I use to work on a med/surg floor. I didn't work much though.. I was trying to balance being a stay at home (most of the time) mom and continue nursing, so I only worked 3-4 shifts a month. I never really got to know anyone on my floor, but most of them were clicky(sp?). I never felt like I was part of the team. I had 5 patients. It seemed the last few times I worked I had the craziest patients/days...when I'd ask for help I'd get the sigh and the supervisor asking me if the floor was too much for me!? Well....some days it was!! ugh. I eventually decided to let something go...and it couldn't be my kids! LOL I put hospital nursing on the back burner until I can be more committed to a schedule and floor so I can feel like part of the team and get to know people. My first med/surg job out of nursing school was awesome, so supportive, but I also worked full-time. I don't think I was ready to work prn...I was only a full-time nurse for 8 months and I got one day of orientation at the newer prn job. Needless to say, with working 3 days a month, I lost confidence in the skills and knowledge I did gain...traches, setting up pain pumps, NG tubes, even the process of giving blood since it only came up one time for me in almost 2 yrs working there. (I gave blood all the time previously...). I'm now a PRN school nurse and it works very well with my kids' school schedules. It's way less stress too..I can fill in and not feel like the new person every day. But I do long for that nitty gritty hospital nursing and experience. I feel like I never really got great solid start to my nursing career....
For now, I'm sticking with prn school nursing b/c it does allow me to be home with my kids every afternoon. Has anyone else had a similar experience? ...I know when I eventually leave school nursing, I'm going to have to return to a med/surg floor to regain my clinical skills before moving on to anything else, (possibly wound care nursing...). Has anyone else had a similar career experience? and returned to more acute nursing? I know I'll be starting all over again pretty much.. I wish there was a way to refresh skills or go to a clinical class periodically..
Thanks! Maybe I'm just venting.... :)
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I use to work on a med/surg floor. I didn't work much though.. I was trying to balance being a stay at home (most of the time) mom and continue nursing, so I only worked 3-4 shifts a month. I never really got to know anyone on my floor, but most of them were clicky(sp?). I never felt like I was part of the team. I had 5 patients. It seemed the last few times I worked I had the craziest patients/days...when I'd ask for help I'd get the sigh and the supervisor asking me if the floor was too much for me!? Well....some days it was!! ugh. I eventually decided to let something go...and it couldn't be my kids! LOL I put hospital nursing on the back burner until I can be more committed to a schedule and floor so I can feel like part of the team and get to know people. My first med/surg job out of nursing school was awesome, so supportive, but I also worked full-time. I don't think I was ready to work prn...I was only a full-time nurse for 8 months and I got one day of orientation at the newer prn job. Needless to say, with working 3 days a month, I lost confidence in the skills and knowledge I did gain...traches, setting up pain pumps, NG tubes, even the process of giving blood since it only came up one time for me in almost 2 yrs working there. (I gave blood all the time previously...). I'm now a PRN school nurse and it works very well with my kids' school schedules. It's way less stress too..I can fill in and not feel like the new person every day. But I do long for that nitty gritty hospital nursing and experience. I feel like I never really got great solid start to my nursing career....
For now, I'm sticking with prn school nursing b/c it does allow me to be home with my kids every afternoon. Has anyone else had a similar experience? ...I know when I eventually leave school nursing, I'm going to have to return to a med/surg floor to regain my clinical skills before moving on to anything else, (possibly wound care nursing...). Has anyone else had a similar career experience? and returned to more acute nursing? I know I'll be starting all over again pretty much.. I wish there was a way to refresh skills or go to a clinical class periodically..
Thanks! Maybe I'm just venting.... :)