Not sure what to do.......Long post

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I am currently working in Med-Surg after being away from hospital nursing almost 18 years. I am struggling since I finished my orientation. Overwhelmed is the best word to describe it. The busier I get the more anxiety I have. I don't get my charting done in a timely manner and have trouble finding time to open charts until the end of my shift. It's obvious I have a time management problem. I also find I am having to ask alot of questions of the other RN's sometimes just to make sure that I am making the right decisions.... so I guess I would say I am lacking in confidence. I am working 12 hour shifts, no more than two consecutive days...the time flies by.

This is my dilemma... I almost quit today... I have my resignation letter on my computer. I decided to call the nursing supervisor today... just to let her know what I am feeling in regards to being overwhelmed. I am sure she sensed that I was thinking about giving up. She told me, I don't want you to give up. One obvious reason is they have spent money training me... the other reason is she liked my values. She said that I can have more training and utilize a preceptor again. She thinks I just need more time... mainly because I am a returning nurse that left when I was pretty much a new grad still. Now the obstacle is that the education part that I did as a new grad happened so long ago. I did take a refresher course... but it's not the same thing as all the science classes I had to do when I first entered school..... 10 years ago I worked in a clinic setting that was a lot less stressful and I really would like to go back to that setting. I don't think it's fair of me to continue at the hospital when I know it's going to take probably more than a year to feel comfortable....So the bottom line is I am holding on to the letter of resignation I wrote... I am going meet with the Supervisor and Nurse Educator in regards to what I need to succeed in hospital nursing...sorry for the rambling.. but this has really kind of depressed me.....I guess I will do my best until something actually comes up with a clinic position. The nurse recruitor at the clinic I worked before wants to meet with me... No positions available as yet... but I am sure something will come up eventually. I plan on doing the best I can with the hospital... and hopefully I will be less anxious....right now I don't see it that way......it's not easy coming back after so many years.

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Welcome to the forum! Thanks for your post. How wonderful

you have decided to return to nursing. Many things have changed in

nursing and the demands on staff today. Congratulations on

finishing your preceptorship and giving it a try. What depresses

me is that nursing is so "McDonalds drive thru" today,wish

we could go back to when working wasn't as pressured...

Sounds like you are in a good position and lucky to have a

nurse manager who is supportive if you choose to stay at the

hospital. And the clinic manager who would like to talk

with you, with a possible staff position.

Go with what your heart tells you and what makes you happy

and comfortable............

Best wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:balloons::balloons:

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Thank you for your reply, I appreciate the response. Right now I am in sort of a brain fog with all this adjustment.

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here's hoping that it goes okay for you

keep doing your best

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I bet it's not you and that you don't have a time management problem. I bet it's the staffing, or lack of, and high patient to nurse ratios.

I bet that you are not the only one in the same situation regarding charting. Even experienced nurses feel overwhelmed at times, and they also consult with each other as needed.

I would take the offer of more training and preceptorship.

Hopefully, things will get better as you get more experience.

Good luck.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I bet it's not you and that you don't have a time management problem. I bet it's the staffing, or lack of, and high patient to nurse ratios.

I bet that you are not the only one in the same situation regarding charting. Even experienced nurses feel overwhelmed at times, and they also consult with each other as needed.

I would take the offer of more training and preceptorship.

Hopefully, things will get better as you get more experience.

Good luck.

30 years ago I was lucky enough to have a preceptor who told me that if I was any good at all in nursing, I would be a little miserable the first year second-guessing myself and going to sleep remembering things I forgot to do. I cried the first day I had to do meds. I'm still in nursing and enjoying my career.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

YOu know you arent feeling anything different than any other new grad. I think even nurses that have been out for a while and come back into an acute care setting feel like new grads because everything they learned has changed. Thats the nature of the beast of nursing.

Rest assured that everyone that comes back into nursing feels like a fish out of water, feel inadequate. But dont let that stop you,, one day youll go in and things will just fall into place. Keep asking questions, thats the way we all get more comfortable. Even seasoned nurses ask each other questions now and then so dont think that is something isolated to "new grads".

Welcome back, give it your best, because im sure you will do fine given a little time. Just like the rest of us have. Hang in there.

Oh and even seasoned nurses have to call back to the unit sometimes because they forgot to tell someone something, or do something. Calling back is being contientious,, not unorganized.

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30 years ago I was lucky enough to have a preceptor who told me that if I was any good at all in nursing, I would be a little miserable the first year second-guessing myself and going to sleep remembering things I forgot to do. I cried the first day I had to do meds. I'm still in nursing and enjoying my career.

i agree. what you are going thru op is normal. i never slept my first year as a new nurse!

20 years later...... i sleep like a baby.

be patient with all things, but especially yourself.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I so totally admire you! To come back to hospital nursing after that long of a break is awesome. Would you consider going back to school? With an advanced degree, you would have more options than as a staff nurse.

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You hang in there! Remember the hard, hard work you had to do to become a Nurse, and then ask yourself if you really want to waste that hard work. You will remember the stuff you learned and you will learn new stuff. Your year will fly by and you will look back and wonder why you were so hard on yourself............DON'T GIVE UP!icon12.gif

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