JMoney

Thank you Quasar!

Hi BeeKee - Yes I do like consistency, predictability and consistency. And, yes, I did the same thing when I first became a nurse, and when I moved to my previous position. I go through this every time - I don't know how to just "be". And I feel like such a downer person right now. I'm positive and upbeat on the outside, but on the inside, I feel miserable and inadequate one minute and excited the next. I'm trying to just roll with it, but I suck at it. The other thing that is hard is the social aspect. The longer I am away from my old unit, the less I am invited to things or part of that "family" - it stings a little when I see them doing things and I'm not included. And, I feel like an outsider in my new unit. I am a very social person, so, I feel like I'm in limbo and a little lonely. Thank you for your words of encouragement!

Hi Everyone! I have been a bedside RN for 7 years in a large Acute Care Hospital. I have a very good reputation with staff and physicians, and I also functioned as a Relief Charge. I was one of the nurses that other nurses went to for advice and guidance. Over time, I was getting frustrated and bored in my role and I started looking to make a change a change over a year ago - I was just too afraid to actually make the change. I finally made a change to SICU 4 weeks ago. My orientation is 12 weeks. It's week 4 and I feel overwhelmed, inadequate, and frustrated. I feel like I have made the wrong decision, and want to go running back to my old unit (which I can't), even though I was unhappy there. But, I know that is NOT the right decision. My nursing friends, managers, program coordinator all think I can do this, but I don't. I'm having a hard time getting everything done for 2 critical patients, and I feel like I'm not going to survive when I'm on my own. Before, I knew the answers, could get everything done timely, and felt confident in what I was doing. The pace is overwhelming. Now, I'm terrified I'm going to make a mistake and hurt a patient, and/or make a mistake and get fired. I feel totally overwhelmed, stressed out, stupd and scared. I have to stay for 6 months before I can transfer out. So, does anyone have any advice as to how I can get better in my new role? I'm totally stressed. Thanks!

Hi everyone! Thank you all for your advice. I've decided to not take the five 8s position. Working five days a week, with my start time each day being anytime between 0900 and 1500, just doesn't work with my life right now. I like the flexibility and freedom of three 12s. I know that the right job will come my way.

Hi. I work days - have never worked nights- three 12 hour shifts per week. I'm required to work 4 weekend days per month and holidays. 4:1 patient ratio. This recovery job would be mon-fri 1000-1830, on-call 1 weekend every 8 weeks, and four 4 hour call shifts per month. There is the possibility of going to three 12s down road and I can always go back to bedside nursing. I'm just tired of the bedside work, dealing with families, and of the other stuff. Plus I'm exhausted after working two 12s in a row. But I think I'm scared of the change. And I feel like I'm losing some freedom by going to 5 days per week. I would be be a great opportunity, but I'm scared of the unknowns.

I'm really struggling with this. Ugh. I'm so ready for change and to get away from the bedside - I'm so sick of working the bedside and all that it entails. Having PACU skills would be amazing!!! Just having a hard time with giving up the flexibility of 3 12s. How do you know what the right decision is?

I think my biggest fear is getting away with my hubby or friends. With 12s I can arrange them in a way that I can get a block of time off and not use PTO, to go out of town. Also, on my off days are when I have lunch with friends, get massages. im scared because i feel like I'll lose some control over my freedom. BUT this is a great opportunity for me.

Plus my husband works mon-fri so we will be on the same schedule.

Thank you Penguin67. It's nice to hear something positive. I'm exhausted working 12s. If I work 2 in a row, the day after I'm so tired I don't do anything. It'll be an adjustment, but if I don't go forward, I can never go back. I just worry about hair, mc appt scheduling but other ppl manage it so I can. It's nice to have 4 days off when trying to plan a vacation, but I don't travel too much.

It's a hospital job. I'd be going from bedside nursing with a 4:1 ratio to recovery room with a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio. It's something I've always wanted to do. I'm over being a bedside nurse, so I'm excited about the change, just concerned about the lifestyle adjustment. I'm sure over time I could go to a 12 hour position if I wanted to. But I find 12 hour shifts very tiring now.

Ok I feel silly even posting this. I'm currently working 3 twelve hour shifts a week. I'm thinking about moving to a unit with 5 eight hour shifts. I'm worried this will be hard to adjust to. I'm used to have 4 days off during the week for appointments, etc.. But this new position is mom-fri with weekends off. Any thoughts?

