Nursing Student that hates her job... help!

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I'm a nursing student who graduates this December, since April I have been working on a med-surg floor at one of my local hospitals as a NCP (similar to a CNA). I get to do pretty much everything that the nurses do except for assessments and meds. It's a 36 bed unit and I have 12 pts to myself. The problem is, I hate it. I really, really hate it. I don't actually mind the work, ADL's etc..it's not that, but I feel as if I run around all day like a chicken with my head cut off. It's exhausting and I am literally shaking by the time I get home. I'm no good for 2 days after wards. I hope once I graduate that it will get easier and I will have my own NCP to help me. My pt load should go down to 6 at that time also.

Someone please tell me that it's normal for me to feel this way. Is it going to become easier, at least physically once I become a nurse or should I consider taking an office job and get out of the hospital all together. For those nurses that were assistants before becoming a nurse, could you please tell me about your experiences. Thanks!

I'm sorry you feel like the nurses and the CNA's don't work as a team. The CNA's on my unit sometimes also say that the nurses are lazy. It is concerning that you feel the only things you aren't doing that the RN is, is assessments and meds. that is actually a huge part of what a nurse does and takes the most amount of time and responsibility for me personally. From the RN's point of view, at least on my unit where the CNA's primary responsibility is to get the pts. to the BR, do their vitals, we feel like we will be darned if we will go respond to the pts. call bell to go to the BR instead of doing our assessments or giving the pts meds they asked for while the CNA talks to her friends on the phone.

But then again, I guess everyone also thinks "the grass is greener on the other side"

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I hate to sound harsh but in the real world, you are going to be doing what people call "aide" work. Just because there are NA's does not mean that they are available all the time. They are busy so you will have to be the one doing the work, along with getting all of your work done also. It is hard, and the responsibility is greater. You are the one who is ultimately responsible for that patients care. You will be checking the orders, following up with the tests that are done, communicating with the docs, making sure that all care is done, and whatever that patient may need. And it really does not matter if you are in the hospital setting or whatever else. You are busy everywhere you work.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I worked as a PCS during NS on a REALLY BUSY Cardiac floor and had anywhere from 8-12 patients and if someone called in - we could have up to 15. I worked days, so I had all the baths, feeds, walking, etc....and I hated every single min. of my life on that floor as a PCS. I would cry all the way home because I had not sat down for longer than 10 mins. in 12+ hours. My feet would ache for 2-3 days afterwards. I ended up landing myself in the hospital for 2 days from dehydration 2 weeks before graduation because I was neglecting myself. It was a mess. I kept thinking...what have I done.....and I really doubted myself as a human most days and was positive I had made the worst mistake of my life going to NS.

Fast forward, I graduated in Dec. and took a position on that same floor but this time as an RN and it was great and there was a HUGE difference between being a PCS and being an RN. Yes, I was busy and it was crazy and insane and sometimes downright nerve wracking, but at least physically, the job wasn't so demanding on me. Yes, I still gave baths and I put people on the potty and I gave walks...but there is a HUGE difference in doing that for a few patients and doing those same things for 15+ patients.

So there is a light at the end of the tunnel - hang in there and don't give up!!!! Your experience as a PCS will help you grow as an RN, you'll learn and gain and experience things and even though you think you aren't "critically thinking" right now, you will be suprised because you actually are learning a lot. Not to mention, you are learning some seriously awesome time managment skills that will benefit you greatly when you graduate.

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I'm sorry you feel like the nurses and the CNA's don't work as a team. The CNA's on my unit sometimes also say that the nurses are lazy. It is concerning that you feel the only things you aren't doing that the RN is, is assessments and meds. that is actually a huge part of what a nurse does and takes the most amount of time and responsibility for me personally. From the RN's point of view, at least on my unit where the CNA's primary responsibility is to get the pts. to the BR, do their vitals, we feel like we will be darned if we will go respond to the pts. call bell to go to the BR instead of doing our assessments or giving the pts meds they asked for while the CNA talks to her friends on the phone.

But then again, I guess everyone also thinks "the grass is greener on the other side"

You obviously didn't read my post very well. I never said that I felt like the nurses didn't work as a team with the NCP's. First of all because I am also a student nurse with this hospital I work (I go to school on there campus) for. I do far more than most CNA's are allowed to do, atleast in this area. The scope of practice in Va and at my hospital allows us to do almost everything that the nurse does. Note here.. that I said almost. CNA's do not work in this hospital system. Must be nice for your CNA to have time to talk on the phone. I don't even have time to pee.

As far as those who are CNA's, they work their tails off, its a hard job. Have you ever been one??

Your right about one thing, the grass is always greener on the other side.

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I worked as a PCS during NS on a REALLY BUSY Cardiac floor and had anywhere from 8-12 patients and if someone called in - we could have up to 15. I worked days, so I had all the baths, feeds, walking, etc....and I hated every single min. of my life on that floor as a PCS. I would cry all the way home because I had not sat down for longer than 10 mins. in 12+ hours. My feet would ache for 2-3 days afterwards. I ended up landing myself in the hospital for 2 days from dehydration 2 weeks before graduation because I was neglecting myself. It was a mess. I kept thinking...what have I done.....and I really doubted myself as a human most days and was positive I had made the worst mistake of my life going to NS.

