New Nurse..Change employer or career? HELP

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Hello everyone,

I've been a RN for 7 months now and I have worked in a hospital on a med-surg floor. The experience has been rewarding as far as patient cases and interactions; however, I am slowly regretting my decision to become a nurse. I have encountered horrible management as well intimidation and bullying from co-workers - its extreme. I've had a co-worker (RN) walk clean away from while I was mid report because she was upset an admission came 5 mins before shift change at the same time a code was occurring and doctors didn't place orders because the same doctor was responding to the code. None of it had anything to do with me but she decided it was appropriate to direct her anger at me. As a new nurse, I am already on pins and needles hoping I'm doing the right thing. I'm starting to feel I can't approach anyone with questions. I'm chastised if I miss something instead of using the opportunity to educate. Experienced nurses constantly try to talk AT me instead of TO me, almost as if they're trying to prove a point. Aside from my rude coworkers, the floor itself is outdated, lacking organization, and constantly missing equipment. Our ratio is 4-5 patients, I've gotten 6 patients several times before. I didn't complain at the unsafe ratio, I complained at the fact that I got 6 extremely high acuity patients and was running around like a chicken without a head while my coworkers sat around the nurses station eating, on their phones, chatting...etc. It took for a night shift (7pm-7am) nurse to come to ask me if I needed help. My schedule is split between day shift and night shift. The day shift nurses consistently made excuses not to help and their body language would make it just as clear that they did not want to help...

I've never had any negative experiences with the patients I've cared for. I've had ages ranging from 18-100+ years old from all backgrounds, cultures, socioeconomic classes and I have enjoyed every single one. I love talking to my patients and caring for them. Prior to nursing, I was a CNA for 6 years and enjoyed providing patient care. I know I love providing care. I believe this is the little string that's keeping me from giving completely up on nursing because I am hating everything else thus far. Should I attempt to leave my current employer?? I am thinking about trying rehab or skilled nursing and leaving the hospital scene entirely or do I give up nursing?

So many mixed emotions!

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Specializes in NICU.
14 minutes ago, NewToThis11 said:

I've had a co-worker (RN) walk clean away from while I was mid report because she was upset an admission came 5 mins before shift change at the same time a code was occurring and doctors didn't place orders because the same doctor was responding to the code. None of it had anything to do with me but she decided it was appropriate to direct her anger at me.

I would consider the shift report as "given". She walked away, so she didn't need to hear anything more about the patient. Care was transferred to her, go home. I am not going wait around until your temper tantrum is done to give you the rest of the report. If you walk away, in my opinion, you feel you don't need any more information on that patient.

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5 minutes ago, NICU Guy said:

I would consider the shift report as "given". She walked away, so she didn't need to hear anything more about the patient. Care was transferred to her, go home. I am not going wait around until your temper tantrum is done to give you the rest of the report. If you walk away, in my opinion, you feel you don't need any more information on that patient.

Agreed 102%. After my emotional breakdown, because I felt that I did something wrong, I realized that some people are just naturally vicious. I've just become numb to the job, only lighting up when I walk into the rooms of my patients.

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Why would you think you should give up nursing when you love taking care of patients?

It sounds like an unsupportive workplace to say the least.

Start planning for your exit from this unit. In the meantime, make sure not to exacerbate the situation by taking things personally when they aren't personal. For example, although a bona fide temper tantrum, I wouldn't consider someone walking away from my report under the circumstances to have one single thing to do with me personally. Instead of internalizing this I would call the supervisor and let them know that someone needs to come and take report. Etc.

If this place is toxic in a variety of ways, this is usually some form of nurses being treated poorly and then reacting negatively. People don't like to be treated like crap and they often don't respond favorably when they are.

There's just no need to take it personally. Keep your cool and work on a sensible plan to get out of there.

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Don't give up nursing, get a new job or transfer to another unit. The problem on your floor is management. It's a pet peeve of mine to see staff sitting while another is running around like a mad man/woman. Work together then sit together because everyone has a bad day. What they're doing is abusing the situation and management is allowing it. You're going to burn out early in your career if you keep up at this pace.

You have to speak up or seek new employment. I don't think it's you needing to quit nursing, it's your toxic environment.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Do not quit nursing; you worked too hard to get where you are. I am a newer nurse with one year experience. I worked in a very toxic environment during my first job - toxic for a variety of reasons and some are similar to yours. I left after two months knowing that I didn't have a job lined up and that quitting after only 2 months does not look good at all, but I just couldn't tolerate the situation anymore. One month later I found a wonderful new job with amazing coworkers. I couldn't be happier. Some hospital cultures are toxic, others help new nurses thrive. You just have to find the latter.

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.
7 hours ago, NewToThis11 said:

I've had a co-worker (RN) walk clean away from while I was mid report because she was upset an admission came 5 mins before shift change

Seems odd anyone would go to work, only to be upset there's actually work for them to do when they get there.

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I complained at the fact that I got 6 extremely high acuity patients and was running around like a chicken without a head while my coworkers sat around the nurses station eating, on their phones, chatting...etc. 

Who assigns the patient workload? They don't seem to be utilizing staffing resources very efficiently. Can you address this flawed shortcoming and important patient safety issue occuring on the nursing unit with someone?

Yeah, you'll probably get egg on your face for bringing it up because it will break up their card games at the nurses station, but at this point who really cares. You're not a doormat.

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On 7/23/2019 at 7:03 PM, Crash_Cart said:

Yeah, you'll probably get egg on your face for bringing it up because it will break up their card games at the nurses station, but at this point who really cares. You're not a doormat.

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No reason to quit the profession. There are too many options for you out there. Find another one! This too shall pass!

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