petrymomRN

Hello - I am a new grad on a med/surg floor (mostly post surgical). There are 7 of us that are new grads and we all work nights. The manager is looking to have us take over and work the night shift alone. The most experience on the floor out of all of us is 6 months (another girl and I). Others are 4 months on the floor. This is scary to me. Many times I have 7-8 patients. I rarely have time to stop for a break in during the night. I am not sure I will be able to juggle charge and my normal workload. Plus I am scared about the lack of experience on the floor. Am I being a big baby? Thanks!

dcs9286, I can feel for you. I am getting ready to go to work tonight for the first of 4 nights. I have tried all day not to get myself all worked up about going in, but about 2:00 this afternoon I felt my chest tighten up and my head started to hurt. As I write this, I feel the tears start to well up. I know all about the "honeymoon" period and I am probably getting just past it, I have been off orientation since the middle of June. (start on the floor at the end of April). I just don't know if I can do this!!! Tried to talk to my manager, she told me to hang in there. I don't know if I can. There is one particular nurse that SCARES the BEJESUS out of me. I think she hates me. I work with her almost every night and that makes matters even worse. I have applied to clinic jobs but I haven't been able to secure one yet. I don't know if I will make it. I feel for you too!!!! PetrymomRN

OMG!!!! Your post is so what I am going through. I have a very similar personality to yours. Adding to how overwhelmed I am feeling, I am so struggling with the night shift. I can't sleep during the day. I am sometimes working on 2 hours of sleep. I had an ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE night last night. Was scheduled to work 7-11 last night as a pick up night. I usually work 7p to 7a. The hospital called for me to pick up the 11-7 shift too. I didn't know if I wanted to as I only had 2 hours of sleep the day before (worked through the night and didn't expect to have to stay at work all night). BUT, being the person that I am, I wouldn't want to be put in that position with no one to pick up for me........ WELL, MISTAKE!!! I started with 6 patients (1 that was a total care post-op who was vomiting and pooping all over, who at 2330 blew her IV - IV number 3 for the day and she is an anesthesia poke; 1 who has dementia and a BKA - the night before he wandered out of bed, foley on one side and him on the other (on the floor); and 1 who was 1 day PO with a foley out and severe pelvic pain unable to void.) the other 3 patients unfortunately didn't get to see me much during the first 4 hours. I was already in tears by the time I picked up my 7th patient - a 35 yo who was on the call light all night the night before AND just found out her husband wanted a divorce. OMG!!!!! I just don't think I am cut out for this!!! we had 26 patients on the floor 4 rns and a float CNA. I know these numbers don't seem bad and I am not even sure of the needs of the other 17 patients, but I couldn't help but think somebody was trying to put me in my place. Except, I am to the point that I am not so sure that I am cut out to be a nurse. I think I have hit burnout and I am only 5 months on the new job. Thanks for your post. It makes me feel like maybe I am not the only stressed person.

I am looking currently for a clinic position too. I have been working 7p to 7a since the middle of May. My husband works days and the kids go to school. I just seem to miss them more leaving at 6:00pm for work. They are just settling in and I am leaving. :-( Also, I feel SO tired all the time. I am not able to sleep during the day, so I get no sleep the day before and I am getting between 2-6 hours of sleep...... Hope it works for you better than me.

I, too, am in this position. I am in med/surg 7p to 7a right now (since 4-08). i thought I would have more time with my family, but actually, the time I spend with them now I am so tired I am cranky!!!!!! I am looking at clinic jobs right now. I don't know what this will bring, but I need to do something. Good luck with everything....

Hello - I have been working this schedule for about a month now. I find it difficult to sleep when I get home. I started getting about 2-3 hours of sleep on the mornings that I would come home from work. Now it is more like 4-5 hours. I have two kids home from school too right now, but they are old enough to be quiet when I sleep. (8 and 13) They do a great job. I was really worried about it. I do at least try to nap the day before to just get through the overnight hours. I have been managing okay, but I find that I am becoming more of an evening person than a morning person. I also prefer to work the night shift as it seems less hectic, even though I can have 7-8 patients at one time, some recent post ops. Good luck to you....

Make sure you go to Madison, though. Not all of Wisconsin pays the same! :-) Our base is $21.15/hour - with differentials and 12 hour incentive - I will be making $25.35/hour on nights.

Congrats to you!!!! hope you love your new job. My orientation (that I am currently in) - is only 8-9 weeks long. :-)

Funny - I pushed both toradol and Lasix today!!!!! :-) - also pushed metroprolol.

Oh - 5 to 5 would be so nice!!! When I am off orientation, I will be working 7pm-7:30am. I did 3-3:30am during my student nursing and LOVED it!!! I am worried about the 7-7:30 as I am not sure I will get enough sleep!!! Only time will tell....

Your test sounds JUST like mine!!!!!

Hang in there - I had heard that sometimes, by the luck of the draw, you can just get the full 265 questions. This could be your situation. I really think we all failed when we get done. Just wait and see. Good Luck!! I will say a prayer. Prayers helped me SO MUCH!!!!

Thank you all for your words of encouragement!!! I think I really just needed to know htat I am not alone in my fears and you have shown me that my feelings are okay and I can look forward to it getting better. I will certainly stay in touch online. Kristie PS - not all 6-8 patients at once are mine quite yet - but someday!!!

I am a new grad. I started my first day on the floor today and I am VERY scared that I will not be able to do this job. Med/surg floor - mostly surgical. We saw LOTS of colostomies and other drains!!! Will be taking care of 6-8 patients and I am not sure that I will be a good nurse!!!! Did anyone else feel this way? Will it pass? Will I get better????? Please help me out! Kristie

our college recommended www.learningext.com. you can purchase a study package on this site. i used this!!! kristie