New Job: Feel like I'm not a nurse

[AKlink1234]

I accepted a position as a night float nurse in a rural hospital. I was told it would be a great way for me to learn without being fed to the wolves. However, I feel like I'm not even using my nursing skills or learning new skills at all. I register after hour ED patients, put surgical instruments in the wash, let people in the building, stock fluids, & make sure surgery bays are stocked for the next day. Then after i do that I'm supposed to go to the floor & help the nurses there, but they never need help. To top it off on my last night of orientation they had a CNA doing the same job.

This job is not at all what I expected nor does it fit the job description I was given. I feel underutilized, feel like I'm a housekeeper & quite frankly want to quit after only just completing my 2 week orientation. (I expect to do some housekeeping duties at any job, but want to use my license & nursing skills too & be able to learn new skills)

My question is should I stick it out and see if I get to do more nursing skills as time passes or should i cut my losses, go elsewhere and learn the skills I need and want.

[caliotter3]

I don't think I would just up and leave unless there are plenty of other opportunities available. Stay long enough to have something substantial to put on your resume. As time passes, convince the other nurses to let you do nursing care. Often it takes some time before people warm up to someone enough to help in this type of situation (i.e., getting them to include you in the nursing work). Ask if you can observe. Assist. Do this task, then that task. Eventually they should include you. If, that does not happen down the road, then look for greener pastures if they are available.

[Purple_roses]

If this were me, I would simply talk to the nurses about this and mention that you're worried you're not learning as much as you should be and that you would love the opportunity to help out more on the floor. I think you should be proactive about this from the beginning; if you wait and wait and wait for them to include you, an entire year could go by and your next employer will wonder why a nurse with a year of experience doesn't know how to do things.

[Cactus Nurse]

This sounds odd.

Ok your title at this hospital is a nurse title correct?? You are a RN I assume? What is the job description when you got hired? If you don't have it, look at what ever posting you applied to. Is your title at work RN?

This doesn't sound like a nurses position, why would they have you so this cleaning then "ask if someone needs help" it should be scheduled.

If your title is nurse. Then ask. "Ok I clean 4 hours, then on a cart 4 hours?" Something like that.

Don't quit until you have something else. You're working nights. Perfect opportunity to go for other interviews.

In nursing luckily, it's ok to have a long job history, just leave for the right reasons. Here you would be leaving because simply you weren't using your skills and any other facility would appreciate that.

[AKlink1234]

Yes I am an RN & my title is RN float. I'm cross-training to surgery so I hope that helps with the skills. I'm definitely going to ask about switching to a floor position & if they decline I will be looking for employment elsewhere.

[Cactus Nurse]

That is very strange. I work at a subacute and rehab facility so I'm not sure how a hospital would work. But what you explained makes no sense that a cna and rn do the same work and you're not assigned to actual floor duty. I hope the move is better for you.

I might start looking for employment else if you feel you won't use your skills. You didn't spend all that money to do work you could have done without a degree. Don't wait too long and waste time because the longer it is you forget some skills from school...