rierie

Yes I am a nurse. I am an LVN with 15 years acute care experience. I now teach clinical for an LVN program. I understand your post because I wasn't clear on my title. I can't stand when CNA's/students or MA's call themselves nurses. That is a pet peeve of mine as well. Good luck in school. I have a healthy 3 year old and 1 year old now and everything went well during my pregnancies. I remained working overnights and took every assignment given. I tolerated a lot more than I thought I would be able to but glad to be out of the facility I was in during that time. Thanks!

Very good advice and insight!

WOW!! I was a bit nuts then huh? I was just looking back at my posts and saw this. I wish I could have told my old self that it would be okay and believe it. Update: PRN job for a month, took a new job offer in Dallas a month later...had a gorgeous healthy baby boy (on COBRA insurance). When he was 6 months old the Hospital that paid me so well and moved me to Dallas claimed bankruptcy and didn't pay all of staff. We found out they were also pocketing our medical insurance that was taken out of each check for approximately 3 months. I have never seen so much instablility in nursing until this happened. Looking back at the economy at this time for everyone I feel lucky that I have been able to find employment. When that happened I was offered a teaching position for clinical instructor at a nursing school in Dallas. It has been such a great change...still have stress but different. Been there 2 1/2 years now. Had a 2nd little boy and got married to the great guy that has been there through it all. Everything really does work out in the end! Thanks for your advice and empathy. It is really appreciated. Also I never had to apply for unemployment or move in with Mom!

Thanks guys this makes me feel like I was making the right decision.

Thanks for the replies from everyone. This help alot!

Things have a way of working themselves out...thanks for the compliment

I can see where you are coming from and know what you mean about maintaining that professional behavior. Those that can stay out of the BS in the nursing field are much better off in the end. I have been accused of sharing too much but it's part of my personality just like I'm sure yours is to stay private. I really do envy those that maintain such professionalism. It is not summer camp but I do want to enjoy my job and have fun with co-workers and for me to know them personally helps...but that is me. I have a co-worker who is the sweetest funniest girl but when she doesn't know someone she comes off as cold and uncaring because she makes her boundaries very known. I know she cares so very much but those that don't know her well don't see that and it's unfortunate. I really hate that this career I chose has so many of those back biting bitter Betty's like the co-workers that you describe. It makes our job harder than it has to be (like it's not hard enough). My best reguards to your future.

Don't be embarassed. I think the majority of nurses suffer from depression at some point in life. It is our personality...to take care of others before yourself. Remember the better you are the better you can care for others. If you have never been on an antidepressant don't think it's a happy pill. You should still have emotions but not be anxious about every move you make. I teach nursing school and I know that 5 of 7 of us take antidepressants currently and all of us have taken them at one point in life. I thought that was very telling of the career...what do you think?

I was you 14 years ago. And if I say so myself you are going to be a fabulous nurse! I was trying to talk myself out of nursing for the first 4 years of my career and one night a young man with a major GI bleed rolled over and looked at me while I was giving him enemas until clear and he asked, "Do you enjoy your job?" ---Now I had to think about it in that moment but I chuckled and said "Yes I do." Since that I haven't looked back. I remember having diarrhea on the way into work every shift for some years. I gained alot of weight and worried or cried myself to sleep many nights. That is what makes you a good nurse. You have feelings, you can FEEL when something is wrong. You can't teach that instinct. I used to wear my heart on my sleeve but I am so confident in my skills and being an advocate for my patients that you have to really prove me wrong these days. I used to be scared to talk to doctors or superiors but now I feel like an equal. In fact I now teach clinical for nursing students and it has been what I needed to show myself how far I have come. You will not be perfect...but you will be great! Learn from those that take the time to show you and when you are confident pass those skills to someone new. Those that make you feel bad are just tactless. Saying something rudely and creating a hostile work environment is good for no one. I would rather be liked by my colleages and treat everyone well. Keep up the hard work!

