stayingoutoftrouble

I am 29 and last night I had a pt. tell me I look 19. I'd say it happens to me at least 2 -3 times a week, someone asking me how old I am. I tell them, "I swear, I am qualified to take care of you." One time I was getting a pt. back from surgery and the recovery nurse room brought the patient up and I was in the room to help the pt. transfer from cart to bed. Anyway, I go out to the nursing station and my fellow co wokers said to me, "you were in the room that whole time, right?" Yes, I was and why. they told me that the recovery nurse room came out of the room and said, "whoever the nurse is for this patient, he has arrived." I know during that brief time that we transferred the patient I hadn't announced who I was yet. The recovery room nurse took one look at me and didn't think i was a nurse either.

I just wonder when its going to get easier. I've got about8 months under my belt but some days the anxiety I feel is too much to handle. Even on my days off I find myself worrying about my job. I can't relax and feel on edge all the time. I know, I know, I should go talk to someone. Well, I am sure I will have to but in the meantime I just want to know if that gets better with more experience. I just had a really though weekend with a lot of things I had no experience with. Its great for learning but its tough when you're not on orientation anymore and don't have the 1:1 support. I just feel so drained and feel very inadequete. I hate that feeling.

I cannot write as nicely as the OP but it does remind me of my interview from hell. First interview as new grad, EXCITED because I really wanted to work on that floor, got all dressed up in my interview clothes, prepared answers to some questions in my head, lost sleep the night before, etc. Show up and the nurse manager is nowhere to be found, I am sitting down in the HR office for at least 20 minutes. When she finally decides to show up, go to her office and she says, "sorry nobody called you to tell you not to come. I actually filled my last position yesterday". Then she says, " we can do a mock interview if you'd like". I did it, sent her a thank you note, the whole deal even though I wanted to tell her I thought it was super inconsiderate.

I won't go into the details because I would be writing forever. Basically, the MD lied to the patient and he lied to me. If I ever lied to a MD I would be in deep doo doo, but its okay if he lies to me? He can just get away with it... I just wanted to scream. Do I tell my manager, I don't know what you do in situations like this?

Went to SL an IV, pt. taking in fluids ok. etc, after sugery. instead of just locking it, I took the entrie thing out. DUH, still had doses of IV abx, if I remember correctly.

This is an interesting thread for me to read because as a new nurse, on a ortho unit, I am continully trying to better myself in terms of managing pain. Pain control is HUGE on our unit and we also get a lot of chronic back pain pt.'s, etc. through the ER. One of my worst nights ever was a chroinc back pain patient who had a knee replacements that day. OMG, horrible pain, 10 out of 10. He was on a Dilaudid PCA but of course it was less than what they normally give pt.'s and this was a big fellow. Then, medical comes to see him, realizes he is in pain and DC's his PCA and orders 2MG Dilaudid boluses q 1-2 hours, or something like that, I can't remember exactly. Well, that isn't doing it either...10 out of 10. I just want to say to these DOCS you come take care of these patients then if you are going to make these kind of decisions. THen, had to call medical back to get SOMETHING worked out. PCA was started back up, pharmacy to dose. So, called pharmacy, told him the order, asked specifically for a continous dose since he was denied that with his first PCA. I mean, the first settings on the PCA were less than what we'd give anyone! Hello, he had knee surgery today!!!! SERIOUSLY, i just want people to know that sometimes as nurses our hands are tied. Everyone is right when they say Dr's are so conservative with their pain management techniques with these chronic pain patients. I can say that and I have only been a nurse a short time, that's how obvious it has become to me. I do everything i can and I take peoples word for it. It is a challenge, no doubt.

hahah, ok, I am kidding. I DO still want to be a nurse but last night was BY FAR my worst night ever. about 3 weeks off orientation now, had 4 pts on 3 -11 shift, two of them new surgical patients, one MRSA patient who requires a lift to get up, one other patient who had to go down for ultrasound and the ultrasound dept. was calling every 5 seconds. I cried right there of the floor, for the first time because I got an order wrong and I was frustrated with myself and with everything. Had to walk off the floor and go into the bathroom for a few moments. I am doing the best I can and I suppose that's all I can do. I just wonder when it'll get better. I would say 50% of my shifts are good ones but then that other 50 %, when they are bad are really bad. Got out of there last night at 1:30AM. FUN, FUN. I work tonight too and I was hoping they would call me for an on call shift today but of course I couldn't be so lucky. They called me yesterday but I didn't take it...I should have but of course you can't see into the future. I feel sick going into work today. Well, I have to get going. Thanks for anyone reading my rant and listening to me vent.

Probably a stupid question here but I still have trouble understanding contact precautions. So, when I have a pt. on contact precautions obviously I gown/glove with all contacts with the pt. However, what about items coming in and out of the room. I had to use a carpujet with a pt. the other day and I thoughoully washed it before bringing it out of the room. Then it hit me, what about their food tray. Those go out of the room multiple times a day...i wonder how those are handled. I am a new nurse, can you tell? Then, it was found that the MRSA was contained only in her wound. What does that mean? Does that mean you would be okay to not use contact precaution unless dealing with the wound? Thanks for any imput.

I go about 30 miles. I think that is my limit too. I work staring 3 - 11:30 shift so at least I am not driving when its trafficky. There are 2 other hospitals within the system closer to my house. I may look at oppurtunites there in the future.

I am on orientation right now. I got a calander that told me what days I was working an the name of the preceptor I would be working with that day. So far, none of the days I have worked I have been paired with the person listed on my calander. It is so annoying and frustrating. I feel pretty much bounced around while they scramble to find someone for me to be with that day. It is annoying too because the person I DO end up with isn't expecting me and may or may not be receptive to having an orientee. So, you aren't alone.

I always wonder about the background of the people who post here, have they been in the nursing profession their whole career or have they worked in other fields?? If you asked anyone in any profession (unless they are a CEO) they would probably say they wanted more money, better working conitions, more respect, etc. And to say that nurses aren't really looked at as "professional" I can't really agree with. I look at myself as a professional and feel that most others (patients, family, doctors) do as well. OF COURSE, there are going to be some people that treat you like crap but that happens in any job. That is the nature of some people. If you believe you deserve more than there isn't anything wrong with asking for it (going thru the proper channels) but to say that nurses are pathetic or not professionals seems a bit much.

I just recently graduated and am now working at my frist job. There are always going to be nurses who are mean to other people because that's just the way they are. There is one girl on my unit now that will not look at me, will not talk to me, the body language I get from her makes me know well aware of the fact that she does not want me around. Its funny too because I think I have said about two words to her. I really don't know how to handle it exactly either because I am the new kid on the block and she has worked there a couple years. That means everyone knows her, is friends with her and when we are in the break room, etc. I want to be apart of the group conversations but she makes me feel not wanted even though everyone else is nice. Basically I just try to pretend that it isn't going on and hopefully once she gets to know me she will open up to me. If she doesn't I am certainly not going to let her ruin my job for me. It just isn't worth letting one or two people get you down.

I hate working with people who are just in it for the paycheck because you can tell exactly who they are. If it is that bad and you hate it that much then get out. Just a thought.

I previously recieved a BS in another field but decided in my mid twenties to go back to nursing school. I was making ok money but was truly BORED out of my mind. I needed more and nursing was it for me. Who knows what the future holds for me in terms of how I'll feel at my job but right now I know it was a good decision. Some people make the switch into nursing because they are unhappy with their careers and they want to enjoy their work. For those who are THAT unhappy with their bedside nursing careers then they should make a career switch out.

Graduated Dec 16, took the boards on Jan 8 and passed.