Ricky1980

I totally feel your pain. I have been a RN for just over a year now and also work med-surg. Let me just say that I med-surg is task oriented. I'm sorry to say that the more pts you have the less time you have to dig into their H&P, consult notes, do "housekeeping" on vague orders, put in nurse initiated orders, etc. I think this is really important, especially at teaching hospitals because Interns/Residents make mistakes too (not just the New Grad RN ;-) Don't be hard on yourself, you'll get it. Some people take longer than others, but when it clicks they are spot on! You need your own time management system. I think being off orientation was the best for me because I was able to find my own groove. It is also good to precept with different RNs because you can pick up on different methods and mentalities. Just stick with it and do fun things with friends and family on your days off. You will be a better at your job because of this. Take care of yourself first. Nursing is a noble career....but it doesn't define who you are as a person.

Honestly, it kind of makes me sad to see good people want to leave. I know there are very good people that care at the top. I am respectful of their position and rank. Playing the game is not for me. I was told by some of my NCOs before I commissioned to remember where I came from. I cherish that comment. We just gotta remember that we are all a team and need to work together. There is a lot of pressure to perform. I just wish I could feel the team presence and Espirit De Corps. I guess this issue will be something I'll work on if I make some rank. Right now I'll just keep doing my job the best I can. I too, am impressed with the level of care provided. I know our service members are well taken care of! Thanks for the replies.

I worked in SCU at a VA in California. Sometimes I picked up overtime on the Med-Surg floor. We had LVNs to do the PO and SubQs. The RNs would do the IVP and IVPBs. Usually, we would go ahead and cover the pt per RISS. If they had long acting we would try to give no more than an hour before breakfast. As a RN you should be in charge of overall care...what if something happens to your pt while on the long med pass??? PO and SQ should be tasked out to LVNs. You are overworked, 10-12 pts without a team (RN, LVN,CNA) is dangerous.

Just thought I would share my thoughts. I am assigned at a major Army med center. I've been a RN for just over a year now. Like most new RNs I'm assigned to Med-Surg. I have no complaints about patient care and I enjoy doing it. I just feel their is way too much politics at my facility. I feel like just another number in the system and that most of what my command says is all talk. I feel guilty of my negative feelings because I was enlisted in the Army before RN school. Yes sometimes I didn't like it while I was enlisted, but my leaders took care of me. It just doesn't feel like the Army I know and love. Recently, I have talked to other Junior RN officers that feel the same way and want to get out when their contract is up. Also, there are people being held back from specialty schools that are in their contract. Many people beg to PROFIS deploy just to get out my facility. Is this facility or Med-Surg specific? Am I wrong in feeling that Nursing in the Army is more political than civilian? I have RN friends in the Navy and Air Force and they love it.