Liz'02RN

we also monitor anything that needs telemetry and 1 day post op cabg, etc. we carry 1 to 4-5 on days 6 with a LPN we carry 1 to 5-7 on evenings 8 with a LPN we carry 1 to 6-8 on midnights usually the larger numbers are what we see, with very few #'s in support staff.

I dread going to work, and I also welcome the challenge! It sounds crazy but nursing has it's ups and downs. You have the nights where your head doesn't quit spinninig, and you have the nights where you can sit down and talk with your patients (on very rare occasion). Your body and mind can become accustomed to the whirlwinds, but the fear of "messing up" is always there. I would even make up a song before I went to work of why I am a RN. The challenge for me is being the best nurse I can be and not becoming a nurse that patients dread to see walk in the room. It feels really good to see a patient improve, or smile when things aren't going too well. You have to find what you want to achieve out of nursing, and focus on that goal everyday, and if you work on achieving your goals and believe in that... Nursing may be the best thing that ever happened to you. I have fought feelings of despair with my profession too long, it started bringing me down. Sleepless nights, crying, mean days then I started reading this site and realized I am not the only one! I must say it helped me! This subject is definately something I did not know or even consider while in nursing school, but i can honestly say if I would have I may have seroiusly considered a different profession, one with holidays off! ha-ha! Best Wishes

i graduated in may of 2002, also. My manager has approached me about becoming a charge nurse on our telemetry med/surg floor, I have continuously declined her offers, because I do not feel confident in the role. I just now started to feel confident in the staff nurse position. It takes some time to understand the whole picture. On our floor though the staff nurse call's the physicians and handles most problems to the best of their ability then it goes to the charge nurse. Leaving the majority of duties to be bed assignments, and such. I know there are many different ways that units are ran. The hospital I externed with, it was not unusual for a new grad to act as charge nurse in three months. In fact it was a part of the preceptorship. My opinion: Can be very dangerous. It depends on the individual.

I am currently practicing as a cardiac nurse on a med surg floor. I have experience as a nurse extern on an orthopedic floor, but I went with recommendations to work with the heart right out of college. I have done that for 1 1/2 years now and find myself wanting to go back to the orthopedic side of things. I never particularly liked to work solely with the heart. The critical drips, and arrythmias! I just wanted to know if anyone has an advice about the comparison of the two fields. I feel as if I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, the rock being comfortable with where I am, and hard place being afraid of it so much.

I just joined... I am looking for some advice regarding my nursing career. I am a "worry wart"! I have worked on med/surg/tele floor since I graduated nursing school in may 2002. Every one said to "work with the heart for a year and then you can work anywhere." well the year is over, I never liked the heart, it has always scared me, and now I find that I am addicted to the adrenaline, while I hate it in the same sense, I find my self getting off work and unable to sleep, calling back often, staring at the television thinking about all the should have's and why didn't I's.. My husband reminds of all the good things, but I can't get past the other thoughts. I am scared of hurting someone, and losing my license I have worked so hard to have. I thrive on practicing safely and when anything goes wrong I feel incompetent. Will this feeling ever go away, and how do I deal with it with out driving myself crazy.