IT_GETS_Better

Hi there, my heart really goes out to you and every nurse working during these difficult times. Thank you for your service. I went through so much in my first nursing job at a community hospital that after several months I just wanted to quit and it triggered my anxiety and depression. The manager I had at the time did not help, she was a micromanager and authoritarian. It it weren't for the nurses that mentored me, I would have left. I attended therapy and got on medication and worked through it. My therapist said to not make life changing decisions when we are in a vulnerable state but to seek help. I hung in there 3 years and learned a lot. Many years later, I got out of bedside, worked as a clinical supervisor, and now work in care management. After this past year with COVID and many changes that occurred, I hit rock bottom. I am great with wearing a mask and taking care of others but forgot all about me. ?My glass was over filled and it tipped over and broke. I ended up in the hospital and had to go through intensive therapy and was on leave for 4.5 months. The reason I am sharing this with you, is because I have learned so much about my mental illness and health. You have got to put yourself first. I know you want to give your best and provide the best care but in order to do that we have to take care of yourselves. You can always see a provider and ask for leave for as much time you would need to work on yourself and detach from work. I have been back to work since then and thank God my manager has been very accommodating since I have been back. I was terrified to go back to work and afraid to end up in the same place. I see a therapist weekly, psychiatrist monthly, attend a support group, and have so many resources at my disposal. It is OK to ask for help and it might be that job might not be the one for you. Fortunately there are so many areas you can work in with your nursing degree that don't require you to be at the bedside. Care management and discharge planning is another great area to work. You still have interaction with patients and families and I feel that I help so much with my patients. This experience has helped me become more compassionate and empathetic towards everyone I have contact with. I am glad I went through it because it helped me see that I am important and can do so much for the community. Pease be kind to yourself. You deserve the best and this will make you stronger. Help is available and you can always reach out to me. Wishing you the best and take care. ??

Thank you for your reply. I had a preceptor and I have been on my own for 4 days now. The nurses on my floor are great and I am always asking questions and they have been very helpful. This past Saturday was awful, the charting system was offline for the duration of my shift and nobody knew the procedure for paper charting. I felt so alone and then trying to be there for my patients. It just broke me. I am having to switch nights to days and days to nights. I stayed up for 24 hours yesterday just to get ready to work this morning at 7. Good thing I was cancelled and now I am trying to re-gather myself. It is just very hard, you know. But they do have EAP and I have a call into them. But you are right about schools not preparing us for the harshness of reality, they prepare us for the NCLEX but this is certainly much harder!

Thank you so much for your article. I am now into my 3rd month as a new nurse and school did not prepare me for reality. I am currently having thoughts of quiting and running back to the safe office job I had. How do I make it through? I am now dreading going into work. I wanted to so badly to become a nurse and felt that it was what I was truly meant to do but lately I have been filled with so much doubt. I feel that not only is there time needed for patient care but all the charting that comes along with it. I worry so much about missing charting something that I feel that I am not able to provide the time needed for patient care. How do you do all that? I always feel like I have to rush and then I set out to be there for my patients and then you get 2 more admissions!!! And more charting:eek:!!!! How do I get past this feeling? I am not a quitter, I worked too hard to get here and now I have this big mountain to climb over and I feel like running away:confused:...

:chuckle U know you're right! A poll sounds about right, thanks! :)

Hello Everyone, I just wanted to get input on either of these anti-depressants. Thanks! :)

Yeah A&P wasn't on that web-site for HESI but I purchased the HESI study guide online and that helped with the vocabulary portion (I found that the vocabulary in that section are the words to study) and it also gives you the guidelines on what to study for A&P, I can't locate the site anymore but I think you can buy it at the school bookstore. Hope this helps!

:ancong!: I know how you feel, I received my acceptance a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know what to feel... Maybe: :anpom::anpom::anpom::anpom:!!!! Good Luck!!!

Hi :) I am starting the Brookhaven program this Fall and the advice I would give you is to take all the support courses you can and whenever you have your pre-req's go ahead and apply to get your 3 review points. It is very competitive and I think the lowest was 28 something that got in. It really boils down to the HESI, so really prepare for the exam because the higher you get there the more points you will have. Here is a link that could help you out: http://www.westcoastuniversity.edu/uploadedFiles/20_Admissions/HESIStudyGuide.pdf I used this and I also purchased the study guide that the HESI site offers and they were very helpful. I hope this helps you out and I wish you the very best. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Yay!!! I've been accepted to the Brookhaven College Fall 2009 class. I am sooo excited!!! I've worked so hard and it's almost here! Good Luck to you all!!!

I had 31.90 points and I have taken all my support courses. They recommend that you take your support courses before you apply to make it easier on the student because nursing school is hard enough as it is. It really all depends on the HESI score in the end. If you get a high enough grade and have taken just a few support courses, you will be considered. They go by points only. I have a friend that still needs 4 support courses but did well on the HESI and got accepted. Good Luck! :)

Thanks! I got accepted into the Brookhaven program. I am sooo excited !!!It's surreal I keep telling my husband I can't believe I'm almost there, I just remember when I barely started and it seemed so far to go and here I am! Good Luck to you!!!

I got in to BH with 31.90 points. I am soooo excited !!! :yeah:Congrats to all who got accepted and for those that didn't keep trying you will get in. Regarding those who got placed at MV I took Patho there last summer and the teacher Ms. Breed was nice. I put on my application that BH was first choice and didn't leave the other choice open because I was afraid that what happened is what was going to happen. MV is too far for me, but hey we're in..... Go us Class of 2010!!!!!!!:w00t:

I just wanted to let ya'll know that I got an email today from Ann.

Wow you are almost there! Good Luck to you!

Modelmama07 Yes, how many support courses do you still need? Me, I'm just waiting... :smilecoffeeIlovecof