New Grad RN, and I don't like it!

[Evalina]

Let me say first, I love my co-workers, I love the type of pts I have (Oncology, lots of neutropenics, lots of hospice), and I love my facility. I think I hate acute care!

I hired on in June, took boards the same week. I've been in Oncology for 3 weeks, and when I'm at work, I'm tense but mostly okay. I have great support from co-workers, but I'm still (of course) having all that new nurse awkwardness and goofiness. Nothing too awful, but I'm a perfectionist and very hard on myself. I'm always a complete goober until I feel confident in a new situation.

I guess I'm trying to find out if anyone else has had similar feelings, I'm sure lots of nurses have, and how you handled them. Does sticking it out for 6 months or a year really make a huge difference?

If I do genuinely dislike acute care, do I really need the experience (as several people have told me)? Or can I just call acute care "not my thing" and defect to an office setting, which is where I think I'd like to be? I plan to continue to NP school as soon as eligible, and a 5 day a week clinic setting.

Any opinions or personal experiences would be appreciated. :wink2: Thanks for anything you'd like to share.

[MJB2010]

Thank you Evalina, it is so nice to have some support. Last night was a LONG night. :)

[nsue]

Thanks for posting this. It helps to know there are others out there who are feeling insecure, stupid and stressed out there. Like you I did great in school but my job stresses me out so much I am having panic attacks. I am sure the other nurses think I am an idiot and one even went as far as to imply I was on drugs or something.

Like you I decided to stick it out and see if it gets better. I just hope I survive the backbiting gossips, and don't get fired.

[katygw]

I feel alot of what has been posted..started on the floor in July...have been on my own for about a month now..trying to stick it out til the 6-8 month mark and looking for an OR opportunity at that time whether it be at my facility or elsewhere. My floor and its sister floor are pretty stressful..especially for me b/c I trained on the floor I was HIRED for my whole orientation and have gotten put on the other floor for half the time ive been on my own already (these floors are different-one is tele and has different types of surgery and is more acute=the floor I didnt orient to..idk why they're "sister" floors)..one new grad just quit at the end of his orientation to my floor bc he felt he couldnt handle it...needless to say it looks like my floor has a high turnover which isnt comforting.

Im just taking it one shift at a time, and hope this shall pass quickly because I know this is not for me, I cant handle being pulled in 340986 different directions on a very acute floor..Im running around all night yet feel like Im doing nothing..I was an honor student and want to transfer that drive over to work but I just can't handle all that is thrown at me in 8 hrs and feel burnt out and frustrated most of the time on my shift which doesnt help with your performance...anyways just wanted to vent, nice to know Im not alone but still feeling depressed about it...plus I found out today I work xmas eve and xmas day and thanksgiving...so much for having any holidays whatsoever with my family...