Fast forward, I graduated in Dec. and took a position on that same floor but this time as an RN and it was great and there was a HUGE difference between being a PCS and being an RN. Yes, I was busy and it was crazy and insane and sometimes downright nerve wracking, but at least physically, the job wasn't so demanding on me. Yes, I still gave baths and I put people on the potty and I gave walks...but there is a HUGE difference in doing that for a few patients and doing those same things for 15+ patients.

So there is a light at the end of the tunnel - hang in there and don't give up!!!! Your experience as a PCS will help you grow as an RN, you'll learn and gain and experience things and even though you think you aren't "critically thinking" right now, you will be surprised because you actually are learning a lot. Not to mention, you are learning some seriously awesome time management skills that will benefit you greatly when you graduate.

Thank you for such a nice post, this is the type of answer I was looking for. Unfortunately some posters are trying to turn this into a CNA vs Nurse thing.

Thanks for sharing your experience, you just made me feel about ten times better

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
ok, as a cna/rn student, let me throw this through you........you have 6 patients, but orders to check on all of them, assessments to do, doctors calling/yelling at you to get such and such because they want to do this procedure pronto, you're trying to get to the cafeteria by 7 because they close then, even though you aren't done with report until 5:30/6.....you have a patient in irretractible pain, you have family yelling at you because patient wants to be discharged and go home, you have ivs to run, you have a post op patient to get assessed....there's more to the job then you realize.....

i'll be the first to admit, some nights i'm crazy.....i have 9-10 patients plus admit coming to middle of my section, families to deal with until 8:30/9......, dinners to feed or setup, people to change, confused patients to talk down, vs to do.....but the nurses are usually running around at the same time.....however, if i'm in the middle of something and they ask me for something pressing...i'll tell them to get someone else to do it, do it themselves, or i'll get to it in around x mins.....

i vow here and now not to do a tech's work for them, but help out if i need to....i will surrender my license the day i need a cna to put someone on a bedpan when i'm right there......i will not do your vs, but i trust you to come tell me when they look funny.....

get your head in the game....we don't get paid what we're worth, but when patients tell me "you're the nicest cna here....." that pays me a lot more than a check....

don't ever be above bedside nursing because that was the core of nightengale's practice......learn and live.

:wakeneo::yeahthat::wakeneo::yeahthat::wakeneo:

ok sometimes i get caught busy with no aide at my beck and call but heck, do i want my patient to sit in his/hers own stew?

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Specializes in LTC, Cardiac Step-Down.
One thing I have learned, when I become a registered nurse, I will treat the CNAs with respect because they are not slaves, but part of the team.

Thank you!!! I am glad so many of you appreciate your aides - we're not glamorous, but we are definitely important! I want to strangle people who say I'm "*JUST*" the aide.

Luckily, the nurses I work with at the hospital are wonderful about teamwork, and I rarely feel completely overwhelmed and trod upon. I tell ya, it completely turns around what looks like it's gonna be a bad day.

I :redbeathe this board!!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
thank you!!! i am glad so many of you appreciate your aides - we're not glamorous, but we are definitely important! i want to strangle people who say i'm "*just*" the aide.

luckily, the nurses i work with at the hospital are wonderful about teamwork, and i rarely feel completely overwhelmed and trod upon. i tell ya, it completely turns around what looks like it's gonna be a bad day.

i :redbeathe this board!!

speaking of which, don't you just love it when you get to work and someone, an aide or a nurse, says to you:"you're here, oh how nice! i know today will be a great one cause you're here!"

i love knowing i am thought to being an asset to the "team." i appreciate this board too, pepperanncna! thanks!

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Ok, as a CNA/Rn student, let me throw this through you........You have 6 patients, but orders to check on all of them, assessments to do, doctors calling/yelling at you to get such and such because they want to do this procedure pronto, you're trying to get to the cafeteria by 7 because they close then, even though you aren't done with report until 5:30/6.....You have a patient in irretractible pain, you have family yelling at you because patient wants to be discharged and go home, you have IVs to run, you have a post op patient to get assessed....there's more to the job then you realize.....

I'll be the first to admit, some nights I'm crazy.....I have 9-10 patients plus admit coming to middle of my section, families to deal with until 8:30/9......, dinners to feed or setup, people to change, confused patients to talk down, VS to do.....but the nurses are usually running around at the same time.....However, if I'm in the middle of something and they ask me for something pressing...i'll tell them to get someone else to do it, do it themselves, or I'll get to it in around x mins.....

I vow here and now NOT to do a tech's work for them, but help out if I need to....I will surrender my license the day I need a CNA to put someone on a bedpan when I'm right there......I will NOT do your VS, but I trust you to come tell me when they look funny.....

Get your head in the game....we don't get paid what we're worth, but when patients tell me "You're the nicest CNA here....." That pays me a lot more than a check....

Don't ever be above bedside nursing because that was the core of Nightengale's practice......learn and live.

Yes, I realize that nurses have loads and loads of work, charting etc to deal with and I'm sure it is just as stressful. I just hope that once I am a nurse and I have an aide to help me out that it will be somewhat less physically exhausting. I certainly do not mind cleaning up patients I'm happy to do anything to help them out, but I'm not wonder woman, I guess my biggest point is I will just be glad when I only have 6 Pt's as opposed to 12

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