Nursing is not what I thought it would be!

farmerjane · Jul 27, 2012

I was frustrated too until the latest round of new graduates started in June. Suddenly I was able to see how far I have come in the last seven months! I am doing a lot of things independently that I used to either not know to do, have to be reminded to do or be helped to do. Ah, progress! I am learning how to organize my day and getting better at not forgetting to bring things into the room with me. And slowly slooowwwwwly I am seeing these task oriented things becoming organized and thus freeing up time for me so that when a patient wants to talk and share, I don't feel absolute panic. I am getting to know drugs better so am not having to look them up as much. I am getting better at what to delegate and what to just go ahead and do myself, thus freeing up time. I know the numbers of pharmacy and lab and who to call when there is a problem, question or missing med. I know how to use the software more efficiently. I am learning to prioritize things much better.
I bet you are getting better at these things too.
Seven months isn't very long to know how nursing is going to turn out. Hang in there!

I love this answer---the reality that we can still feel overwhelmed each and every day because we're in the thick of it. But when someone comes along newer than us, we can take a look back and see how far we've come.

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · Jul 27, 2012

I feel the same way. Somedays I feel like I conquered my shift and other days I feel as though the shift conquered me. I've had days where It literally took all I had to get up and get to work. You can do it and so can I. Hang in there with me and get that year and we'll see where it'll take us. Your year will be here before you know it.

MyUserName,RN · Jul 27, 2012

I think this is a normal growing pain into nursing. I am now a little over a year into my first nursing job. About 6 months in, I went through a burnout period. I was really depressed because I worked so hard to be a nurse, it was my dream for years, and here I was a nurse and didn't like it. It wasn't the patient care part I didn't like, but all the things you pointed out as well. I was also working night shift and was dealing with the flipping back and forth of my sleep schedule which was causing me trouble outside of work, so that didn't help. But without being able to pin point an exact moment, I noticed that I stopped being burnt out and started feeling more confident in myself as a nurse. I think the post from not.done.yet stated it best. I think I started noticing that I wasn't having to ask as many questions, I started feeling more confident in my own decisions and realizing that I was able to think things through on my own which before I couldn't do. I also had a few new nurses start my shift and realized they were coming to me with questions and many times I was able to answer them. Not that I don't ask questions or need help anymore, because I definitely do, but not as much. Just give it some time and things may get better for you too.

missladyrn · Jul 27, 2012

It's called paying your dues. Pony up, baby! You'll get that caring job you want, but you have to dig a few ditches first.
What, you wanted the whole dream laid at your feet 7 months in?

Really? What kind of nursing do you do? Pay your dues? To whom? For what? I am guessing it has been a long time since you were a new nurse and perhaps your memory is a bit cloudy. Some of us still remember what it was like.

Good Morning, Gil · Jul 27, 2012

I'm not trying to be pessimistic, only realistic in telling you that it will not get better, and your feelings won't change. Yes, you're a new nurse, as everyone has mentioned, but I'd be willing to bet that 10 months from now, you'll still feel the same way. Your efficiency may increase somewhat, but even at 7 months, you're probably able to handle your load by now and feel comfortable going to work. What you're overwhelmed by is just the general workload, and that just may be unit specific. Does your unit have a high turn-over? If not, surgical nursing may just not be for you, and you may enjoy another area better.

I came from a lower acuity, higher patient ratio area, and while I wasn't overwhelmed (was first few months, of course, but then it clicked, etc), just didn't like it, because as you said, patients are still patients but you're just running in/out of rooms all night. Did that for 1 year, and now I work ICU, and it's so much better, and I enjoy my job a lot more. Still times when I'm just "checking things off my list," but still remember who is in the bed, a human that's scared, vulnerable.

