pancake

It's true about SF Bay Area. I started as a new grad at 37.50 with a $7,500 sign on bonus, now at 6 mos. I'm at $40 an hr. My hospital is union, CA Nurses Association.

Thank you all so much for the support. Just knowing that others have been in the same situation is reassuring. I thought if I just kept pushing myself it would get easier, and it has, but I'm so worn out. I'm going to check out other units at my hospital. The unit I'm on has a reputation for being the toughest. It's just not a good place for a new grad, or at least not me. To TraumaRus, I have 4 patients, which sounds like a dream, but on this unit its tough. The unit has three wings and you can have pts on each wing, or down long corriders. The supply room is far away and the pyxis iis in the opposite direction. So one of the hard things on this unit is the constant running around. Then mulitple unstable pts on drips, constant turnover of pts, overworked nurses, and no help moving pts. The culture isn't one of teamwork, so it's each nurse for herself. Three new grads have quit and 4 experienced rns have gone out on disability since I started. I think if we had enough cna's and worked as a team it could be good but . . . that's not gonna happen. I love the pts on my unit, but the more I think and write about this, the more I realize that this situation is untenable for me. I'm going to look for something else. Again, thanks to everyone for the support, I really appreciate it.

Before I start, to nursing students, please don't read this if you're going to freak out, I don't want to discourage anyone. This is my experience and I have to vent. I'm an older new grad, mid 40's and I started on a busy cardiac step down unit 6 months ago. I work 3, 12 hr days. I knew my job would be hard, but this has been insane. The patients are so sick and there's usually one cna for 35 patients. Most of the charge nurses get irritated by questions and there's rarely anyone available to help move heavy patients. I feel so worn out after the first 10 hours and can barely think. I start to lose my temper and cry or snap at people which is not my nature. I'm at my limit. I work as hard as I can, I get my work done and deliver good care, but it has been at the cost of my health. I run all day and feel stressed, overwhelmed and unsupported. For the first time in my life, I have chest pain, sob, constant back pain and stomach aches. A cardiac/pulmonary workup revealed no abnormalities, so now I know these symptoms are from stress. I hate to admit this, but I just can't handle this workload and the disrespect with which I'm treated on my unit. I can't try any harder. Work any smarter. My unit is notorious for having the highest turnover . . . just the same, I feel terrible and wonder what my prospects are as a new nurse. I wonder if this means the end of my nursing career. Has anyone else experienced this? I love nursing, but I've got to figure out how to change this situation.

Dear Shannon, I'm so sorry you failed your first test but it's perfectly understandable given the situation. Good for you that you've rescheduled. I have test anxiety too. When I first started studying the saunder's book for the nclex, I had panic attacks and couldn't think. I felt so overwhelmed and didn't know how best to focus my energy. What I ended up doing was the Kaplan online course. It was really pricey, about $400, but it saved me. I wanted to throw up when I typed in my credit card number, but I decided to look at it as an investment. And besides, it costs a lot more to have to wait another 90 days to test. But everyone is different. I have a lot of friends that studied saunder's and they were really happy with it, and they passed too. The kaplan online course worked for me because I was able to study at home and had a laid out plan of how to study. Like you, I have a bad back, so I laid on my floor at home and listened to the lectures everyday. The structure allowed me to stay calm. I suppose it was handholding, but I was so anxious I needed it. I listened to the lectures for 4 weeks, and during the last week I did 100-150 of the practice questions a day. When I took the real test, it felt like just more of the same. I knew what to expect and felt confident. I passed in 75. But this is just what worked for me. Everyone has given you great advice on what worked for them too. Good luck! I wish you the best.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I ended up taking the days, 3 12's. pancake

Dear Moffett, Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. You gave me a good idea of what I might expect. I'm so excited about the new position, but also humbled by the amount of learning and responsibility. I will do the best that I can. Thank you too for the support. I really appreciate it. Take Care, pancake

I'm a new grad and was offered a position on a CCU. I'm going to meet with the mgr again this week, but now I'm getting a little worried. The hospital has already had its new grad training this year, so I will be brought in alone. That means I won't be getting the classroom experience. This is what's making me nervous . . . When I meet with the manager, how can I ensure that I'll be adequately trained for this position? How long should I be precepted? Is it reasonable for a new nurse to start without benefit of a new grad program? Should I just trust that the mgr knows what she's doing? I don't want to set myself up to faill and I don't want to be a danger to anyone. Advice please. Thanks

Kristi, Thanks so much for the feedback! I had it backwards, I thought days would be busier and nights slower. Good luck to you in your new position.:balloons: pancake

I'm a new grad and am negotiating a position on a cardiac surveillance unit. Is it better to start on days or pms. Days would be a lot busier, which is scary, but the nurses are more experienced so they would be great to learn from. The 3-11pm shift would be slower, but the nurses are less experienced. Are the nursing tasks very different between these shifts? This is my first job and I don't want to get in over my head, but I also want to learn as much as possible. Thanks for any advice!

VS, I just got back from a mini vacation and was so happy to get your advice. I really appreciate it. I'll definitely think through those questions before the interview. And thanks Dixie for the encouragement. When I went to this particular hospital to meet with the recruiter, I was initially looking for a med-surg position. However, the recruiter encouraged me to apply for the new grad ed program. He said my maturity would be a benefit and the work interesting. To be honest, I had never thought about working in the ED before, but I talked to a friend who did and she said it was a great place to develop assessment and critical thinking skills that would serve me throughout my career. In the meantime, I was offered a position in telemetry at another hospital. It's so hard knowing what the smartest thing to do is since this is my first job. Anyway, my ed interview is this week. -Can you tell me why you decided on the ED? -Was it what you expected? -What qualities in a nurse are most important for the ED? Thanks again, and if you're too busy to respond that's okay. I really appreciate the info you've already given me.

Thanks TazziRN!

I am an older new grad (45 yo), and I have an interview in at my local county ED next week. I was encouraged to apply for this position, but now that I have the interview I'm getting nervous. Does anyone have advice on the best way to prepare? I'll be interviewed by the educator and director. Thanks so much for any help.

Bamboo, I just finished MEPN two weeks ago, and I got in with a very low quantitative score on the GRE. Too low to state publicly, yikes! You sound like a strong applicant, so you definitely have a chance. Don't give up. If you're going to take the GRE, take it as late as possible so you have time to study for it to improve your score. I don't remember for sure, but I think you have until aug. Good luck!

This topic came up in our nursing class and most students argued that we should continue to perform these duties. I was in agreement with their rationales. Until I thought about looking for my first job. As a nursing student doing 12 hour clinicals in med-surg, I was exhausted from these duties. I injured my back and was in constant pain. (I'm an older student) My peds rotation, on the other hand, was so much more managable because the parents helped with bathing/bedpans etc. I didn't suffer the injuries or physical exhaustion. I want to work with adults so med-surg seems the place to start, but I worry about how I'll physically manage it.

Should nurses still be making beds, delivering trays, giving baths and doing bedpans? Or should these tasks be delegated to nursing assistants? I'm in nursing school and I can see the value of these duties as opportunities for pt assessment, but the physical demands of these duties wear me out and at times lead the patient to see me as a servant. On days when I've had a nursing assistant to perform these duties I've enjoyed nursing and my workload felt managable. What do you think? Should nurses duties be redefined? Thanks for any input.