Skits

Silly question, I'm a new RN, stressed out about work, going through crap at home, blah blah blah (excuses excuses, right?) This doesn't happen to me often (insomnia), but I have to be at work in um 4 hours and cannot sleep. I would hate to call off, but I don't feel like I would be safe at work with no sleep. What should I do? (I hardly ever call off)

Hi, I'm new here, and I'm sure this topic has been discussed before, but I really need advice or someone to tell me things will get better. I graduated in December of 07. I got a job on a med surg floor. My manager is wonderful, and the people there are okay. Yesterday at work I broke down (in a private area) and started crying my eyes out. I am so overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done. I had 4 patients, 1 discharge and 2 admits. I was working an 8 hour shift, which to me is more stressful than a 12 because you have that extra four hours to get stuff done. My preceptor is just OK. She reprimanded me several times in the nurses station in front of everyone, and yesterday she yelled at me for getting upset and walking away from her. I just didn't want to talk about what was wrong, I needed a couple of minutes to get myself together-privately. I didn't get to eat lunch, I was hungry, and as a smoker, I was having a nicotine fit. I know I'm not always going to get the chance to get outside and smoke, my patients are more important, but don't I get a break? As a new nurse, I love my patients. I want to be there for them!!! It kills me that I have to cut them off in mid sentence and run to do paperwork for an admit! I feel like a secretary! I'm so exhausted on my days off that all I do is sleep. Yeah I know- quit complaining. I have a wonderful job, I make decent money, and people would kill to be in a profession that is in demand. Right now I just feel like nursing is something completely different than what I learned in school. I feel like I made the wrong move. I wake up everyday and go to work wondering what life I am going to save next or who am I going to have an impact on. I have so many mixed emotions. Suggestions?