New Grad with Mixed Feelings

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Hi all,

I’m a new graduate RN currently working on a Neurosurgery/Orthopedic Trauma unit that is considered med-surg and stepdown at a level 1 Trauma center. I started the beginning of December and I’m just so confused on how I feel about nursing. I work 12 hour night shifts and just got off orientation about 2 weeks ago. I know I’ve only been there for 3 months but I already feel burnt out. Between drug seekers, unappreciated patients, and coworkers talking smack consistently and losing a social life and feeling “disconnected” from being on nights has really taken a toll on me. Once in awhile you’ll get that one patient that makes your shift fulfilling and worth it but it’s getting almost rare to find I’m lucky if my patients even remember my name and I would go above and beyond for them. I’ve talked with other coworkers and some have agreed that nursing is a sh***y job and not as satisfying but there’s always a demand for it. I’ve noticed a change in myself and so has my family and fiancé. I love nursing but at the same time I’m almost second guessing it. Ultimately I want to go for my masters in FNP and specialize in palliative/holistic care and work outpatient (I feel like a M-F 9-5 would be a better fit for me) and I love the whole aspect behind the family nursing specialty. After 6 months I will have my ACLS and TNCC since I’m in Trauma and I’m gonna get my PALS on my own. But just thinking about having to stay for a year in order to not break my contract stresses me. I’m loyal so I feel obligated to stay for the year but at the same time it’s hard. I feel having 6 patients on a level 1 Trauma unit is too many, we get so many admissions and on top of being Trauma/neurosurgery/orthopedics they want us to start taking in general surgery and oncology patients receiving iodine radiation therapy since our floor is the only one in the hospital with the NM specialized room for them. It’s a whole other level of care and we barely got trained for those patients. It just seems like it’s too much and overhearing conversations from other nurses talking negatively about other coworkers/management and that they want to leave and the changes on our unit makes me realize early in my career that I can’t make this a long term job at least on this unit. I can transfer after 6 months of experience to another unit, so I’m wondering if I should shoot for an outpatient position if there’s openings and then stay reserve on my unit? Just to keep the experience going and since I’m going for my FNP outpatient experience would help correct? I’m just so lost and mixed with emotions idek what to type right now or how to feel... thanks so much to everyone who reads/responds.

On 3/12/2019 at 3:33 AM, Wuzzie said:

You lost me and a good number of people here who would have been supportive with this statement. You should have stopped at your first post.?

And food for thought, saying "no offence" does nothing to make your statement less offensive.

same.

I have an ADN and I chose to work in community health. I work 7a-330p and I LOVE my job. I also worked JUST AS HARD AS YOU DID and I took the same licensing exam.

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On 3/11/2019 at 5:52 PM, nurse_bri said:

Hi all,

I’m a new graduate RN currently working on a Neurosurgery/Orthopedic Trauma unit that is considered med-surg and stepdown at a level 1 Trauma center. I started the beginning of December and I’m just so confused on how I feel about nursing. I work 12 hour night shifts and just got off orientation about 2 weeks ago. I know I’ve only been there for 3 months but I already feel burnt out. Between drug seekers, unappreciated patients, and coworkers talking smack consistently and losing a social life and feeling “disconnected” from being on nights has really taken a toll on me. Once in awhile you’ll get that one patient that makes your shift fulfilling and worth it but it’s getting almost rare to find I’m lucky if my patients even remember my name and I would go above and beyond for them. I’ve talked with other coworkers and some have agreed that nursing is a sh***y job and not as satisfying but there’s always a demand for it. I’ve noticed a change in myself and so has my family and fiancé. I love nursing but at the same time I’m almost second guessing it. Ultimately I want to go for my masters in FNP and specialize in palliative/holistic care and work outpatient (I feel like a M-F 9-5 would be a better fit for me) and I love the whole aspect behind the family nursing specialty. After 6 months I will have my ACLS and TNCC since I’m in Trauma and I’m gonna get my PALS on my own. But just thinking about having to stay for a year in order to not break my contract stresses me. I’m loyal so I feel obligated to stay for the year but at the same time it’s hard. I feel having 6 patients on a level 1 Trauma unit is too many, we get so many admissions and on top of being Trauma/neurosurgery/orthopedics they want us to start taking in general surgery and oncology patients receiving iodine radiation therapy since our floor is the only one in the hospital with the NM specialized room for them. It’s a whole other level of care and we barely got trained for those patients. It just seems like it’s too much and overhearing conversations from other nurses talking negatively about other coworkers/management and that they want to leave and the changes on our unit makes me realize early in my career that I can’t make this a long term job at least on this unit. I can transfer after 6 months of experience to another unit, so I’m wondering if I should shoot for an outpatient position if there’s openings and then stay reserve on my unit? Just to keep the experience going and since I’m going for my FNP outpatient experience would help correct? I’m just so lost and mixed with emotions idek what to type right now or how to feel... thanks so much to everyone who reads/responds.

Strap on your seat belt. I must tell you that if you leave this place for a lesser skilled position, you may get stuck there. If you stick with this, you will atleast be exposed to alot. No nursing position is easy. If you search this board, nurses complain about all of the different positions, even the ones that are suppose to be easier. You will trade one headache for another. The headache may be a 3 whereas the other headache is a 7 but all in all, it is still a headache. What you want to do could change so stay put and use all of this learning so that you will later have a lot of options to work with, when you decide what you want to do. Get used to patients complaining and not saying thank you. Don't let it get to you.

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Bottom line; what is important to you? Do the time, follow your dreams, make your needs known with management (the squeaky wheel gets the grease!), ignore the disillusioned, burnt out hags or grumpy old men and take care of you. Easier said than done I know but I have found that meditation and mindfulness keeps both your heart and mind intact when bombarded by negativity. PAX

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The echo of entitlement in this post is deafening. Your prestigious school doesn't sound like it taught humility or how to be self-aware of the use of written communication. Think you will end up where you belong. The grass ain't greener anywhere though.

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As another poster stated, get used to patients not saying thank you, and behaving as though you are concierge at the Ritz-Carlton Resort and Spa.

Keep in mind, nursing is just a job. Don't let it define you.

Develope outside interests, lots of them.

Engage in self-care.

Try to enjoy the presence of some of your co-workers. They can't all be toxic.

Form a bond with the decent co-workers.

I have been a nurse for three years, and have held five different positions during that time. There are few good nursing jobs.

Many a night, I have to repeat the mantra: This too will pass.

Positive work relationships sustain me, during those shifts.

The other night, a nurse asked: Do you all ever think about just getting a factory job, and leaving this?

Several of us said: YES!

Nursing is a mentally stressful job.

The key, is to find ways to maintain your sanity.

Good luck!

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