I feel like I've become one of those negative people. Morale is bad on my unit and I can't wait to move on. I try to just get thru each day as best I can. I try to stay away from the drama, but I do get sooo frustrated at times. I fee like we are expected to do more and more with fewer resources. I get really stressed out the night before I go back. It shouldn't be this way. I feel like I work in a punitive environment versus a supportive environment.

Recently, we were informed by administration (who do NOT stand all day) that we are not to chart in the nurse's station or pods. That we are to do all charting at the bedside, and that sitting is for break time. This really frustrates me. It seems unrealistic, unfair to the patient who wants to rest, and unfair to make staff stand for hours at a time. Is this something anyone else has to do at work? Is my facility just late in adopting this practice? I believe they have moved to this practice because a: doctors are complaining that there is no where to sit (not true) and b: there is a perception that if staff is sitting at a computer, then they aren't caring for patients. I'm really frustrated by this.

Hi everyone. I've been a nurse for over 3 years and I really like my job. I would describe myself as a type A personality and always make sure I follow hospital protocol. But, sometimes I make minor mistakes and I beat myself up over them. I try hard everyday to do everything correctly, but when I make a mistake I obsess over it. I try so hard to learn from it and not repeat the mistake. I admire those nurses who always look so calm and collected. But I can't get the worrying out of my head sometimes and that interferes with my work and my life. Does anyone else ever experience this? And how do you deal with it.

Hi! I've been a staff nurse for about 14 months now. I admit that I have come A LONG way since my first day on the floor - remember having that "deer in the headlights" look frequently. So, I worked Friday and Saturday and I hit the ground running on Friday. 1 pt needed IV dialuded via PICC line (so each time I had to draw it out of the carpuject into a 10 ml syringe) q 1.5 hours, my other pt was an AKA bedrest pt receiving IV meds q 2 hours, and my last pt a walkie-talkie chest pain pt. Day 1 I felt super busy but was strumming along. Then day 2 hit. Same first 2 pts, but then in half way through the day, I got discharged pt #3 and replaced that with a high-need chest pain, mentally challenged pt. Needless to say I was so busy at one pt I just could not even think of what to do next. Luckily, co-workers pitched in to help me. I mean, all 3 pt's needs were equally important. So, my question is: how am I supposed to get it all done? pass meds, assessments, charting, orders, pass trays, take them to the bathroom, etc., in addition to caring for them? I almost burst into tears yesterday in the afternoon. Sometimes I feel like I neglect them because I have SO much to get done. I feel I have come so far in my organization skills, but then I get a day like that and I am so frustrated and feel like a failure. Then, I am so busy that I could make a mistake - and that terrifies me! Make a mistake a hurt a patient or get fired. I fear every day of making the "big" mistake and getting fired. Can anyone please give me some advice? I strive to be the best I can at my job. I love it, yet I don't know how to stay organized and efficient when so much HAS to get done. Thanks for listening!

Hi PlaneJanie77 - weight isn't the issue. Im not overweight. I think I just need to keep trying to find shoes that work for me. I just hate the thought of buying shoe after shoe until I find the right one.

Thank you Pegasus65! I will look into them!

Hi everyone. I am a new staff nurse and have been doing 3-12's since Feb. I work days 7-7:30 pm. My problem is that my knees start to ache/hurt at about 2 pm. I bought a new pair of shoes, New Balance 927, and that has not helped at all. I also started working out again to strengthen my leg muslces. My knees don't hurt when I'm not working. Is it about finding the right shoes? Is knee pain just inherent in the job? Is is that I just need to get used to walking on concrete floors? Any advice? Thanks! Jill

Hi Everyone. Good news......I passed and am now an RN. Yippee! Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement.:w00t:

Good news....I passed!!!!! Yeah! Thank you everyone for your support.

No I'm not sure. I'm debating.

Still waiting for results. It is so hard to not be depressed right now.

Hi. How did you find out so fast that you passed?

Still waiting for the results. It is so difficult to be positive. But I am trying.

Trying2Pass - I am kind of scared to do that, partly b/c I don't want to know the results (I'm scared) and partly b/c I don't know how accurate it is. I'm a scaredy-cat.