians etc and at that point is it really a teaching moment, or a moment for you to feel full of yourself because you just made a new grad look/feel stupid? I have spent countless days reading threads on here trying to find which unit or area of nursing doesn't experience these behaviors but i still haven't found any. Everyone seems to complain about every area of Nursing. i am not in the position to leave nursing now or anytime soon...so what should i do? Oh , and going to the nurse manager and explaining your feelings and asking for a different preceptor doesn't work either...you only make yourself look like " the issue" ...i know, crazy right? Meanwhile, the hospital is spending thousands of dollars training new grads who dont stay, and they're too stupid to do a unit based root-cause-analysis to figure out why the new grads are leaving...they just simply replace you, forget you and do it all over again to the next victim!

thoughts, comments are wanted and welcomed!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Paragraphs and punctuation would make this eminently more readable. It is difficult to ascertain what you are asking us to comment on.

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@Meanmaryjean, then DONT comment! You obviously read through the post, as im sure you've done many others. Being Doctorally prepared Faculty, im sure you can decipher what i'm saying...you simply don't want to...and that is fine!

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Well, I think we figured out the reason you are having a difficult time. If I was a seasoned nurse who made a valid and helpful suggestion, such as Meanmaryjean did, and you responded like that, well, I wouldn't go out of my way to interact with you again. Perhaps you need a little introspection on why you are having difficulties.

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It's very easy to understand what you were saying so the above commenter just wanted to be a smart aleck.

I've never worked in a hospital so I can't relate to the experience you've had with your coworkers. But my best advice is to try a new work environment, you don't have to stay somewhere where you're not comfortable. The great thing about nursing is that there are so many different work options. Good luck!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
@Meanmaryjean, then DONT comment! You obviously read through the post, as im sure you've done many others. Being Doctorally prepared Faculty, im sure you can decipher what i'm saying...you simply don't want to...and that is fine!

But "thoughts, comments are wanted and welcomed!"

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...Statistics show that a high percentage of new grad nurses leave their first job because of bullying and unfair treatment from experienced nurses! ...

Really? Perhaps you'd be so kind as to provide sources for these "statistics" of which you speak?

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@belle980 Thank You, i realized the negative comments are from those nurses that this post describes!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

So you only want comments that agree with your position of victimhood? Just trying to get a clear picture here.

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I have also seen this type of treatment happen to experienced nurses when they join a new unit. I don't know why it happens and how to stop it, if you don't have management's support. It is hard enough being a new grad with supportive staff around! All I have learned is that if a situation is toxic, all you can do is either grin and bear it, or else leave the toxic situation.

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Stress doesn't give some one the right to abuse you but some people can't handle it and choose not to. People will take it out on you sometimes. Pick and choose your battles. On the flip side, go in do your job, have a plan, get yourself into a position that many of these things you listed are minimal. Did you know that some nurses work from home, some travel and some work in clinics (also run clinics). You are aware so you have a head start. You will need to develop thick skin.

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@Workitinurfava Thank You so much for this! Will keep this in mind.

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