platanos1

I have been on a med surg floor for almost 2 years. I am a new nurse. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to quit. And I only work part time. I work nights which messes up my sleep so bad. The patients are horrible, the aides are lazy. I never have any time to just sit and talk to my patients. I hate it. We have 8 patients a night and the acuity level seems to get higher and higher. I feel like all I do is push narcs. The ones you really want to help you can't because the rest are asking for their pain medication, or falling, or making a mess on the floor. And of course your aide is no where to be found. I spend about 1/2 my time doing the aides work. Delegation my butt. I hate that I hate nursing. That is not my personality. I like to care for patients but its to the point I am sooo exhausted that I just want to pass out. MY husband tells me to quit. I am seriously thinking about it. I don't think I have thick skin to work on this floor. You have to be tough. But I have seen seasoned nurses in tears. I made a narc medication error last week and I had to meet with my boss. I was soooo upset. Most nurses would laugh at it and say you better get over it quick. Any advice from a seasoned nurse who still works on med-surg. I was so panicked I just went to the doctor to get on some anxiety medication. COuldn't take it.

It takes time to get used to those dumb things. I hate dealing with all that equipment. And the worst is when the patient tries to fix the pump themselves. I always know when they put their dirty little hands on it. I have dreams where the pump keeps going off. It will come. BE patient . If you are uncertain ask a nurse. Who cares if you are bugging them. You will get it.

I used to be a social worker. You think nurses get dumped on you should see how bad the social work profession gets it. People would say now why would you want to be a social worker? Trust me nurses of the world its not so bad.

Doctors depend on nurses a great deal. But truthfully your friend is right. You do a lot of their dirty work. They are there for three minutes and you are picking up the pieces that he/she dumped because the family is ****** off. And to top it off you are there correcting the doctors mistakes that you catch all the time. You are not also the skivvy (love that word) you are the aide that cleans the crap and **** when your aides are too busy, or are too busy on their phones, you are the pharmacist because you have to know what drugs you are giving. You are alot. Not trying to be a downer but a realist. Nursing is not what they show on T.V. But if you want to do it you should go for it. THere are so many opportunities for nursing. Doctors may get made at nurses sometimes but truthfully, they know how hard we work. I can only speak from the hospital point of view. Maybe another nurse can offer you another perspective. GOod Luck.

Yes, medication errors are my biggest fears especially heparin and narcotics. A few days ago I has a patient who I gave 15mg of oxycodone q 6 instead of 10mg. The order had changed from the week before. In my head she was still on 15 mg. So when they did the narcotic count in the morning they were short 2. It showed I only gave her 10mg when I know I gave her 15mg. Being in a rush I missed some of the steps of the the medication rights. The only one to blame was me. On top it off I was sick that night and two nurses called out sick. so dummy me trying to be nice went to work. Well the only one to blame is me. I cried too and still am sick from my mistake. I got a written verbal warning. I now have to do a presentation to my night nurses. My word of advice to you is don;t rush. Trust me I rush and when I do it burns me in the ass. Don't take any, any nurses word for it I don't care how long they have been a nurse. I have seen some of the most seasoned nurses make big mistakes. And they won't be there to back you up. I go with my instincts. I ask, ask questions and I don't care who I annoy. Its your license on the line. You've just have a rough few months. No one has been hurt. My anxiety about going to work got so bad I needed to go to the doctor. Hospital nursing is tough. Its unsafe. I will be making some decisions over the next months whether to stay in the hospital. Maybe there is another floor for you. I am, sure you are a great nurse. Don;t doubt yourself. I will tell you one thing that from your mistakes you will not duplicate them, I assure you. I wish you all the best. Hang in there. You are going to be ok.

I am a med surg nurse and have been practicing for only nine months. I got pulled down to Post partum last night. Eventhough I wasn't supposed to be floated I was told that don't worry its not bad. The assignment was not bad and was a whole different world than med surg. I asked lots of questions and applied my basic nursing to any questions I had. Some of the nurses were getting irritated by my endless questions. Then when rounding in the am the day nurse treated me so poorly. I gave a pt. percocet Po instead of Torradol IV when she was NPO. On our floor we can give patients who are NPO their meds with sips of water. Well you would have thought I gave her a deadly drug. she had a fit. I finally told her to cut me some slack and that This is my first time on this floor. I told the charge nurse the incident and asked if I should call the doctor. She said no and just let it go. the patient was fine. I have never treated a floater with nothing but respect. I know its not there area of comfort when they come to my floor. I just was appalled on how this nurse was.Needless to say I did not feel welcomed.

I ve been an RN for one year. I still feel that way. Let me give you one piece of advice. SOme nurses and instructors can be real nasty.I think sometimes its their way of feeling better about themselves. Stand your ground. I know easier said then done. I still walk out sometimes and just want to cry. Remember you are in the learning process. Be patient and take day day by day. If it makes you feel better alot of licensed RN's still feel that way. Healthcare is changing all the time. Hang in there. You can and will do it.

Thanks for your reply. I have told them I need surgery and will be scheduling it in Sept. That is if I make it there that long. That place is Crazy. Thanks for the feedback.

I need some guidance. I have been on the m/s unit for 7 months. Lately, I have dreaded going in. Friday was the first time I called out sick ever and was told to take two tylenol b/c we need you. I told them no and that sick was sick. I felt so guilty for calling out too but I just didn't feel well, Everynight is crazy. There is no reprieve. They staff us to the bare bone and de-staff our aides. I have left so many mornings in tears. The good thing is that I work with some great nurses who are supportive of a new nurse. I think I could handle the stress but I have been having problems with my knee. I had to get clearance on my Knee before I started and at the time I felt good. But now I am having some recuring pain due to arthritis and I need a knee replacement. I am only 38. Lately, I have been in pain on every shift. I am afraid to tell them I need surgery. Ideally, I would like to work partime but they don't seem too keen on it. Since I have not been there long I don't want to rock the boat. If I knew what I knew now I would have passed on floor nursing but I needed the experience. Please can someone give me some advice.

oops.

When I studied for the NCLEX I just took my time. I put two months aside. I know that seems alot but I studied a little each day. I did 50-75 questions on the computer. Anything I missed I went back to review. I kept a notebook. During that time I went on vacation, took the kids on day trips. Before I knew it my test day was up. I would not have passed if I did not study. I had no prior hospital experience aside from my clinicals. Yes there are some people who can pass without studying. I was not one of those people. I had 261 questions. Alot of the questions I had at the end were very similar to my review questions. Also when you take the test prepare yourself mentally to go pass 75 questions. Not everybody stops at 75. If you goes past 75 take lots of breaks. I took breaks all the way up to question 249. Good luck. You will do well.

That is crazy. I have never heard such a thing. I can't even tell you how any times we do not do walking rounds. I am lucky to get just a report. Hang in there. Maybe it is time to re-eval where you are. It sounds like a lot of tension in this hospital..

It sounds like you passed. I know in Florida you can call the Board of Nursing and they will tell you if you have a license #. Good luck.

Your number is up there with mine. I did pass-Amen. Let me know how it goes.

I am very sorry. This must be very stressful for you. Can you tell me how you have been preparing for the exam? Let me know then I will offer you suggestions. Also do you work in the hospital? I never worked as a CNA and I saw that gave me a little less exposure to the field. Hang tight. Paula:clown: