socalRN3

All it takes is one person to not like you for whatever reason and make you their target. Who knows, right? Like the other posters have stated, start looking elsewhere and get out of the toxic environment you are in. There is high turnover for a reason....

Hi! First, I feel much empathy for you feeling this way and you are absolutely not alone. I worked as a new grad on nights for 6 months and while the job itself was not that stressful...nights almost killed me. I could only sleep for 4-5 hours between shifts so that left me exhausted at work and on my days off when I couldn't get quality sleep. when I was this exhausted I became lonely, sad, and unmotivated to do anything at all. It was really sad and I didn't like who I was turning in to. So I saw an opportunity for days in the ICU, applied for it and got it. While the job now has its stressful moments (more so than the surgical unit I was on) being on a normal sleep cycle has brought me back to my normal self. However, for various reasons I do not like the hospital environment so I am going back to school to get my NP or CNS. Basically, try to hang in there until you can find an opportunity to switch to a day shift position. If that doesn't work out, its ok, and try to continue to search for something you enjoy. Feel free to message me if you need to vent or if you have questions.

I hate my job too but I started in an ICU about 8 months ago with 4 months on my own...it sucks. So I don't have much to offer, but you are not alone.

What an unbelievable toxic environment you are in. I don't get how people can be so disrespectful, but in my short time as an RN I have noticed that NA's/MAs, etc, or people with little education do their best to try to make those who they feel are more "powerful" than them feel like complete crap. (Not all of course, but close to the majority). Get out of that toxic environment. Good luck.

Violin 9, I am going to be very honest with you. It really is interesting how our family of origin always influences us no matter how much we do or don't want to be like our family. You have a lot of core issues that need to be dealt with in a professional setting, like a counselor/therapist. I'll give you a personal story, my sister was my dad's favorite and he has a very arrogant side to him that is opinionated and nothing could ever measure up to his expectations. My sister is in her mid 30s and never has held a long term job and is a career student because she always believes there is something better out there for her. Its very sad because she is highly intelligent, but low functioning. However, she is very arrogant also and will never see a therapist to work on her issues. I wish she would... Good luck to you.

The hospital I work at recently implemented computer charting and it is HORRIBLE! I am young and grew up using computers all the time and I still cannot believe how horrible this program is. It is super slow, time consuming and takes away from patient care. I hope they trash this program and get something else, but I doubt it since the hospital administrators are only concerned about saving money.

CONGRATS!!! I started out on a pediatric surgical floor and what a great experience that was. It is a busy floor and patients and families can be very demanding, however, this will be a great starting point and you will learn a ton about different procedures and surgeries. There will be a large focus on pain management, post-op care, teaching and discharges. Good luck to you! let us know how it goes

Sensitive person here.... I recently read a book which was recommended to me and its called the "Four Agreements" by Miguel Ruiz. They are: 1. Be impeccable with your word 2. Don't take anything personally 3. Don't make assumptions 4. Always do your best This book has helped me gained a greater understanding of how to find inner happiness without seeking outside approval. The four agreements sounds so simple yet following them is difficult. I noticed that when I do follow them I am not as hurt by what others say to me.

I'm taking PALS in about 2 weeks and still have to prepare. Is this enough time to prep or should I postpone the class? Thanks!

My goodness those responses by the NM would just irritate me... We all are going to make mistakes, however, patient was not harmed and you learned something from this. I know someone who I work with that hung vanco to the lowest port in the primary tubing without programming it to the pump, so as you can imagine the vanco infused in about 2 minutes!

I should have been more specific. I am referring to pediatric congenital heart defects where there is "right-to-left" shunting. The docs are big on making sure there are no air bubbles in the lines.

Quick question...I understand there should be no air in any IV line, however, why is it especially crucial to not have air bubbles in IV lines for cardiac patients? Thanks!

hmmm that's a tough one. If it were me I would just suck it up and work the 4 unless you have a good reason to switch...

Good luck to you! I also am a new PICU nurse and the best advice I can give is to be yourself, show interest and enthusiasm in the interview. Don't rush through the answers and don't be afraid to say you need a moment to think the question through. They also want to see that you are willing to learn and become educated because they know you are not going to know everything. Have some questions prepared to ask them. If you are a new grad like me they asked me behavioral questions and not clinical questions. Good luck and please let me know how it goes :) you are going to do great!!

Thank you all. You helped me feel better about missing a day to take care of myself first. I will most definitely bring in a doctor's note and ask to make up this missed orientation day later this week.

to keep a long story short...I transferred about a month ago to a new unit from a hospital I have worked at for two years. I am still on orientation and I called in sick today because I know I have a UTI. I tried taking azo to help relive the pain, drank lots of water and cranberry juice to try to hold me over without pain until the end of the shift but it didn't work and I ended up calling in. I just feel really bad for calling in and that it could be held against me....i'm going to the doctor today so maybe I will present a doctor's note voluntarily.

Record every incident. Date/time/what happened. Try to avoid her if possible, never make eye contact and never say hi. The big thing is stand up for yourself. If she acts this way towards you again say something in a calm tone like, "I understand you may be frustrated and I do not appreciate anyone talking to me in that way". This type of behavior should not be tolerated in any type and workplace and the only reason is it tolerated is because people are afraid to stand up to these bullies. By the way, I am a new grad also and I have had to stand up for myself and I have gained more respect from my coworkers.

MassED: If it sounded like an ultimatum do you have any suggestions on how I could approach the NM? Also, the hospital I work at does not go by seniority so I do not understand why this person would be added ahead of everyone else on the list. I am either 5th or 6th on the list which could potentially mean I would be waiting a long time to transfer to days on this unit. BTW, the hospital is expanding and there are nurses at this hospital who have worked nights and transferred to other units to go to days.

We have to wait 6 months before we can transfer, so I have less than 2 months left. I highly doubt the NM would really care if I want to go to days somewhere else. However, the CN on the unit told me "at least you have a night position" as if I don't appreciate my job, which I absolutely do. The last thing I would want the NM to think is that I don't appreciate that I have a job. This is why I was thinking about approaching her about transferring and figured she may have some insight on day positions opening up in the near future.

There really is no hospital policy for determining how the list works. On my unit it works by first come first serve basis. So this person who was added before me had 6 months to decide before I was hired on to go to days. He didn't want to during that time and never asked. Therefore, it doesn't make sense why he was added before me. Anyway, if the list stays as is then I will waiting at least a year or two. I cannot keep up with nights this long physically and emotionally it really gets me down. If I speak with the nurse manager I'm going to tell her how much I like working at this hospital, I've learned a ton etc etc, but with no way to determine how long this wait will be I want to ask for permission to transfer to a different unit for the opportunity for a day shift position. Does this sound ok?

i work on a unit that has a waiting list to go to days. to make a long story short, i asked to be added and was added on the list and now the head nurse is adding other nurses ahead of me because she said they were told to wait to be added until they were on their own...which one of them confided to me that he was never asked to wait. This is frustrating because if the head nurse is doing this now there is no end in sight to how long i will have to wait. since i started a few months ago (i was an extern on this floor as well) would it be appropriate to go to the nurse manager and ask for her permission to look at other departments that may have day shift openings available..such as PACU, ICU, float pool, med/surg units?