Orientation from HELL

[pia_mater]

I've been on orientation for only 3 - 4 weeks on an oncology and orthopedics floor (I know, but an Oncology Dr. left our hospital and the floors had to be combined), and it is turning into a nightmare. When I show up for work, the 3 other nurses working with me don't hold back how irritated they are to see me walk onto the floor. Sometimes, I can HEAR them say bad things about me. When I offer to help with something, I'm being a pest. When I don't, I'm lazy. When I think I may need rapid response, I'm stupid and it's overkill. When I don't, then I'm incompetent and don't care about the patient. I can't win.

I already feel stupid and incompetent inside...I am unsure of myself and I am one of those who would MUCH rather say "I don't know" than lie and say I do. I feel like I have to choose between my ego and my integrity. If I admit I don't know, I'm thrown under the bus.

I'm griped at, snipped at, and ******* about CONSTANTLY. The floor is tense and the other nurses stop talking when I walk by. My preceptor switches shifts with other nurses without telling me and I come to the floor with no preceptor. The nurse who gets stuck with me tries to lose me and it's a wasted night. My preceptor is 21 years old and will call my phone to say "don't forget to listen to your patients' lungs tonight" and I hear her across the floor snickering about it with the other nurses.

I feel like quitting. Every.single.********.DAY. I feel like my preceptorship is a joke, and my preceptor basically just has me help make her night easier. I am a glorified over skilled CNA. She is happy b/c we are done by 6:30. I'm NOT learning new things, and she treats me like a nuisance if I try to do something like, oh..I don't know... do admission paperwork!

She is too impatient to allow me to learn things on my own, and only wants things with her patients done "just so" so I can't do paperwork, call a dr., etc. Just the basic busywork so she can get out earlier.

My supervisor loves my preceptor, and I worry that if I complain about her to him, then he will tell her and will only make the situation worse.

*sometimes, when lab or RT walks into my patient's room for a tx or to get labs, I wish so badly I could switch places with them in that instant.* I dread coming to work.

I work PRN at a nursing home that I LOVE and my supervisor recently offered me a FT position on the DL, but I'm worried that if I stay at a nursing home for too long, then I will lose my skills and will be unable to get a job elsewhere. Also, I feel like I'm taking the 'easy way out' and my ego won't let me quit.

I'm 30 and have 3 kids under the age of 4. I'm not trying to climb any corporate ladders: I just want to have the money to provide a decent life for my kids. I'm not sure what to do.

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

Frankly, if you love your work at the nursing home, then go for it. Everyone gripes as if LTC is a fate worse than hell, but if you are happy there, then do your growing as a professional there. Future growth in healthcare will be in primary care, not acute care, so if you grow your career in LTC you likely won't be lacking for a job in the future considering how everyone else avoids it like the plague. I know plenty of nurses who have never worked in acute care and they are doing just fine for themselves.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

It saddens me when I hear these stories....and I'll bet your preceptor was one who felt they were treated poorly therefore they are going to treat their new grads the same way. These people have no business precepting new employees. Grrrrrr

I would approach you manager/clinical educator and ask her/him how you can get more opportunities to expand your experiences and that you don't know how to approach your preceptor as they always seem so busy. Put it in a positive way that you want to learn more so you aren't such a burden.

[Swellz]

I had to tell my nurse manager that one of her favorites was a horrible preceptor. I was terrified! She was shocked, and luckily for me, my preceptor for that day (different nurse, also a favorite) was present and reinforced that the individual I was referring to had mixed reviews from other orientees. I was fortunate in that my concerns were not personality related, but priority related. She was never focused on our patients or my care of our patients, and was never available when I had questions or a crisis. After I spoke with my manager, I had any additional shifts I was scheduled with that nurse switched to pair me with a preceptor I said I learned more from. I was pleasantly shocked by how well it went.

I hope everything works out for you, and if you really love LTC, I hope that you pursue it!

[VANurse2010]

It drives me bonkers when new grads won't do LTC because of "losing my skills." You have no skills to lose, my dear. Any paid RN experience is better than no experience, and it doesn't sound like you're in much of a skilled position as it is. Your preceptor sounds like a floor princess and the environment does sound toxic. You can always try moving to another floor - but if you're being treated like a professional at the LTC, you should seriously consider that.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

It drives me bonkers when new grads won't do LTC because of "losing my skills." You have no skills to lose my dear. Any paid RN experience is better than no experience, and it doesn't sound like you're in much of a skilled position as it is. Your preceptor sounds like a floor princess and the environment does sound toxic. You can always try moving to another floor - but if you're being treated like a professional at the LTC, you should seriously consider that.[/quote']

^This. LTC is as much as a specialty as Med-Surg, Ortho, Onco, ER, ICU, etc, etc, etc...nursing is nursing is nursing. Sound like the LTC job is a great fit; something you are fitting into, and a great place for focused assessments, critical thinking, and learning how to manage your patient care through thoughtful decision making.

[ceebeejay]

Follow your heart. I have three kids myself, not all under four. That's enough stress, without adding being unhappy at work - and you have choices. That's more than most RN's right now. Hope you find what works for you.