New RN wanting to quit.

[katie6702]

Hi everyone. I'm a new RN that graduated in May and passed my nclex in august. I just started a position on a heavy stroke unit. I worked there casual after graduation until I just recently started in a part time position. I applied and accepted the position because I wanted something steady, even though I have been dreading the days I've worked there and debated quitting even when i worked as a casual there.

It is a very stressful unit caring for critical patients. I frequently doubt my assessment skills and feel uncomfortable with the acuity of patients. Frequently I feel incompetent and scared I'm going to miss a vital component of my assessment; such as, change in patient that may have re-stroked or has increased ICP and change in LOC. I get so anxious that I feel ill. I often get home in tears and lose sleep because I feel so anxious. It is overwhelming at times with the acuity especially with graduating recently. When feeling that way I feel like it's unfair to the patients in fear they may not be getting the full care they need, unfair to the staff I work with.Sometimes it's a struggle to get everything done of shift and complete all my tasks and feel as though others often have to help me. As well, it is not a supportive environment as is quite toxic and the nurses are quite catty. Often, the other nurses roll there eyes when I take a little longer to complete a task, review the policy for a blood draw from a picc (as an example, and I haven't done it that often), looking up medication I am unfamiliar with, etc.

Ive worked in this position a week and feel like I want to resign. I feel like accepting the position was a mistake. I don't know what to do. Will it look bad if I quit? So you have any advice?! please help!

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

I'm assuming you went through some type of new grad program/residency. Talk with your educator and/or manager/director about your feelings and concerns. Maybe they will let you precept longer. Be completely honest with them. I'm sure you had a preceptor. Hopefully that person or maybe an experienced fellow nurse are willing to help you. If neither of these options will not work for you due to an unsupportive environment which includes your preceptor, charge RN, and/or educator/manager/director, then maybe you should leave as it is toxic for both you and the patient. But yes, if you leave now, it will definitely hurt you in terms of the job field for leaving so early.

[TeaPlease]

First, take a deep breath. You're the professional, and you're taking care of your patient. You assess that patient, note your findings, and perform the needed tasks, and move to the next patient. You aren't forgetting components of said assessment, so you're doing ok. Nervous is good. Looking up policies and procedures is good. Requiring extra time to complete tasks and perform care is normal for AT LEAST a year.

Ask your coworkers ANYTHING that you can't discover on your own. We all learn new things! I hope that there's a preceptor who can guide you with the required patience and humor.....but first, deep breath!

[SkyDrift]

Ask for a preceptor if possible. I know being a new grad and getting hired in a critical care unit is very exciting, but unless you have had experience in the past taking care of high acuity patients, I would look at different starting positions and gain experience from there. Always do what you can to protect your patients and your license.

[R8T3D_RN]

I feel the exact same as you ! I got my first hospital job in september in a busy ER. I am almost at the end of my orientation (total about 10 weeks) and i am terrified !! I am doubting myself, can I really do this on my own? my preceptor still tells me I am not prioritizing my patients and my time managment skills are still not there yet. some days i feel like im drowning, other days I feel like i got a hang of things. I am terrified to be on my own.

[katie6702]

I know, it's a very daunting and unnerving feeling. I feel as though I struggle at times with time management and prioritization sometimes as well. I keep on hearing that it takes a while to feel comfortable and to a point where you feel like you're not treading. Which is a little comforting but frustrating. I have since resigned from my position and to go back to being casual and stick to days/evenings in a more supportive environment with more staff on to ask questions and help build confidence; this is what my manager suggested when I approached her. ( I had a part time

straight nights position). I feel a little more comfortable with; yet, every shift i take as a great learning experience to build on knowledge/assessment skills/ time management/ prioritization/etc. However, I feel a bit uninterested in working in a med-surg setting since working in this site. :s

[R8T3D_RN]

I know what you mean /: we just have to hang in there. My first year of nursing i was working in an ambulatory surgery center and I loved it !! I felt like I wanted to learn more, hence the er job. My friend always tells me if it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you which she is totally right. I'm trying to hang in there but I have thoughts of leaving the er to go back to my old job which I loved. After a year I'll probably leave the hospital since I feel I have found my nitch in ambulatory surgery. You just have to find your nitch as well.