ModeRNurse20

You are very welcome. It is scary, but it is healthy fear. If we weren't a little intimidated, I would venture to say that would be a very dangerous thing for a new nurse. I remember when I took a job and the training was absolutely grueling, my trainer was extremely rude to me in front of staff and others. I was so in shock about how rude the person was, they were pretty much trying to make me quit. At first, I thought, this isn't for me, I have to get out of here. Your instinct may tell you to run. But I assure you, if you hang on, more often times than not, you will be glad you did. When you work hard for something you get to be proud of your work. I finished training and truly enjoyed what I did because I had full confidence in my abilities.

I thought I would throw in my opinion. I am in the exact same situation. I had a possibility to work in the smaller more rural ER (but very busy) where I work as an ER tech or a cutting edge ICU at a much larger hospital. I chose ICU due to the resources and training combined for a new grad coming out. I made sure to tell the hiring manager that I wanted to start out somewhere to build a strong foundation on knowledge right out of school and that if they would put effort into teaching me, I would be moldable to their way of doing things. I thought that since I was a new grad, I can approach a new place and situation with an open mind and look for ways to learn and grow. As with anything in life, anytime you grow it will probably be uncomfortable. But that's what nursing school has taught us all. It gets uncomfortable, you adapt and you overcome (right?). And after 6 mos. you can transfer in the hospital if it's just not for you. Hang in there! When it comes to the challenge of a new grad working in ICU, here's my plan: Show the ICU staff that you are dedicated to your craft and lay low until you gain some respect with the staff (a few months at least) and then if you have problems with the few infamous "I forgot I used to be new too" nurses, then deal with them in private, individually. Basically something like "It seems like you have something against me. If there's something you would like to say, say it to me directly. Otherwise, we can discuss it with our supervisor." Most people will look at you differently for confronting them like that. If that doesn't work any they are making your work day miserable, go above their heads until someone listens. Just have proof. No one should have to work in a hostile workplace. Ever. I don't care if that is "just how it's been". This is my second career and I've worked other places where this occurred and shut it down successfully. It can be done.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear this. Nursing is a 2nd degree for me. I already have a BS in Marketing. I tried and hated the business world and being stuck behind a desk. After some soul-searching and digging, I settled on healthcare. As a person who is doing just the opposite of you, I feel for you. I know what it feels like to feel like you hate what you are doing. But you have to ask yourself some tough questions. First, I'd recommend removing all distractions, texting friends, family, or gf/bf that you need some time to yourself to relax. Heck, don't tell them. Just get alone with a pen and paper. Write it out and wrestle with it. You have to identify why you want to make a change. Write out things like: Is it the rules, the "system", co-workers, the hospital, the patients? OR is it you? Do you know why you wanted to become a nurse? Is it your attitude? Do you want more money? I dislike a lot about the current healthcare system, but I get to be licensed and paid to treat and help people in their time of need. Also, you gain real, valuable skills that you can take with you anywhere. Guess who they aren't going to cast off the island? The nurse. ? If there is something you can do to make your world better than BE the change that you want to see, instead of merely running to something else. It will give you a new objective to fight for. For me, there are days that I can't believe I get paid to try to make people better. Whether they do or not is not always up to me. As a nurse you can truly leave everything single day knowing that you made a real difference, even if all you did was give one med correctly, you were trying to help. Not everyone can say that.

Hello All, I have a good problem, but a problem nonetheless. I am graduating this month and was offered a great opportunity in CICU at a large teaching hospital. In my job hunt at the beginning of this year/semester, many of my peers were starting to put applications in in January and I didn't want to be left out. So I put in applications everywhere. I had always kind of thought I would want to work in an ED, more specifically a level I trauma center. However, as graduation neared, I felt less and less sure about going straight into and environment like this. I work in a small but very busy hospital as an ED tech and was thinking of just starting there out of school, as it would be a good learning environment to start out in as it wouldn't be as sophisticated, large, and I already know/get along with almost everyone. But I started to realize that it may be hard to transition roles to RN from PCT and I don't know if I would want to work with some of the personalities that are there now. So, since the ED didn't seem to be the best idea at the time, I applied for a few ICU jobs in a large teaching hospital simply off of two recommendations from clinical instructors (who I really respect) because they said that I would be a good fit. I accepted the CICU offer mainly due to the learning experience it affords (nurses are encouraged to sit in on medical school lectures), the manager seemed like a straight-shooter, and the fact that I really like the hospital. Not to mention I was offered my preferred shift, will make $3 more per hour as opposed to the ED I work at now, and the good benefits. However, it is a 45 min drive as opposed to the 15 min drive to the ED. The dilemma I am struggling with is that in school we had NO clinical in ICU, just observation only. We did have a good mix of other clinical experiences, though. I am worried that I don't know what I am getting myself into. I know the ED and I like almost everything about it except, as a new grad, I'm just worried that I wouldn't be ready for those chaotic days when it seems like 1,000 patients just walked in at once and you have to think on your feet. I don't have much experience in the ICU and honestly, the thought of managing a patient for length hospital stay (hygiene, bed baths, rectal tubes, bed changes....) is just little unappealing to me. It's not that I consider myself too good for this, I know it's necessary. It's just in the ED, you do the necessities and in the ICU, you harp over details. I am open to advice, or new ways I can look at this. I would just appreciate some guidance! Also, I want to be an NP and plan on going back to school either by the end of this year or the beginning of next year to start my BSN. Thank you so much!