Not sure what to do?

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I'm not liking work, at all. I work on an oncology/med surge floor...more med surge than oncology. Anyways. I have anxiety just about every night before work! I have been there for 4 months, 2 months on my own. I have already been charge nurse about 5 times, which I don't agree with, but what can I do? I'm not really liking hospital nursing though. I know I'm not fit for ICU or ER spots, they don't mesh well with me, I guess. I did my preceptorship in L&D and enjoyed it, but not sure that's where I want to be either. I want to try some type of community health type of things, but do I stick it out at work to get the years experience that everyone seems to covet? I just dread having to be there for 8 more months :/

[happyinmyheart]

Being a school nurse maybe?

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I thought about that as well! Just havent seen any openings for any here yet.

[rachel0609, ADN, RN]

As much as you hate it, you are gaining valuable experience that could land you that perfect job later on. On the other hand if you hate it that much finding something else may be an option , but may be a bit more difficult with limited experience .

RN , BSN future FNP

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

You've already been charge ? Wow. Is the turnover rate high on your floor ?

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

Oh girlfriend...Last night was HORRIBLE! It was me, an LPN and a CNA. That was it!!! We had 12 patients, 3 of who needed blood transfusions! I ended up breaking down about 2 hours into the shift. How can they expect a new nurse to take care of 6 patients, plus do the blood on 3 of them, plus do charge nurse duties AND push all the drugs or get blood for lab on all the PICCs/ports on the floor?? If I didn't have bills to pay I would not be going into work tonight.

And yes, the turnover rate is high on our floor.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

After a night like that, I think I would have told them "GOODBYE FOREVER!!" and run to the nearest exit.

Is there any way of transferring to another unit within the facility? Maybe one that's better staffed?

There is an LPN on the floor with you. Do you guys pair up and do "team nursing"? Such as, the LPN handles the med pass(PO, IM), wound care (if any) and then you handle the other tasks that the LPN cannot do?

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I can't transfer until I have been there a year And no, the LPN takes on a full load, the RNs just do what she can't. And this makes no sense to me, but she can do and chart assessments (but not if she admits a new pt, an RN has to do the initial assessment) as long as she is followed by an RN on the next shift.

[CrazyGoonRN]

If I remember correctly from a past post of yours, I think I know what hospital you work at and I have heard not good things about their med-surg. I know a nurse who lives 5 minutes from your hospital and she quit because she was afraid she would loose her license if she continued working there. She now drives 45 minutes one way to work and is much happier. You should check out some the the smaller hospitals in the area like the one in Ashland City and Springfield. They are both small (Ashland City is smaller) but I have heard good things about both of them.

Designated Critical Access Hospital, Ashland City, TN - TriStar Ashland City | Ashland City, TN

NorthCrest Medical Center

[CrazyGoonRN]

There is also Skyline Medical Center in Nashville. Its a great hospital and I know for sure that they have several RN positions posted right now. Its in the northern part of Nashville so you would not have to go through downtown Nashville traffic if comming from the Clarksville area.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

Oh goodness. Sorry you are experiencing this. I too started on a very tough critical care floor. However, it wasn't as bad as your unit sounds. You have to be on the unit for a minimum of 2 years before orienting to be a charge nurse. During that time, I wanted to quit bedside nursing and move into Public Health despite knowing the pay was drastically low. But, after sticking it out for a year, a postpartum opportunity opened for me and have been there ever since. I would eventually like to move into working for WIC/Healthy Start, but right now I love the higher pay on a less stressful unit that the hospital offers.

Try to hang in there unless you feel you are unsafe. Once you hit the 6 months mark, still try and see if you can be transferred or start looking for another job. One year is always golden, but you can at least try.

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I am going to stick it out for as long as I can. I, too, live 5 minutes from here...ahh, wish I knew this stuff beforehand And thanks guys, just feels good to vent sometimes!