NewGurl

I am an oncology nurse and deal daily with death and the way my patients passing makes me feel. The thing that helps me most is, death is inevitable. We will all be there. As long as you have given the most compassionate care you were able to, there is no reason to feel guilty or sad for the person. Their suffering is at an end. Instead you should take it as a learning experience and maybe give a little more care to the next patient. Although it sounds like you did what you could at the time. Good luck to you and don't be so hard on yourself!!!

My favorite, when I was a unit secretary, was an admitting diagnosis of hypnosis. I laughed so hard and still do so many years later.

Is there anyway you could look at another field of nursing? I also have problems focusing and can not deal with 100 things at once. My mind just doesn't work like that! I moved to surgery and had one pt and their problems to deal with. For me it was a really good fit. Just keep in mind you don't have to only do floor nursing as a new grad. That is the beauty of nursing, there are so many different places to explore. Good luck!!

When I started off in nursing I went to the floor. I HATED it! My preceptor had nothing but negative things to say and I felt overloaded. I'd leave there crying almost everyday and think how much time I had wasted in nursing school. Then I found surgery. I felt like I was home immediately. Maybe you might reconsider your area of nursing?

I work in New Mexico and would consider it a rural area. It is very difficult to get nurses to come here and stay here so they pay more than the usual wage. As others have said I have had to job hop to work my way up to where I am. I have been a nurse 8 years and have consistently made 80k a year since coming here 3 years ago. The cost of living is very low but the drawbacks to that is in the area I live there are not a lot of amenities some people feel they need. Those things don't really bother me so it's been perfect. Also, in some rural areas you commit to work there a set time and they pay back your loans. Something to think about.

Honestly it sounds like alot of the anxiety and stress you are creating for yourself. If you no longer care about what you are doing and the people you are trying to help, you are not going to be an effective nurse. Things would take on a whole different cast if you truly felt you were doing good for the patients you are talking to. I am NOT criticizing you at all! I felt much the same way a few months ago. I was slogging through my day, not liking my coworkers and not giving my patients the attention they deserved! I had to take a long look at the reasons I was staying. When I realized it wasn't because I wanted to help patients and I was in serious burnout, I quit. I had no back up plan and it still felt GREAT! I was immediately happy and broke. LOL But I wouldn't change my decision. I felt like 100lbs had been lifted off of me. I start my new job in a new field on Monday and I am very excited. I feel the old joy of actually helping and caring for people who need someone returning to me. Don't wait until you are at the end of your rope. Take a good long look at yourself and do what is right for you. I almost let that job ruin my view of nursing. I'm glad I didn't let it. Stand up, take control and be happy again!! Good luck to you and I really hope you start feeling better soon.

We are looking at changing our current system and we are reviewing several different selections. I was assigned CPSI/Evident. I'd really love to hear from anyone using this program! I am having a hard time finding exactly what programs they offer for specific departments and reviews from actual users. Thanks in advance!