I just graduated over the summer at a two year RN program - and I am currently enrolled in classes full time for my BSN. This is my first career, and I'm only two years out of high school. I was hired in a LTC facility for night shift - and I absolutely hate it. I have 40 patients and while most of the night is quit - the last two hours are the absolute worst. I can never finish my med pass on time and feel like everything I do is wrong. I absolutely hate night shift - I wake up during the day in a sweat and feel so depressed.
I think I might quit - I feel like I'm in way over my head, everyone else is so much older than me, all the aides talk about me behind my back that I'm so young and new - how can I be in charge of a whole floor with 40 patients.
Not only that but I think I made the wrong career choice. I hate this job it gives me the worst anxiety and I can not take it. I don't think its worth sticking out for if I'm losing my sanity. Is it just the facility and the night shift? Or is nursing just not for everyone? Because to be honest I've never had so much anxiety and tension just waking up and trying to make it through one shift.
Sorry I had to vent..but does anyone have any advice???
Congratulations on becoming a nurse at your age! I know I would not have been able to do it and I know many of the younger classmates in my Associates program dropped out, so you obviously have a lot going for you. I believe everyone has given you excellent advice.
1. Look for another job, it's a nightmare to work LTC, kudos to those that do it for any length of time.
2. Get off nights if possible
3. You are learning some great skills and will be surprised at how much this experience will help you in your other work experience.
You couldn't pay me to go back to long term care. What I didn't like was having so many pt & not enough cna's. I can't posses meds, help them, new admit, some one fell, she's combative, family on the phone & so on. It's not safe & not fair. If you hate it, find another job first, work pt & test it out while keeping your ltc job as pt too. You may have to test the waters a bit before you fine what you like but while your surfing, keep te first job pt. This way your resume won't look a hot mess. As an RN you can be your own boss. Do some research in books. I'm about to get mine LPN to RN just for the simple fact of a plethora of options! Good luck✨
Thanks for the support everyone! I actually decided to quit that job after 6 months of still not feeling better and take a little break while finishing up my BSN classes. One month before I graduated I did some research with my nurse friends who had found jobs and asked around for good places to work. Luckily, my friend told me about job openings in Pediatrics! I just started and it seems really nice and clean - hopefully I can learn a few things and enjoy the field of nursing! If not I can always find something else I love! Thanks for the support!
Barnstormin' PMHNP
349 Posts
Congratulations on becoming a nurse at your age! I know I would not have been able to do it and I know many of the younger classmates in my Associates program dropped out, so you obviously have a lot going for you. I believe everyone has given you excellent advice.
1. Look for another job, it's a nightmare to work LTC, kudos to those that do it for any length of time.
2. Get off nights if possible
3. You are learning some great skills and will be surprised at how much this experience will help you in your other work experience.
Good Luck! Hang in there...