1styearsucks

Great thread very helpful. I wish we could bookmark or save threads on this site that we may want to come back to at a later date.

Yea I agree with you. I felt this way when I was in college. The first two years were BS classes. The last two were all nurses. My attitude was to do what you have to do to get the degree. I guess the you now know what the "BS" stands for in BSN..lol

I hear you girl! I graduated in May and only lasted 3 months as well. I have yet to find another job though. It seems like it is an unwritten rule that new nurses should do med-surg. Well, I hate it and dont want to. To do so is a diservice to me and the patients. You are an inspiration to me that I too may find a job like yours. I can only dream..

I see no one has responded yet. However, if you search the allnurses.com database you will find some great answers to your questions. I am in the same boat as you. Most nurses tell me it just takes time. I encourage you to not be frustrated with yourself. The only reason you are frustrated is because you care and you want to do a good job, and that is something to be proud of!!

I went to UMSL. The program is hard and the instructors give tough love. I personally believe they made a good nurse out of me and most importantly, they did a good job at preparing me for NCLEX. Last I checked UMSL had the highest pass rate!!

Hey im glad you mention psych. I want to be a psych nurse but i did the traditional one year in med-surg thing. Today, I applied for a psych job and I really hope I get it!

Hello All! Thanks for reading and caring. I was a new nurse and did not successfully complete my orientation. I experienced new nurse shock pretty hard and had a nervous breakdown and was unable to cope. My manager noticed that I seemed to not be able to handle the job and I was given the chance to transfer to another floor. This oppurtunity has not happened for me as of yet. I have been turned down for so many positions in and out of the facility I worked for. I understand I messed up and I take responsibility. I have been seeing a therapist for months behind this and I know if given a second chance I will be a confident, competent and safe nurse. Is there someone out there who's first job did not work out and they got another? I know I am not the first nurse within the organization this has happened to, so I can not help but to take it personal. I have a bsn, a liscence and a will to learn. I am not going to give up and go work at Walmart! But sheesh, no one can seem to be understanding that sometimes first nursing jobs do not work and a second chance is needed. I am feeling alone and it would give me some much needed hope if I knew of someone else this happened to. Thanks

I see whats going on here. I have been there and done that. "That" would be that your are being to hard on yourself and overly critical. Humans make mistakes so do not beat urself up over it. When you make a mistake you beat yourself up over it and then you think you can not do it. What you think becomes your actions. Your focus should be learning not neccessarly trying to get a perfect grade or score. Except that you will make mistakes. As long as you take your time and pay attention those mistakes will most likely not be to detrimental.

Hi there. On my floor patients do not recieve lantus while npo that will seriously bottom them out. i have not been in the field long. maybe others may offer something else.

I am definitely routing for you!! I am in the same position. I had a breakdown in October and lost my first nursing job. I am just now going back after 5 months of therapy!! Now, I have anxiety about going back knowing everything that happened. I have PTSD. Just know you are not alone and by taking time to deal with your issues you will go back and do a great job! The best gift we get in life is to learn and to grow. God bless

I definitly think so. I used to wear a pedometer to work and in a course of a 12 hr shift I would walk a mile and a half. I have been out of work for 4 months and have gained 15 pounds!!! So, I would consider nursing exercise.

Wow that is great advice. I will remember this as I enter my second preceptorship.

Damn that is harsh! But i agree. I am leaving after my year mark

I am in the same boat sister!! The same thing has happened to me. In nursing school we sometimes hear the saying," Put on your big girl panties." I hate that saying!! Does that mean you should just suck it up and deal with a bad preceptor? No you should not! These feelings of criticism and nervousness only weakens your confidience and you begin to question your own abilities. You have to know within that you are nurse material and get your confidence by accomplishing your own goals. If you try to get your confidence from other people it will be a constant up and down!! I am currently in correspondence with the president of human resources to get my job back but on another floor. I worked this hard to get here and I am going to get what I worked for. As will you. If you believe you are nurse material then you are nurse material.

Greetings all! I am a new RN. Graduated in May passed boards in August. I did not make it out of orientation in my first job. It was a total nightmare!! I got fired October 1st. I have had four months to understand what went wrong and what part I played in the matter. I was really scared and nervous and this affected my job performance quite terribly. Also, I did not want to be perseived as incompetent so I did not ask questions when I should have. I messed up and have learned what to do and what not to do next time. My question to you is: Would you hire a new nurse whose first job did not work out? I know I am not the first new nurse whose first job did not work out and has gone on to be a success. I do not understand why I am having such a hard time. Could you please offer your expertise to this issue. I appreciate all responses.