Nights is killer if you are a single girl. I suggest finding things out of work to occupy your time. This is going to sound crazy but when I worked nights I really enjoyed on-line dating. I could browse the guys in my home at weird hours of the night and I met some very interesting guys and their friends. It does get lonely, feel like you work like a dog and even if you do have someone that listens they really don't get it unless they have been through it. One day a patient will say something sweet to you and it makes up for this hard work. A good compliment can get me through 6 months or so! It is tough putting up with night shift for too long. I did it for 7 years and it jacked up my health and sleep. Find a good nurse friend and vent away to each other. That helps. I also roomed with a girl while she was in nursing school and it was helpful because she didn't party and I understood her drama. We are best friend to this day. She calls me all the time to vent and ask opinions on work and guys! Good luck

It's insubordiante and hostile for a nurse to be that way. But yes unfortunately that title may follow you. I have been labelled as "getting to personal" and no matter how many times I have proven my professionalism my supervisor continues to bring up the past behavior. I know I am a good nurse and my ethics and that is what is important. That doesn't make it easier when you encounter this behavior but if you know in your heart you provide the best care for your patients then it doesn't matter what they think.

Your co-workers are your family now...dysfunctional as most. You will not see eye to eye on all days but they need to know you a bit more and honestly I believe I will make the team work better. You must be friends with someone at work. This Bitter Betty may have a lot on her plate (not at all excusing the behavior) and if you are as professional as you present yourself to be she may be threatened by you. Stick it out and prove yourself as the best nurse you can be and your co-workers will come around. I agree with the other post. DO NOT let them run you off. Leaving anywhere needs to be your decision and never on bad terms. This type of nurse and person is encountered everywhere. I have encountered so many that will not apologize so the fact that she did is a good sign. Bend a bit and you may see her and them come around. In the end it is about the patient but when the patient leaves your "family" is still there. There is BS everywhere you go and you just have to decide how much you can deal with. I have been a nurse for 14 years and 12 years of hospital experience...lots of stress and chiefs wanting to run the show. ER is a place I see that alot. The good news is there are places/departments that will make you happier and team members that care about the professionalism that you bring to the team. If you find ER is where you want to be badly then stick it out. I thought I wanted ER when I first got out of school but quickly learned the patients forget you and the staff turnover/burnout is great. I prefer the floor and seeing my patients for a few days. I like getting to know the family and seeing my patients go home after a hospital stay. Good luck in your career and keep up the hard work. It doesn't get easier just more rewarding.

Overheard from a student nurse during foley catheter check off--- "I don't know who made up this sterile stuff...it's stupid" I think she thought it was something like a Japanese tea ceremony...she really had no clue what a sterile field was after 6 hours of one on one remediation.

I'm an instructor and we know the info that we give you should be the most current and updated as possible. I don't think you intended to be malicious and be a "know it all" but just trying to get the right info. The best thing is to meet privately with that instructor discuss the lecture and your concerns. We are human, not perfect. If you came to me I would take the impression that you actually pay attention in my class and would respect you and know that you are interested in the right material. as it should be....not to be a show-off. BTW We don't hate you we just know that you have no idea about what your a getting into. Did the instructor smile real big? It's because we know the same will happen to you one day...when you realize that you are not perfect either.

I am not sure where you live in the area, if you would be willing to relocate for the experience I can recommend ETMC-Tyler. They are the only level 4 trauma center in East Texas and they hire new grads to put through their interships all the time. Even if you don't want to call the area home just putting in a few years will give you invaluable experince. I am an LVN (14 yrs) and I worked in the Neuro ICU unit with the step-down patients but helped the RN's with the critical patients. I learned so much as how to deal with family during a crisis and how to anticipate the needs of the Doctors/Surgeons. I wouldn't be the kick-ass confident nurse I am today without that experience. I also firmly believe in learning in a small community hospital to keep your skills on the up and up. There are no IV team, RT round the clock or CODE team....you are it. I love that environment and I'm sure you would to with you expressing the want/desire to be a hospital nurse. Check out areas just a little bit out of Dallas and you would be surprised at who is working in those areas. Very strong nurses...that's who! Good luck in your search. I am now an LVN and teach college level lecture and clinical to students. Without that experience I would have never been confident enough to do what I do now.