Cfitz

Dani, I feel for you girl. I was in your shoes in August-October of last year. And I wasn't pregnant OR hormonal (ok, maybe a little hormonal...). I felt exactly the same way you describe - anxious, felt like I didn't know anything and couldn't keep up, overwhelmed, etc. Then I went on nights and stopped sleeping and it all went to hell in a handbasket. I ended up quitting though because it was too much for me. I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT. I have been unemployed ever since, besides doing flu-shot clinics and working a clinic PRN (VERY PRN - almost never). It is the worst possible time to be looking for a job now - ANY job. So I really recommend you stick with it and do the best you can. It will be really, really tough, but it IS doable. Just try to keep telling yourself that it WILL get better (and it will) - you WILL get the hang of it more every day - and once you have 6-12 months of med-surg, you can pretty much write your own ticket. Almost every job I've applied for requires at least 1 year of med-surg, but they say they will accept a nurse with as little as 6 months. But I only had 3 months (and it was OB) so I'm pretty much qualified for nothing. It's been a very tough road. Listen, if you can get through this, you can get through ANYTHING! Once it's over and it's all water under the bridge, you can be soooo proud of yourself for seeing it through. Med-surg sucks (I think so anyway) but it's great experience! I wish you the best - please keep us updated, ok?

Thanks so much for your input. Hey, at least you have EXPERIENCE now!! If I had experience I could easily find a job on days. Good for you for not only hanging in there and doing it, but for recognizing it just isn't for you. There are people who swear by nights, and I'm glad. We need night nurses just as badly as we need day nurses. I'm just not a night nurse myself. Still looking for a job on days...

I had posted my resume on a few online nursing job sites. Today one of the recruiters called me and, although I don't have enough experience to work for them (they need a min. of 1 year) he told me that it is very, very typical for hospitals to do a hiring "chill" (not exactly a freeze) at this time of year, and that every year jobs open up again in January. So definitely take heart and keep the faith. He thinks it will be "easy" for us to find jobs after the first of the year. I'm banking on it!

I agree with everything you said latenightnurse, except I had one problem that I couldn't overcome. I could NOT sleep during the day, period. I was trying to adjust, but over and over I was having to work 12 hours (at a new, very difficult job) on no sleep - zero - none, or 1 to 2 hours max. I was starting to get very messed up. I lost 20 lbs in 3 weeks' time because I was nauseated constantly. I was starting to go loopy. I wish so much I could have made it work, but a person can only take so much of not sleeping before something has to give. Unfortunately it was my job. : ( I'm still unemployed and it's been almost 2 months. I'm glad you found a way to work it out. I would have preferred night shift had I just figured out a way to sleep during the day. I tried everything starting with chamomile tea, then moving to skullcap, then on to melatonin, then I tried Ambien. I couldn't even sleep on AMBIEN! So I have come to accept that I'm "one of those people" who just can't do night shift.

It's been 2 months since I resigned and I am having the same issues as you LadyQT. I have applied to so many places, including several units at the hospital, and nothing. Not a single word. I am quite disheartened but am trying to stay positive and keep the faith.

Thanks Addie! Keep up that positive thinking. I'm thinking positively as well. Something will come through, I know it will. It's a horrible time to be looking, but I do believe something will come through. I'll be patient if you will!

I'm having the exact same problem. When I say "I'm no longer working on the birthing center" they all say "Ohhhhh, really? Why? It was such a great thing for you!" or something like that. I'm SO tired of it. Now I just say "I can't sleep during the day so nights didn't work out." But inevitably the next question is "so where are you working now?". Uh... nowhere. Then I get the pity look. That's the worst. No one is hiring in my city - and I'm thinking this is the way it is in much of the country. Let's just keep praying that something presents itself to us soon!

I, too, am thinking I need to jump into a med-surg position instead of going straight into a physician's office job. I need to learn skills. I need EXPERIENCE! The hospital is not where I want to be forever, but it's the best place to learn everything a nurse needs to know including time-management (my biggest challenge), prioritization, nursing skills, etc. I think my ultimate goal (at least right this second, haha) is school nursing. I will need at least a year experience to even be considered for that though. Here's hoping we all are in a much better place at this time next year. I_Scream - I wish you the very best in your new position! I think you'll do great. You know more what to expect now and you can really be prepared. Addie, you and I are both seeking a job at one of the worst possible times - bad economy and holidays - not good! But hey, I know there is something out there that is right for us. We just need to be patient and have faith. I_Scream, I am on facebook as Christy Fitz - look me up!

I'm sorry there are others like us out there, but I am glad we are not alone. Nursing is a TOUGH job! I am also very laid back in my demeanor, and that has not translated well to keeping up with a very trying, fast-paced schedule. That's why I'm praying I can find a nursing job at a physician's office. NOT that offices can't be insanely busy - I know they can - but it's just different. It's more my pace.

Huh! Post-prandial hypotension is a really good guess! I wouldn't have thought of it, but it's a definite possibility.

82 is exactly the age I would have guessed. My husband and I both commented this morning about how he looks much older than his stated age.

Thanks Melinurse - and I will return that favor to you, too. This nursing thing is a lot more challenging than I ever thought it would be, but I think we can all succeed if given the right opportunity. I wish you the best!

I know what you mean. But it doesn't help to worry about what has already happened. Just keep moving forward and looking for the "right" thing for you. I feel certain there are enough options in nursing that something more suited to you (and me and the others here) will turn up.

I can see your point, too, actually... I'm wondering if a "VERY fast-paced" floor is the right thing for me, also... I am 44 years old, not the younger, perkier type of new grad. It may not be ideal to start on a really frenetically-paced floor. I can see myself learning a ton, but also burning out really fast....

Thanks - I think so too. It may not come as quickly as 3 12's but I do think I can still learn it.