benette

I am from the Philippines, but I practice in the east coast :) It was questionable what the pt wanted to do off the unit. We suspect that she's a druggie (I guess I left that pertinent info abt the pt), but there is no history nor could we prove that she was. We searched her belongings right after someone claimed they smelled her smoking in the bathroom.

Had a 22 y/o female pt in sickle cell crisis w/ lymphoma who gave me problems from the first minute I had her. She was allegedly smoking in the bathroom in the am. Insisted she go off the floor 'to walk around' . The MD came to the unit and was looking for her while she was off the floor. Senior nurse was so embarrassed that I (we) did not know where the pt was exactly. Senior nurse was almost screaming at me for letting the pt go off the floor, saying that everything that happens to that pt is my responsibility. I understand that the pt is my responsibility but if the woman wants to leave the floor with no intentions of leaving the hospital, is it my duty to forbid that person to do so? I asked the pt why she wanted to get off the unit and I had asked her to not leave the hospital and that I wanted her back in the unit at a certain time. I didnt tell her that she cant leave the floor for fear of getting accused of harassment. Senior nurse told me that I should have forbid to pt to leave the floor, if she still insisted to leave then I would call security. Would that be the prudent thing to do in this situation? Seems like its too harsh, treating my pt like a prisoner. What do you think?

Im on my first nursing job in an acute setting, 1 month off orientation. Ive been told constantly, over and over again, almost being harassed by my filipino superior to be 'more aggressive' because I am embarassing filipino nurses by being shy. In terms of my patient care needs, I have no problems talking to doctors, nursing assistants, sw's , therapists and what not. The way I talk may not be ideal way but I get things done in a fairly timely manner. Nobody has ever compalined yet that I didnt communicate impt pt info to other healthcare personel. I do delegate whenver I feel I need to. The only thing that I feel I lack communication is if I have to socialize with other people. I try to be nice and be friendly and smile but I'm usually caught up getting my job done in time and correctly that I dont have the time, the energy or the right mood to joke around. So apparently its a big thing to any workplace. And I realize that this is important too to get along with other people. I've always been uncomfortable around other people. I will only open my mouth if its absolutely necessary to. So what if I'm shy my whole life, how do I change myself to an outgoing, charismatic person overnight? Can it be done? At this point I'm ready to do everything just so the supervisor can stop riding off my back.

I am seriously contemplating about leaving my US sponsor ASAP. I have consulted with a lawyer and she said it should be ok to leave the employer once i receive my GC and my AOS is no longer pending. I have worked for my employer for 3 months total. Has anybody done this before? Did you encounter any problems after leaving? I am unsure how to do a resignation letter to a sponsor. Any tips/suggestions?

i just think that my focus right now should be to do my job right, being that this is my first nursing job. i know i will have to work on being assertive one day. but being new to a job and having to deal with these people can be too much to handle, especially to a new grad. its not easy to be assertive when ur new to a place and a new rn.

ladydame, im going throught the same thing. i cry almost after every shift, have nightmares when i sleep, have trouble sleeping, and think of work almost all the time and dread the thought of going back to work the next day! i am a nervous wreck! not a normal thing definitely. crying helps a little just to get off some emotions. talking to friends and other nurses help a great deal. find someone who can nurture you and can be counted on for love and support. focus on what your doing good rather than the weakness. just hang in there if leaving is not an option for u yet. i have to toughen it out because i have immigration issues that wont let me leave yet. i know in my unit, nurses never stay long. the other new grad i oriented with is planning to leave. another orientee is also thinking of going back to her country. i mean its that bad that new nurses are thinking of leaving a career here. so yes, new nurses do leave until they find a comfortable place they can work in. i try to get support from anywhere i can, even the forums! spoil yourself and do lots of fun things, like one said. i hope it gets better for us. but feel better, u are not alone!

Thank you for all the replies. Its a good feeling when you know someone understands. I havnt spoken to my manager yet. Shes on vacation and will be back on monday. I was gonna try toughen it up, work on my weaknesses and try to be the kind of nurse they want. But the comments and snickering behind my back always get to me. I cant seem to ignore it. And I'm back to wanting to quit again. I'm definitely talking to my supervisor and then manager to transfering to nights. I feel more confident now that I know I dont have to take what my manager tells me, now I know I can talk to somebody else higher.

Sorry I'm going to vent so be aware. Also, I want to get your feedback and suggestions. I am a foreign new grad RN working in nyc. My hospital sponsored me for green card back in august 2005. I received my ead and ssn in october and started work in december. I've had a crazy orientation, no permanent perceptor for 1 month and finally a month of orientation. Ive been officially off orientation for a week now and am so misreable. Not because I'm working on my own, but I'm finally feeling the pressure and the heavy workload. My unit is a spine/ortho floor. I get on average 6 pts on days, but I just couldnt cope with the demanding pts, the bs that goes on mostly w/ the PA's, and the personalities on the floor. I dont get much help/support from colleagues. My manager and clinical coordinator are both bungholes for lack of a better word. NA's are laughing at my mistakes, some even yelling at me. I am often called slow and laughed at. I've already had one error and not sure yet of the consequences. I cant see myself working there for another 6 months. I feel like I want to transfer to nights or to another floor but I dont know how to approach my manager who is barely approachable. My other option is just to leave the entire place. But I probably cant do that because I will mess up my petition. I feel corned with no way out and nobody to talk to. Any suggestions or comments?