DoloresC14

Thank you Tita, My old manager managed to get me pulled one night from OB to her unit and when I told people I was coming back, they were so glad! I got hugs, statements of "oh I'm so glad!” and it made me feel so good to be appreciated again. OB was my dream but I can't deal with the toxicity anymore. My mental health would rather deal with the chaos that is med/surg.

I have decided to either return to my old unit at my hospital or find a new job altogether. It has become glaringly obvious that I am not welcome on my unit, that my every move is scrutinized and perfection or near perfection is expected of me. I haven't made it a year yet and all the joy I had working my dream job has been completely sucked out of me. I have absolutely no desire to seek another L&D position. I am sick to my stomach and disgusted that something I have wanted for 30 years is over because of a toxic unit.

Thanks everyone. I was told by my immediate supervisor that she and my manager thought it best if I stay on orientation a few more weeks. I spoke to my night preceptor (I was training on days for several months) and she said several things. First, that for the weekend I was on days (to help out) I was supposed to be doing postpartum, not labor, and finish out this schedule still on orientation. I have no clue why I was put on labor by myself, leading me to believe I was off orientation ?‍♀️. She also told me that from what I told her and what she heard, that nothing I did was entirely unexpected from someone at my level. I do own what I did wrong and when I make a mistake, I take pains for it to not happen again. She asked if the baby was delivered in the bed with the MD not dressed and I said no. She asked if the mom and baby were OK and I said yes. Then she said good, don't worry about what the MD said. All of the nurses there have agreed that none of the other providers would have made this big of a deal over it and it's just her and her dislike of new people. I'm also dealing with a family issues involving my mom who lives out of state and that is weighing on me. I go back to work tomorrow night and my supervisor and I are going to talk about it.

I'm new to L&D but not nursing. I was an LPN for 9 years before I got my RN license last year. I started on my unit. (LDRP) in August and I feel like my labor orientation has been riddled with issues. I know this is a hard specialty and it takes years to be comfortable but I feel an immense amount of pressure to know it all and to be proficient. Every time I start to feel good about my performance, an issue happens and it shakes me to the core. I have cried more times on this unit than I have my entire career. Yesterday was my 1st day off orientation and I had my own labor patient. Everything was great until it wasn't. I checked her and she was 8cm, delivery table made but not in the room. Started having some issues, other nurses came to help, we are rolling her from side to side and the OB came in and asked if I had checked her. No, I'm trying to keep this kid's heart rate up. Well, she was complete and +3 with no table in the room, which pissed her off. The wireless monitor I was using was taken off and I grabbed the toco by mistake instead of the EFM and of course that cord was tangled. THEN it was a shoulder and a possible abruption. Crash course in OB emergencies. Well, this OB told my charge nurse to email my manager about what happened and made a huge deal out of it. I get it, the table should have been in the room and I own it. Should I have had the cords for the EFM ready? Yes, and I admit it. My charge nurse and I talked about it and she said I did phenomenal with the labor, it was the delivery that was the issue. Mom and baby are both fine and no harm was done as a result of what I didn't do. Other nurses have had issues with this provider and her reputation is one of being rude. They told me that any other provider would not have made such a big deal about it. But now I am questioning this specialty and my ability to do it.

Unfortunately I am stuck where I am, having signed a new grad contract. Leaving before 2 years will cost me several thousand dollars in payback. I'm hoping things get better and I won't have to leave but I am definitely keeping my options open.

Thank you so much and congratulations on starting the DNP. I started writing down 3 things I've learned and 3 things I have done well after each shift and just started journaling to get these feelings out. It could be that a lot of it is in my head and I am creating problems where there aren't any but that doesn't stop the fact that I don't trust anyone on my unit. I'm an introvert as well but I do care what people think about me...what's your secret to not caring?

JKL, thank you. My preceptor has spoken to me a few times about things to work on and I have done so. This part of my orientation did not start off so well as I originally was with a nurse who, while very nice, super knowledgeable and friendly, wasn't the best preceptor and I lost several weeks of a quality orientation. I was at a point where I was feeling confident and as on top of my game as I should be at this point until today when my preceptor talked to me about a few things that had happened the other day that took me completely by surprise. So my happy bubble popped and had me thinking about going back to LTC where most of my experience is.

I am a new grad RN with several years of LPN experience. I got a job in a specialty unit and it is unlike anything I have ever done. I have to unlearn and relearn everything I knew. I feel like I take 3 steps forward and 2 back. I will be getting things, feel like I am finally catching on and doing well and then something happens. Whether I forget something, mis-speak or make a comment, I feel like I am constantly under a microscope and my every action is scrutinized. I go through phases where I feel like I don't belong on this unit and others where I feel confident and no one is going to chase me off. I don't feel like I have anyone on the unit I can trust as an honest to god mentor. I have a great preceptor but she is also a charge and I don't want to let my insecurities out. I love my manager, but again I don't feel like I can trust her 100%. The unit very clique-y with lots of talking behind people's backs so I can only imagine what is being said about me. I signed a contract as a new grad so a new job isn't in the cards right now, but I needed to vent a bit.

Hey everyone! I’ve been an LPN in LTC for 7 years and just landed a job at one of our local hospitals on the med-surg floor. It’s an LPN internship program and it is designed to help you succeed in a bridge which I am applying for this fall. Super excited to be out of LTC and into a hospital where the learning opportunities are endless. I can almost taste those coveted RN letters! That being said, does anyone have any tips for me? I will be paired with an RN but I don’t want to walk in on the first day being totally clueless. Thanks!

Thanks! I was at my 1st facility for 5 years, the last 3 as Unit Manager, a position I got after only 2 years as a nurse. Currently, I work Fri-Sun 7a-7p and talk about no resources or staff on the weekends! I am very comfortable with managing a resident load with a heavy med pass and developing rapport with other staff and providers. I know there are the so-called “soft skills” I have learned in LTC will transfer well into acute care, like time management. You can’t survive, let alone thrive in LTC unless you can do that and prioritize tasks. I can knock out a 3 hour medpass, wound care, charting and another medpass in an 8 hour shift no sweat. I know my residents and when something is off I can handle it. What absolutely terrifies me is the ability to recognize changes in someone I haven’t been taking care of for months. Am I going to recognize an emergency situation in time?

Hi all! I’m new here and need a bit of advice. I’m an LPN, have been for 7 years. Prior, I was a CNA for 14 years, and 99% of my experience is in LTC. I am applying to a bridge program in the fall and fingers crossed I get in. So, I am very discouraged, burnt out on LTC as it seems that the focus is more on star ratings and not what is in the best interest of the resident. CMS is in control and makes blanket requirements and regulations that are couched in “resident safety” but do the complete opposite. Prime example is that a 90 year old dementia patient has the “right to fall” and we have very limited tools to keep it from happening. I can go on but the point is that I want out. Hospitals in my area are hiring LPNs again and I had an interview yesterday for a med-surg unit. I have a good feeling about it but I am very nervous about switching to acute care. While LTC residents are sicker and I am no stranger to IVs, PICCs and wound vacs, there is so much that I don’t know or have forgotten. I’m afraid that I will miss something or look like an utter idiot when I am on the floor with experienced nurses. I know where I am weak and plan to brush up on those areas but as a whole I am very insecure. Any advice? Thanks!