Please tell me it gets easier!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I've recently started my first job as an RN after passing my boards in mid July and I'm hating my job. I applied around my area, but due to the new graduate nurses in my class all looking at the same time there wasn't much. I was thankfully able to get a job at a busy LTC & Rehab center and was excited an anxious to start. I oriented (paperwork, videos, etc) on Friday and started on Monday.I have 3 halls and anywhere between 20-30 people, both long term and rehab, as well as being required to pass narcotics to another nurses patients. I've gotten short and confusing training. I've only been training 2 days, and only trained on the basics (med pass and daily charting). My first day of training, Monday, the nurse training me seemed really frustrated with me because I wasn't able to work as fast as her. I struggled trying to get through the morning meds before lunch, only to then have to worry about noon meds, resident care, and charting before 2. I was told basically the entire day, "go, go, go! Faster!" Anyway, today was my second day, and although it was a little easier, I still wouldn't have been able to get everything done on my shift without my training nurse helping with some of it. I feel I'm working as fast as I possibly can, I'm prioritizing well, I just can't seem to do it fast enough to get everything done. I feel if I go any faster I'll be putting people at risk. I'd rather do it the right way and safely, than quick and risky. Both of the PRN nurses traning me seemed to make me feel the the worst nurse in the world because I'm not working fast enough, because I'm not picking this up overnight. I show up early and end up leaving late, and haven't gotten to take any breaks because it's non-stop. I want it flow and be great at my job, but right now I'm just stressed out and miserable, finding myself rethinking my choice to go into nursing. I'm told to hang in there, but it's already wearing me out and down, and it's hard to see any hint of light at the end of the tunnel. Is it going to be this bad forever, or is there a light there somewhere that I can't see yet? Oh, did I mention, tomorrow is my last day of training, and I'm on my own after that. Chaos alone may kill me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Also, I am aware that my entire post is in one sentence, so kudos to you if you read it. I am not able to get to a PC at the moment and my iPad apparently doesn't believe in paragraphs.

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This is an inadequate orientation for a new grad. They did tell the floor you were a new grad, right?

It will get better, but it will take some time. Meanwhile, do the best you can, and don't worry tooooo much about your orientation partner. If you are still hearing, "Faster, faster!" in three to six months, then, Houston, we have a problem.

And THANK YOU for not dropping that "I'm worried about my license" line into this conversation. Not an issue here.

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Also, I am aware that my entire post is in one sentence, so kudos to you if you read it. I am not able to get to a PC at the moment and my iPad apparently doesn't believe in paragraphs.
I post from my iPad, too. You have to go back and edit in paragraphs every time. Pain in the a**, I know.
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As for the topic at hand, yes it does get easier. You said yourself that the second day was a little easier. That trend will continue. Too many new grads quit too soon.

Just out of curiosity, why do you have to pass the other nurse's narcotics? Why can't he pass his own?

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

GrnTea: yes, they are aware I'm a new grad. Most of the others On the unit are encouraging, but it's sometimes hard to hear the positive among the chaos and negativity. BrandonLPN: They can't pass narcotics because they are on a diversion program.

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Hmm, a facility that only gives a new grad a 3 day orientation and keeps a nurse known to divert narcotics sounds shady to me.

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