Can't Wait

Hi, its been awhile! I recenlty just gave notice at my hospital that I worked at for over 2 1/2 years. It was an extremely busy, often times crazy, med/surg/tele floor. I have been a nurse for almost 6 years now, all of which has been spent on med/surg in California and Nevada. I have wanted to quit my recent job for a very long time yet, hung in there because I am a per diem nurse and I worked once a week only, which has been wonderful for my toddler since my husband travels more than he is home. The day came when I just couldn't take it anymore and I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach, something bad is gonna happen. We have lost several nurses, none which have been replaced but the workload just gets bigger and bigger. At times the floor seems all psych, even though its tele. The biggest wake up call for me, was when my dad became very ill, was taken to the hospital, (Not the one I work at but another local hospital) and it was an eye opener. My family and I were so frustrated with the care yet, I also knew the nurses for the most part, were doing the best they could. I was able to see both sides and I thought to myself, how many times have I failed my patients and families? Not because I don't try, but because our loads just get bigger and our patients suffer. My dad passed only 3 days after being discharged. So, with my husbands support, I gave notice. It sounds cliche, but I really do want a job that lets me spend time with the paitent. Im also in need of flexibility since my husband travels and my daughter is not school age yet. I have limited daycare. Still would like per diem. Any suggestions is welcomed and appreciated. Excited to try something new. I have thought about HH or Hospice but have heard pros and cons as far as flexibility. I am in the Las Vegas/Henderson, NV area. Thanks for listening!

:heartbeathi all, it's been awhile! i had my first baby and she is now 8mo old! i work on a busy med/surg floor, which i actually enjoy (for the most part) but i'm starting to think about down the road when holidays come up that i'm not going to want to miss and weekends that i'll want to spend with my family. i went to part time after i returned from maternity leave, but i'm thinking of doing something else. can i get some suggestions of rn positions that do not require weekends/holidays. i've really never minded it before, but having a baby changes everything!!!:redpinkhe:nurse::redpinkhe:nurse:

Hi There, I'm looking for advice regarding my pregnancy. I'm just under 6 mo pregnant and I have been experiencing lower back pain for the last 2 months. It's getting worse and it feels like there is a knife in my right leg. I work 12hr days on a med/surg floor, and the last two weeks have become very difficult for me. I can tell I've slowed down and I feel like its effecting the care I'm giving. Not to mention, I drive home in tears at times, and I've had to call in sick several times. I'v done hot/cold treatment, massage, yoga and now PT. My doctor stated I may need to go out on early disability. I've read the website on disability in CA for pregancy, and picked up brochures from work, but I'm still having a hard time understanding it all. If I were to go out early, before the four weeks before my due date, am I eligible for disability pay? And then will I still get my 6 weeks after delivery? Or would I have to go without pay at any time? Can anyone help me to understand all this. Sorry for the long thread. Thanks- Can't Wait

Thank you all for your advice. Unfortunately, my hospital only offers 12 hour shifts. A day like yesterday kills me when we have no charge nurse, and go without lunches. I could barely eat all day except for a few crackers. By the time I got home, my feet looked like sausages and my back was all but broken. I mentioned it to my doc at my last appointment about the back pain and swelling, but it was not as bad then. I will definitely keep her informed about how I feel. I think she forgets I'm a nurse anyways. I will remind her at my next appointment. I just want to have a happy, healthy pregnancy and right now, I come home in tears. Thank you all again.

Hi There, I'm currently pregnant with our first baby, and I'm going on 5mo right now. I'm so excited, but at the same time worried because work has already become difficult. I was not expecting it to become hard until the last month or so, but I guess I was wrong. I started having severe lower back pain about 3 weeks ago which has not subsided, and I'm having a difficult time performing certain tasks on the floor. I'm also already experiencing a lot of swelling in my calfs and ankles which I did not think would happen this soon either. I'm really not a baby, and though I could breeze through pretty close to the end, but now I'm worried because it takes a lot just to get through my 12hr day, and I'm only 5mo. I was told you can normally go out 4 weeks before your due date, but I don't know how well I will be able to perform my job for that long. Has anyone else experienced these issues early on, and if need be, will it be possible to go out earlier? I would appreciate any advice, being this is my first time experiencing all this. Thank You, First Time Mom!

Hi There, I was a new grad and started working in the begining of February as a fulltime RN on med/surg. I'm 3 months pregnant and my husband and I have decided that it would be better for me to go partime after the baby is born so I can be home with him/her and to save on daycare. My due date is Feb 10th. I will have almost a year in by the time I go on pregnancy leave. I guess my question is when is the best time to discuss this with my supervisor. I don't want it to effect my current working situation. Is it normally easy to switch to partime?

Good luck to all of you and God Bless!

