Over my head?

[Madc, BSN]

I got hired doing exactly what I wanted out of school. Working with psychiatric ped patients. The hospital is a residential and acute for pediatric patients. I was hired as the residential charge nurse to help the house supervisor but there is no house supervisor so I’m acting HS every single day.

I was told my priority was residential but to help acute if needed. The past months I’ve dealt with sly comments from the nurses and the acute station. I smile through it and try to be respectful but one day I snapped on the LPN for being smart with me.

Another day I was attacked by this group that I don’t know what my job is and I’m not helping acute and I needed to learn my job. I asked a very simple question and the response I got was ridiculous.

Now I had an LPN refuse cart keys from another nurse unit on residential even though another nurse was coming in 3 hours.

All the children were asleep there were no meds to be given.

I was told if someone is insubordinate to send them home but I don’t want to take someone’s keys and do that to them. I try and talk out it. Well the HS coming on read my messages on the phone before I had even given over my shift and asked what happened. I told her I’m confidence HS to HS and she went and asked what happened and why she was being insubordinate. I was cussed out in front of everyone and I told that HS it wasn’t her business to tell nor was it the LPNs business to know until higher management handled as they said they would. I was pulled aside and told I should never disrespect her like that again. I just don’t understand how what she did wasn’t disrespectful. It was basically stirring the pot when it didn’t have to be that way. She told me it was her business to know everything that goes on but technically I am acting HS and there’s her and another. The one I trained over NEVER acted like that. It’s all overwhelming and it’s like I’m verbally abused everyday on this shift. I don’t have this issue on weekends or mornings. It’s this particular group of people that think I need to do everything for acute, but if children are fighting on other units they don’t come to my aid.

I’m fed up with it but it was my dream job everything else is great. And now who’s going to want a new grad who went straight and boxed herself into this field. I feel hopeless.

I just don’t understand how these people treat each other like this either. I try and treat people with the upmost respect. I’m just at a loss.

i want to apply for new positions but I’ve been a nurse for 3 months, went into psych ( which I still love dearly), and I’m afraid I look like I’ve boxed myself in and a flake.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

And that is why new grads should not be in management positions.

Get out of this place ASAP. Look for a psych position for a new grad. It may not be with children but learn the basics and search for a peads psych job. It is up to you if you put this position on your CV but if you do you have to be very clear about what you learned...e.g. conflict episodes but you need to word it very carefully.

[Madc, BSN]

1 minute ago, K+MgSO4 said:

And that is why new grads should not be in management positions.

Get out of this place ASAP. Look for a psych position for a new grad. It may not be with children but learn the basics and search for a peads psych job. It is up to you if you put this position on your CV but if you do you have to be very clear about what you learned...e.g. conflict episodes but you need to word it very carefully.

I do feel like I learned how a lot on establishing rapport,psych medicines, assessments, and medication side effects along with time management. The job has taught me a lot it’s just too much with all that. How would I worked things carefully?

I’m not sure if my ability to coordinate staffing and conflict resolution among staff (besides these couple of incendents it’s gone smoothly) look good or bad

I’m sure they’ll ask why I left and the truth is it’s overwhelming as a new grad to be in such a position.

[Madc, BSN]

I’m not sure if I should still keep my clinical skills from my ICU preceptorship on their as well

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

You should have never, ever, ever been hired as a new grad into this position, ever in life ever. That's not your fault, that is the facility's fault. Run.

[Madc, BSN]

42 minutes ago, JadedCPN said:

You should have never, ever, ever been hired as a new grad into this position, ever in life ever. That's not your fault, that is the facility's fault. Run.

I see that now. It’s just applying for jobs and explaining why I’ve quit after 3 months. I’m afraid I’m stuck for a year

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

You explain that it was not a good fit...

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

2 hours ago, Madc said:

I do feel like I learned how a lot on establishing rapport,psych medicines, assessments, and medication side effects along with time management. The job has taught me a lot it’s just too much with all that. How would I worked things carefully?

I’m not sure if my ability to coordinate staffing and conflict resolution among staff (besides these couple of incendents it’s gone smoothly) look good or bad

I’m sure they’ll ask why I left and the truth is it’s overwhelming as a new grad to be in such a position.

Word it that you took on the role in the belief that you had the relevant knowledge but not the skills. You want to learn how to turn the knowledge you learned into a strong practical skillset. Agree that it is an overwhelming job for a new grad.

[Madc, BSN]

1 hour ago, K+MgSO4 said:

Word it that you took on the role in the belief that you had the relevant knowledge but not the skills. You want to learn how to turn the knowledge you learned into a strong practical skillset. Agree that it is an overwhelming job for a new grad.

Thank you!! I struggle in interviews and it’s especially anxiety inducing to know I’m trying to leave somewhere so soon and that I chose a niche area of nursing

[TriciaJ, RN]

20 hours ago, Madc said:

I do feel like I learned how a lot on establishing rapport,psych medicines, assessments, and medication side effects along with time management. The job has taught me a lot it’s just too much with all that. How would I worked things carefully?

I’m not sure if my ability to coordinate staffing and conflict resolution among staff (besides these couple of incendents it’s gone smoothly) look good or bad

I’m sure they’ll ask why I left and the truth is it’s overwhelming as a new grad to be in such a position.

"I was excited to be offered a management position and accepted it. I came to realize that it required a skill set that as a new grad I just don't have. I am now looking for some solid nursing experience and hopefully there will be some mentorship available. I want to develop my practice before maybe someday considering management."

They will get the message that someone hired a new grad into management with predictable results. They will be impressed by your assessment of the situation, your insight into your current strengths and weaknesses and your ability to change course and problem-solve. Good luck.

[Madc, BSN]

On 7/6/2019 at 4:17 PM, K+MgSO4 said:

And that is why new grads should not be in management positions.

Get out of this place ASAP. Look for a psych position for a new grad. It may not be with children but learn the basics and search for a peads psych job. It is up to you if you put this position on your CV but if you do you have to be very clear about what you learned...e.g. conflict episodes but you need to word it very carefully.

I was actually told I didn’t understand that I wasn’t in a management position that it was a leadership position.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

36 minutes ago, Madc said:

I was actually told I didn’t understand that I wasn’t in a management position that it was a leadership position.

as a new grad, you are in no position to be a leader either. Leaders have learned the skills and are proficient to help others. Beyond what they have told you, you have a game plan to get out of there and into an appropriate job situation. Keep your chin up, you're going to be fine!