shellbell55

Hey Dawn, I went though the same thing. Good luck and keep your head up. Anna

I graduated from nursing school in December. I did most of my clinicals at small hospitals. I saw 1 chest tube and only started a handful of IV's. I got a job in a huge hospital upon graduation on a step down telemetry floor. My orientation was to be 12 weeks. The first 2 were in the classroom, 1 week I was off for my boards and 1.5 weeks I was off for computer training. When i actually got on the floor I had 7.5 weeks orientation and the preceptor I thought I was to have was out on med leave. I got assigned to a nurse that wasn't even supposed to precept. On my first day she explained how the floor worked and I just followed her for the most part. The second and third days she gave me half the team (4 patients) 2 of them post CABG and with chest tubes, I felt so overwhelmed. When I would ask a question her eyes would roll and she would mumble to herself "I can't believe she's a nurse". I went home every night crying. This went on for four weeks, my confidence dropping everyday. She would give me the most critical of the patients and would get angry if I asked questions. Then I went to work and she was sick I got two different preceptors to follow and on the third day, the nurse who was supposed to precept me in the beginning returned to work. I was put with her and omg what a difference, she took her time with me and actually made sure I knew how to do things. I started IV's, something the 1st preceptor wouldn't let me do. I learned to check orders, again not shown how to do. I actually started learning. I realized this is how to be precepted, I went to the nursing superviser and asked if I could stay with my new preceptor (bad mistake, she is best friends with my old preceptor). I was told yes and everything seemed ok. After that I was told I was not ready for the floor I needed more confidence. Yes, I made a med error but caught it before it got to the patient. I asked for two more weeks orientation. I got it and was put with two other preceptors. After the two weeks the preceptors said I was ready to be on my own, I had been taking the entire team for the last 4 weeks. But at my meeting with the supervisor and manager of the floor I was told I was not ready and I was to be moved off the floor. The reason-confidence, I was told get more experiance and I could come back. My preceptors were shocked. I was moved to the gero-psych floor. I have developed confidence, had great preceptors on psych. Started IV's and inserted foleys. I can actually talk to the dr's now and manage up to 9 patients on my team. But now I'm told I am not considered a nurse because I'm a psych nurse. I'm happy on my floor, but I don't want to lose skills cause although I've done procedures they are rare. I also don't want to be considered not a nurse. I want to go to a med surg floor, but I don't want to leave psych. Any advice?