New nurse!

[SS12]

I graduated in May, took NCLEX at the end of May and began my career in June! I was hired at a small rural hospital as a Med-surg nurse which was the only place I applied. I love the "small town hospital" feel where everyone seems to know everyone. The nurses I work with are great along with the charge nurses and my nurse manager. However, being a for profit hospital there are many days we work what I feel is short staffed. I've never worked anywhere else so I don't really have anything to compare to. In the four months I've worked there we have only had a tech two days. When census is low we don't get a tech nor a unit secretary. Even though census may be low the floor nurses still have 5-6 patients each. Some days can be very difficult depending on patient acuity. I find myself running myself crazy giving meds, baths, keeping up with new orders, etc. Somedays I do not even get a lunch or a pee break. I feel like it doesn't have much to do with being a new nurse but more with staffing ratio. Does anyone else feel like they run themselves to death on almost a daily basis? Also I feel like I have lost so many skills and nursing knowledge. I feel like I spend my whole day trying not to give meds late, getting everyone bathed, linens changed, on top of tending to everyone's needs such as making sure they get their coffee, juice, etc. I'm all about holistic patient care but I feel like I find myself tending more to their wants and needs versus checking lab values and such. Nursing is not easy and I can see how nurses can get burnt out very easily. Any comments/advice would be appreciated. :)