Hi there! I'm all smiles because I just found out I'm pregnant! I'm excited but at the same time concerned about work. I only started at my current hospital this past February as a new nurse. I've already passed my probation period and on my own on the floor. The expected due date is February 13th, and will just have 1 year in. I will have to go on pregnancy leave before that, so I'm not sure what I will be eligible for. I have not told my work yet, I just found out and I'm holding off on telling them right now, but I'm concerned about my benefits and leave of absence. I'm in California and from what I have read, your only eligible for FMLA after 1 year at your current employment. Will I have to go on a leave of absence and pay for my insurance in full? I know I could probably find this out at work, but I' m holding off on telling them and I want peace of mind at the same time. Also, how soon should you notify your employment of the pregnancy and who do you tell, the supervisor, HR? I would appreciate all your advice and info. Thanks so much!:yelclap:

I'm a fairly new nurse, graduated in Dec. 06 and started on Med/Surg in Feb. I had patient experience before going into nursing school. It really doesn't matter. Your first job as an RN is so different because you are entirely responsible for a full patient load. You are interacting with the entire health care team, and your taking orders, clarifying orders, admitting, discharging, preparing for surgery, getting consents signed, and making decisions for the patients that you never made in nursing school. The list goes on. I don't know about everyone else, but in my nursing program, we left half way through the day, we didn't make decisons for our patients, the nurse did! And we always had our instructor near by. Sure, there are resources on the floor to ask questions, but everyone is busy, and often times, decisions need to be made right away. Eventually, you settle in and start becoming comfortable, but the first few months are scary and overwhelming, and even long time nurses have those type of days. This is why its such a big step from nursing school to RN. Its really just a huge adjustment, but like anything else in life, you work through it.

I know exactly how you feel Anjann. I was so excited to finally become an RN and now, I question my career choice every day. I still love to take care of my patients and having the interaction but, I can't keep up and I feel like I'll never be a great nurse. I come home feeling exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed, and many times crying. I keep hanging on to the hope that things will get better. It helps to know others feel the same way.

Monday is my first day off orientation after about an 8 week orientation. My preceptor was great and he keeps saying I'm doing fine, but I worked yesterday and it was horrible. He helped me a lot and I thought to myself, my last day of orientation I should be able to handle!! So much went on though, I had a direct admit first thing in the morning who needed to get ready for surgery, 2 of my patients had low H/H so they needed blood transfusions. I had 1 pt. with an epidural and 1 on a PCA pump who needs vitals done every hour! I could not keep up. My charting didn't get done until very, very late and I felt like a left a lot for the night shift and I'm really not one to do that! I don't know what I would have done without my preceptor who picked up the slack, and now I'm on my own! I wanted to cry but I was too exhausted. Can I have some advice on how to be successful in this job. I did really well in nursing school and thought I was going to be a great nurse but now, I feel like the care I'm giving is lacking, and that I'm missing things because the days are so crazy. I've never had this kind of stress before in my life! I want to be a nurse, but I want to be a good nurse and do a good job. How can I do that?

I'm in the same boat. I just finished my last day of orientation yesterday, and I'll be on my own Monday. Yesterday was my worst day so far!! If my preceptor wasn't there, I don't know what I would of done. My pt. load is 5 on a med/surg floor, and I feel like I can't give good care, I'm over looking things, and my documentation is lacking. There is just not enough time in the day to do all you need to do. I'm so afraid to be on my own, and there is still a lot I haven't done yet! I wanted to quit too, believe me! I graduated in Dec. 06. I actually enjoyed pscyh so much in school, I applied for a a job on a psych unit a couple of weeks ago, and got hired!!! Yet, something in my gut, and other people, told me I was running because I was afraid and thats not a good reason plus, I could really benefit from the experience on med/surg. So, I TURNED THE OFFER DOWN!! Believe me, yesterday, I wish I took it. Everyone tells me it will get better, and I just keep telling myself that. My preceptor was great and told me I'm not Super Nurse, it comes with time! So know you are not alone!! There are many of us feeling the exact same way. Ultimately, you have to do whats in your heart, and what you feel is best for you. I stayed in med/surg because I knew on my good days, when I felt like I did have some time to give the best care, I went home smiling, and thats why I chose nursing in the first place. Hang in there, I'm trying to. Feel free to email me if you need to chat, I can relate!!!!

Thank you for the advice everyone. My heart keeps telling me to try psych though. My dad worked several years in mental health, and I always found it interesting when he talked about his work. I just hope they will hire a new grad. Briehy, you were hired with no psych experience? How did the interview go?

I've only been an RN for a few months and I'm new to the med/surg floor. Everyone keeps telling me hang in there, it will get better, but my days seem to get worse. My orientation ends May12th, and I don't think I can handle it on my own. There is so much I still haven't done like starting PCA's, collecting different lab samples, I'm slow at starting IV's and doing admits and discharges. I loved psych when I was in nursing school and considered it, but many told me to get med/surg experience. Should I quit med/surg and try for a job in mental health? Will they hire a new RN. I need advice please!