New Nurse.....not feeling welcome on my unit. What do I do?

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So, I'm a New Grad RN working in Critical Care. I feel so overwhelmed and today was the first day I left

work and cried all the way home.

The Unit Secretary and some (but fortunately not all) of the other staff RN's are putting me

through the ringer! WHY?!?! Today the Unit Secretary was yelling at me because I was

using the "small box" method to interpret an EKG strip. She told me I was wrong not to use the

300, 150,... method. Why does she care which method I use? Other staff RN's won't even acknowledge me

when I say hello. I am making every attempt to be polite to everyone even if they are being nasty back.

I'm not sure what to do or how to break through to these nurses. I always offer to help my team and ask questions

when I am unsure of something. I make it a point to thank each person that offers help to me in return. I don't want to rock the boat as the "new" person, but I also don't want to be a doormat.

Please help!

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Keep your chin up!! Being a new nurse is awful at times ( I have only been a nurse for 8 months). I am lucky to have the support of my coworkers. Learn from every encounter you have and do not let the negative attitudes get you down!! You are a nurse for a reason and will only get better with time. Best of luck :)

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I think many of us have been there...The first year is just tough and letting things roll off your back is all you can do at times. Please don't take it serious with the nasty ones and never forget where you came from...There will be a time when you will be there for someone else but it takes time :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg Tele.

I'm a new nurse as well, and I agree that you have to let some things roll off your back. I am blessed with awesome co-workers; but I do think that there is a period of having to "prove yourself". Trust me - the majority want you to succeed because you're another nurse to help with the workload! From other new nurses that I've talked to, it does get better - hang in there!

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Find a friend in a senior nurse, cultivate that friendship, learn from it and do your best to ignore the others. However, if a year from now you are still crying on your way home don't try to "stick it out". If they haven't gotten better by then, they probably won't. I did that and it had profound effects on my health both physically and psychologically.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Great advice from the PP's. With most specialty units, the existing staff have formed a cohesive team and anyone outside the group is just that -- an 'outsider'. I know it's hard, but try not to take it personally. You're the new kid - they don't know how well you are going to work out or whether you will simply decide to cut and run; so they have mixed feelings about whether it is worth it to invest in your development. The reaction would be the same for anyone new coming into the unit. It will get better over time as they see you are committed to becoming part of their group.

As for the Unit secretary - LOL. He/she probably has either absorbed some knowledge or completed a class in rhythm strip analysis. At least she didn't come at you with her calipers!! LOL She knows the 'how' but not the 'why'... a nurse understands that the 'method' of determining rate should be based on whether the rhythm is regular or not. If the rhythm is regular, the 'small box' method is fine.

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At least she didn't come at you with her calipers!!

:lol2:

Reminds me of the saying, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

Kill 'em with kindness. With enough kindness, they'll hopefully come around. If they don't, you might want to consider looking for another job because some work environments are just toxic.

It stinks to have this added stress while trying to get your bearings as a new grad. Hugs to you Blondie24! :hug:

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Hang in there. Just remember this for the future when someone else is in your position.

As for the unit secretary tell her to mind her business and that if she wants to interpret the rhythm strips then she should go back to school and get her nursing degree.

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*sigh*

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

It happened to me when I first started in the ICU. I hate to say it, because some nurses can be so "cliquey" it's like youre back in high school and trying to sit at the popular kids' lunch table.

I left because I know if I would have stayed, I probably would have lost my license for giving them all a piece of my mind, and it wouldnt have been professional.

I'm in the ER now and I make it my business to welcome the new person and make them feel comfortable. I had a nurse test me in the ER, and she quickly found out I was not the one to eff with.

You will have to learn to stand up for yourself. It seems like they are "feeling you out". In this case, you will simply have to let them come to you. Continue to ask for help and ask questions. Continue to be cordial, but don't hold your breath either.

I would give it about a good 6 months. If it hasnt gotten better by then, it's time to make some major decisions.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I experienced the same thing, at first, but it did get a lot better over time. Make friends where you can, but don't try too hard to be friendly to people who are cold to you. Just be matter of fact and let them come around at their own pace. Sadly, I think crying on the way home is normal for new grads.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Everybody cries sometimes. It is a normal part of life. We sometimes forget that and start thinking that we need to be happy all the time. If you've made it through a reasonable orientation period and the staff and management trust you with taking a patient assignment all by yourself -- that means something. It means they think highly enough of you to trust you with the patients and make you a part of their team. Don't lose sight of that fact every time you have to confront the fact that the job (and life in general) is not everything you dreamed it would be.

Time will improve the situation. As you show that you are competent and pleasant to work with, people will get used to having you around. "Newer" people will join the staff and the attention will be off of you. You'll just be "another average staff member" in the background, competently doing your work on a daily basis. As more time passes, you will get more comfortable with the tension in the unit that sometimes shows through in unpleasantness among the staff. You'll learn to not take it personally and to give your co-workers the room to be a little irritable sometimes.

In the meantime, keep plugging away doing the best you can. Focus on providing the best care that you can and being the best team mate that you can. Allow time and experience to do its work. Allow yourself the time to get some more experience with the job that will help you feel more comfortable and less on edge and really sensitive to the remarks and looks of others. And allow the staff time to get used to having you around.

Also ... take VERY good care of yourself. Eat healty. Exercise. Get plenty of rest and relaxation. Get a little recreation, but don't "burn the candle at both ends" and compromise your healthy lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle will help to give you the physical and mental strength you need to cope with the stress of work.

It's all part of the process of transitioning from student to staff member. Let that process unfold at it's own pace.

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