PHN in Ohio

[maybaby9]

Hello Ohio Nurses!

I've been working almost two months as a new grad in a hospital in the Cleveland area...and it's just really not for me. I have 8-10 patients every shift (I do have a preceptor that I can run things by and will help me when I need it), and I don't feel like I can give GOOD care that I feel each patient deserves. It's very discouraging to be running around passing 23927389213 meds and charting and all those other tasks when I can't be there for a patient that is crying or vomitting or just needs someone to talk to...even just for 5 minutes. Let alone the fact I don't think it's very safe, or allows me to really put the "big picture" together. Alot of the time, I feel like I am just going through the actions of being a nurse, but not having time to digest and really investigate charts to understand my patients. I'm getting burnt out and depressed quickly...I've lost weight, don't sleep much, and my hair is falling out like crazy.

I'll get to the point now....Public Health Nursing is something that has always appealed to me, I really like the idea of educating and working out in the community, having some self direction, and feeling like I really make a difference. Plus nurses I've met that work in PH or do community health (another interest of mine) seem much more happy and positive about their work, I WANT TO HAVE THAT!! I know no job is perfect, but if I had a job I felt passionate about, I really feel it would make some of the stress worth it to me. What I'm looking for is if anyone can tell me if it's completely impossible to get a job in this field without a ton of experience, (I'd be willing to stick this job out for a little bit longer in order to get one that will make me happy), how I can get my foot in the door, and where exactly I can look for these jobs. Any other ideas or advice would be really appreciated. Thanks so much.

[JulieRN07]

I've been there with the 8-10 patients! You fear for your license everyday. That is not the way nursing is supposed to be, that is not what we went to school for- we went into nursing because we love the people, and when you have that many acute patients, they dont get the attention that they need.

I live in the cincy area, the only help I can offer to you would be to call a head start program-this is for children.

Good luck in the mean time!