New Grad starting to feel burnt out as a Per Diem nurse in a SNF

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Hi everyone. I am a new grad RN who graduated last December 2012. I have an ADN and wants to pursue a BSN next year. I passed my boards just this April and was able to find a job in a SNF and Rehab. And now I'm in my 3rd month in that facility. I was hired as a per diem nurse and I am feeling burnt out already. I didn't really quite understand what I got myself into.

As a per diem nurse in that facility, we don't get any benefits and no fixed hours. We just got scheduled into days where we signed up for that we are available. However, I find that I am already working like a full time employee. In a two-week pay period, I work about 80+ hours and the last one, I worked 90+ hours including OT. I also feel that they have a problem with staffing, which annoys me. Coz it feels like they are not hiring enough people to work, and they overwork the ones that are already there. In fact, one time, they wanted me to work double shift. :sniff: I was working AM shift one day when the supervisor approached me and asked me if I can also work the PM shift. That's 16 hours straight of work! Oh wait, that wasn't one time. It already happened twice. Then at one time, they scheduled me in PM shift and wanted me to work AM shift the next day, which is really hard for me because it takes me about an hour or two after the shift to finish charting on my patients. When I work PM, I usually get out at around 1 am. Then I wake up at 5:30 to get myself ready whenever I work AM shifts. So if they made me work PM and AM shift, it meant only about 3+ hours of sleep for me. I said NO in both situations.

And it is an emotional battle for me to work there. Sometimes I feel like this is not what I went into nursing school for. Like I said, have been working there for 3 months already and I still can't finish med pass in the "1 hr before and 1 hr after" time frame. I have 28 patients which always asks for PRN pain meds and I finish my 9 am med pass usually around 11 am. Then I would do my BS checks then my afternoon med pass. Btw, I even calculated how much time each resident would get if I do my medpass in 2 hours, and it comes out to 4.28 mins per resident including checking BP and HR for meds with parameters, punching out the meds from the bubble pack, and actually giving it to the resident. To me, this is not the care I want to give my patients. Coz right now, I feel that the only thing I do at work is give meds.

It is really really stressful for me. I actually lost 10 lbs (and counting) since I worked there. I don't know how others do it in 2-2.5 hours. I always stock my med cart right before I start med pass but it's just so hard.

Sorry, but I just had to really vent out my emotions. And I hope that there's any advice you can give to a struggling new nurse like me, coz I don't think I can stick with this situation anymore. :unsure:

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Unfortunately this appears to be the usual story for LTC nurses, particularly for new grads.

I feel bad for your situation. US has a terrible nursing job economy so finding other work must be difficult.

But it sounds like this job if starting to effect your health (the weight loss).

I hope you find a new job that makes you feel passionate about nursing.

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Specializes in med/surg, step down, I have seen it all.

Welcome to the world of Nursing. Most are knocked down bc it was not what they imagined. 3 months a brand new nurse and burnt out already Maybe you should look into a diff degree than a BSN. All a BSN will do is help you with grad school. Also don't feel bad about not getting med passes out an hour before and after. I have worked med/surg for 9 years and sometimes it takes me 3 hours but hey they were given right? You have to do what you have to do and sometimes schedules meds have to wait unfortunately.

Look into something different to try. Maybe a doctor office will be more of your thing and speed. Hospital and LTC nursing is very hard. And I have spent many days crying over it but I love it too.

I am so sorry you are overwhelmed. Maybe you could talk to your manager. Unless you don't think that will help. Also staffing and not having enough nurses to work is everywhere. And in most cases they do have enough to work but it is the budget that keeps nurses well staffed and safe and not stressed. Money is evil.

Try something different. Don't give up just yet. See if something else fits you. Maybe LTC is not your thing. I know its not my thing. M/S is. I live for it. It is fast paced, challenging,,but rewarding in some ways.