I'm not saying run to ICU, just to find your niche. Do you enjoy surgical patients? if you enjoy surgical patients, but just want a better nurse-patient ratio, then maybe SICU is for you or even a transplant unit (never worked one, but I'm hoping the ratios are better. if you hate surgery, no prob, other options). Please don't give up on nursing yet. For me, it's not the job I don't like, just the hours (since nights make me tired all of the time on days off, but putting in my time just like everyone else for days, and may change my night shift schedule around to help some).

Nursing is not easy, requires hard work, long hours, etc, but very few jobs are as rewarding. Naysayers will say nursing sucks because the working conditions are terrible; true, they are at certain places, I realize that, but you just need to get into the places that have good working conditions, and the job is that much better. These jobs are competitive and don't just want a "warm body"; this, in turn, will mean that you have many nurses that are caring, competent, great to work with, etc. If you see many job openings for one unit, that's (generally) a red flag.

Good Morning, Gil · Jul 27, 2012

Oh, and another thing. Are you able to do your nursing work, and talk to your patients at the same time? If not, get there. That makes a huge difference. For instance, I update the family/patient, or just talk to him/her, as I'm hanging meds, checking hourly urine output, or any other drain output, doing oral care on my vented pts. Anything that doesn't require a stethoscope lol or privacy for the patient (inserting foley cath, etc).

Maremma · Jul 27, 2012

I am so sorry you are feeling this badly about your decision to be a nurse. I felt the same way too for quite a while. I really am beginning to think ALL new nurse's must feel this way when they first start out.If they say they don't they are probably lying to themselves and everyone else or were very lucky not to have their first year in a setting that overwhelms the nurse with far a to high patient to nurse ratio. Corporate greed is the bottom line to most nurses misery!

You are more than half way to the "magic one year mark" Hang in there. If after a year you still hate it this much you have the one year experience that everyone seems to require before you can apply anywhere. After you give yourself that full year you will be better prepared to make a decision about what type of nursing you really want to be in.

Please do not let nasty comments by other people make you feel worse about yourself or your situation. They have their own personal issues that they have not dealt with yet that makes them feel the need to lash out at people that are already hurting. I feel sorry for people that feel the need to do that.

tewdles, RN · Jul 27, 2012

The reality is that nursing in the acute care setting can be very task oriented period. As you get more practiced you will discover how to include your nursing skills and assessments into the busy task oriented schedule.

You will likely get more comfortable. The rule of thumb used to be that it took 6 months in a new nursing position before you didn't feel dangerous and 12 months before you feel like you know what you are doing most of the time...

Good luck.

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 27, 2012

We all feel this way when we started out. I was in LTC with 37 patients on night shift. I will tell you that the patients do not sleep. I had to pass as many meds as day shift. I got tired of nights( I was left alone one night with all 75 patients) and switched to days. I was thinking 25 patients would be better, NOPE. I found a job in about 1 year later in hospice, intermittent visits one patient at a time and I also work home health. I would stay hang in there at least 1 year and see if you can transfer somewhere else. I know I dont want to do med-surg but I know I will probably have to go back after I graduate from the RN program. Once I am inside the hospital I will set my sites on ER or OR after I get a year or 2 under my belt :)! Hugs and good luck, I hope things will get better over time for you

plumbtrician · Jul 27, 2012

Last time I checked....CNA wasn't a prerequisite for RN! In my humble opinion, patient care should be a necessity for anyone applying to nursing school. Nursing isn't for everyone, that is one of the reasons it is such a great profession.

Suck it up! Its the new doctrine.

4Pack · Jul 27, 2012

CNA is a prerequisite for the program I am entering. I am surprised that spending two years in clinicals doesn't give one a better idea of what really working may be like, just from watching and talking to the experienced RN's?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 27, 2012

been there done that i'm totally serious when i ask this-do you consider mn-rns reply to be a case of nurses eating their young and/or an example of bullying?

no wonder bullying is such a hot topic these days. you're seeing bullies everywhere! no, that was not bullying. that was just a dose of reality without the sugar coating. absence of sugar coating is neither bullying nor eating young.