New nurse with a weak stomach

[rgrgrg]

I just graduated in June as an LPN. All through out school I dreaded lab and clinical days; not because I was nervous, but because I hated the skills I knew they would have me preform (all of my clinicals were in LTC, so caths, dressings, trachs). I quickly decided I could not work LTC, made excellent grades and passed the NCLEX. What i lacked with treatments, i made up for in every other way and building a relationship with my patients; and it was noted by everyone around.

Job searching landed me a charge nurse job on a memory care unit. Its my 4th day of training.

Im already seeing that my weak stomach is definitely getting in the way. I have gone out of my way to avoid doing these sort of skills with my preceptor. And let me say, its not for lack of knowledge or know how; i can do it if push comes to shove, but almost passing out everytime is not fun or good. And i dont want to start off my new career doing something i hate.

Everyone i have talked to so far has said negative things like, if i cant handle a cath change or a fresh amputation dressing change, i will not last as a nurse and need to change careers.

I love my patients. But this sort of point of care nursing is just not for me. I feel like there are other ways to be hands on and make a difference, without quite literally being THAT hands on.

But as a new nurse i have no idea where to start looking, if i even have a chance at being hired. Please help me. Im at my wits end!

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Look into clinic nursing.

[_superwoman]

If you're that scared to do basic skills, you should return back to school and get your RN. As an LPN, you're the one doing most of the skills and dirty work that the RNs don't want to do. Learning those skills and being comfortable with the uncomfortable is what you signed up for. Want to do less dirty work? Return to school.

[kiszi, RN]

If you're that scared to do basic skills, you should return back to school and get your RN. As an LPN, you're the one doing most of the skills and dirty work that the RNs don't want to do. Learning those skills and being comfortable with the uncomfortable is what you signed up for. Want to do less dirty work? Return to school.

Please don't take this advice. It's utter bull.

I have to question why you continued on in nursing school once you realized how much difficulty you had with the basic aspects of the job.

There are positions away from the bedside, but they often require experience. As an LPN your options are even more limited. Becoming an RN might afford more opportunities, but you have to ask yourself if you are able to put in time at the bedside getting the experience you will probably need to move on. A career change might be a better option.