So chin up. Start looking for something that will not make you miserable. you should not be burnt out or have bad feelings only 3 months into nursing. Sounds like the job more than you. Keep on trucking! Apply for things that are interesting to you. And don't give up you just haven't found you niche yet. Hugs to you.

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Hi everyone. I am a new grad RN who graduated last December 2012. I have an ADN and wants to pursue a BSN next year. I passed my boards just this April and was able to find a job in a SNF and Rehab. And now I'm in my 3rd month in that facility. I was hired as a per diem nurse and I am feeling burnt out already. I didn't really quite understand what I got myself into. As a per diem nurse in that facility we don't get any benefits and no fixed hours. We just got scheduled into days where we signed up for that we are available. However, I find that I am already working like a full time employee. In a two-week pay period, I work about 80+ hours and the last one, I worked 90+ hours including OT. I also feel that they have a problem with staffing, which annoys me. Coz it feels like they are not hiring enough people to work, and they overwork the ones that are already there. In fact, one time, they wanted me to work double shift. :sniff: I was working AM shift one day when the supervisor approached me and asked me if I can also work the PM shift. That's 16 hours straight of work! Oh wait, that wasn't one time. It already happened twice. Then at one time, they scheduled me in PM shift and wanted me to work AM shift the next day, which is really hard for me because it takes me about an hour or two after the shift to finish charting on my patients. When I work PM, I usually get out at around 1 am. Then I wake up at 5:30 to get myself ready whenever I work AM shifts. So if they made me work PM and AM shift, it meant only about 3+ hours of sleep for me. I said NO in both situations. And it is an emotional battle for me to work there. Sometimes I feel like this is not what I went into nursing school for. Like I said, have been working there for 3 months already and I still can't finish med pass in the "1 hr before and 1 hr after" time frame. I have 28 patients which always asks for PRN pain meds and I finish my 9 am med pass usually around 11 am. Then I would do my BS checks then my afternoon med pass. Btw, I even calculated how much time each resident would get if I do my medpass in 2 hours, and it comes out to 4.28 mins per resident including checking BP and HR for meds with parameters, punching out the meds from the bubble pack, and actually giving it to the resident. To me, this is not the care I want to give my patients. Coz right now, I feel that the only thing I do at work is give meds. It is really really stressful for me. I actually lost 10 lbs (and counting) since I worked there. I don't know how others do it in 2-2.5 hours. I always stock my med cart right before I start med pass but it's just so hard. Sorry, but I just had to really vent out my emotions. And I hope that there's any advice you can give to a struggling new nurse like me, coz I don't think I can stick with this situation anymore. :unsure:[/quote']

I hate to tell you this but 80 hrs in 2 weeks is a full time job

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No one passes their meds within that ridiculous one hour before and one hour after time frame

The staffing office will always ask you to work hours that are simply not do-able, it's their job.

Be ready to just say NO.

The facility is working you as a full time employee, without giving you benefits.

Stop accepting so many hours, so you have time to find another job .

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

Working more than full time as you describe in any job will burn you out. Passing meds to 28 patients in that type of facility sounds like your are "med nurse". This type of job usually goes to an LVN but you got stuck in it. I think that passing meds will be your only job, no real head to toes, or patient care such as getting them dressed? If this is the case, I think that there won't be any change for your future just passing meds. I used to have this type of job, one nurse for each hall that had about 30 patients and at first by the time I got finished with my AM pass it was time for BS. After a while I memorized the meds and patients and used up less time. It almost became unsafe since I didn't look at the MAR because I knew everyone and their meds and their allergies.

I think you should stay, but work less hours. Any floor job will burn you out working so much. Try to stay until something better comes back. On a good note: this job will do wonders for your time management skills:)

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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We actually have an availability form that we submit to the staffing department every month. I signed up for lesser available days coz I just feel so tired. Anyway, I submitted mine and now they question me why I can't work on the days I did not sign up for. It's because they want me to work on my unavailable days. I think they're so messed up.

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