SageSarah

As an echo to ladyconstance, one of the unfortuneate by products of nursing is that we seldom see the good outcomes from our work. A patient and family go home happy and well, and within minutes another sick, broken person is in that bed. I have couple of things to recommend. One is a CD called "Care for the Journey." This is specifically for care givers, especially in the health profession. Another is the workshop "ReIgniting the Spirit of Caring." This three day workshop has transformed and re-ignited more nursing practices than I can tell you; I know of 100s just from personal experience facilitating it.

A good situation to just watch and learn. You are not responsible for the circumstances, whatever they might be, that landed you on days. Continue to stay positive and helpful. Then just watch.

My pleasure. Great to know there is another fine nurse in the making!

Here is the link. It's the editorial, close to the back. http://www.conehealth.com/documents/Public/Nursing%20Beat/NB_May11.pdf

vwbeetle, So glad. Y'know, there are those of us who have actually sat around and pondered if nursing is a job or a calling. Kinda nerdy, I know! But after years of experience and 1000s of stories, fun to share with other nurses. I think, personally and based on your words, that you've been "called." What lies ahead is all part of the road for you. Call me sentimental, but you aren't walking that road alone, remember. The contact you mention with the patient is what keeps us all going. There's an editorial you might enjoy reading from our last Nursing Publication where i work. I'll try to put a link here to it. (Or soon when I figure out how to find it myself!) And making someone comfortable is the essence of caring--the signature work of nursing. You can pass pills, or you can pass pills with caring. There is a difference and it doesn't take any more time out of the busy day. About the errors: you should be scared. You have responsibility for someone's safety. But don't let the fear paralyze you; let it motivate you to know what you need to know, to slow yourself down and focus when you need to, regardless of what else is going on around you. And develop the ability to not let others and how their day is going pull you down. Insulate. It takes internal fortitude and some discipline, but you have that already or you wouldn't be where you are. Take the new grad stories you've seen as warnings to get your ducks in a row and be prepared. Don't let anyone rush you when it comes to patient safety and take a deep breath. You can do it. I've been in nursing a very long time! I went back to the bedside in the hospital after other many years of other kinds of positions. Now I'm fortuneate to work with Rapid Response and be able to mentor and help other nurses. I asked a question of about 60 1 year nurses recently: what they would say to a new grad now that they were finished with their first year? A lot of respondents said "find a mentor." You'll find people you naturally click with and they will help you get started. Use them, their expertise, and ask questions when you are uncertain. You aren't out there alone. None of us practices healthcare in a vacuum; that's part of what makes it so intriguing. I 've had some pretty challenging work environments, but somehow I've always been able to find positive growth for myself in any situation. The position where I grew the most was 4 years of pure H---; I came out of it a completely different person and would not change a minute of it, even though I would have hated every minute if I had allowed myself to. It's a decision you make, and it has to come from inside. The funny thing about that position is that what I learned there about patient care shaped my practice in transformative ways. Let your fear guide you to the areas you need to work on, but don't let it steer your ship. You wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't part of your story. Pull that strength from inside and take heart that the answers to your questions are there! VERY best wishes! Sarah PS I'll try to post that link when I get it....I think it may speak to you.

In my experience, kids really seem to lock onto the idea of "Heaven". They like the sound of the word--it is so soft and pleasant--and they repeat that "so-and-so has gone to heaven" with a sort of comfortable acceptance. For what it's worth...

I went to a nursing home after a 4 yr maternity leave (!) and then after 2-3 years went back to the hospital. It took some orientation, but it was fine. They are two different kinds of nursing, but the body is still the body and for me it just took some time to pop back open the "acute nursing" pathways in my brain. I did spend my time in the Nursing Home looking up drugs, which also helped with the transition later.

So..your first choice is NICU and you have an interview next week. THe pay is close to the offer you already have. At the same facility you have an interview with Urgent CAre but do not want to work Urgent CAre at all and the pay is in the dirt. And you have a bona fide offer at another facility and the orientation starts next week and pay is competitive. Have you already accepted the last position? IF so, negotiating your start date for later makes sense, if they will go along with that. If they won't you may have a tough choice to make--bird in the hand and all that. One thing you don't want to do is start a job and leave after very long for another. You know that already but I just had to say it. Indulge me; my number up above says 35. (!) ONe thing to consider---as long as you are respectful and follow some of the phrasing suggestions mentioned in these posts, you will come across as the reasonable and mature professional that you are.

Wow. There have certainly been a lot of replies to this post and I am wondering how the original poster is taking it in. Seems like all perspectives have been represented. Lots of truth and no sugar coating; a good dose of reality. In your story you relayed how many hurdles you've overcome to get to this point, including going against advice to become a nurse. What is it that pulled you forward to surmount all those obstacles and land you right where you are? Something did. Something said, "nope, I"m going to do this" and you did! One of the greatest things I value about nursing, aside from making a difference in someone else's life every single time I work, is working with nurses! Sure we get cranky, and we nah nah at each other, and some of us gossip. But there is no way to share with you, at this point, what kind of a perspective you get on life when you are a nurse. We see things no one else will ever see; we hold people's lives and psyches in our hands; we get a cross section of human life from the stories of our patients that no one else gets. When we communicate with each other, there is a common syntax, and a common understanding you just dont' find anywhere else. You might try to share it with non nursing friends, but it just isnt' the same. So we develop a closeness that you can't describe. There is a knowing look exchanged when two people meet someone and in the introductions you find out you are both nurses. Instant sorority; instant bond. Without getting too much more long winded...one more thought. You will have no choice but to grow as an individual in nursing. Growth is sometimes painful, and stressful. You might feel like you're being squeezed through a tunnel. Sometimes you feel really alone. Sometimes it's all you can do to get through the next 4 hours. But you are a mature woman; at 38 I'm sure you've had experiences you can look back on now that you know made you a better person. In nursing it is vital to know and care for yourself; set boundaries; learn to laugh at yourself and with your co-workers. It seems daunting now, but try not to let your fear steer your ship. Something pulled you toward nursing; go inside and find that something. That's where your answers are.

There will ALWAYS be needs...which is great when you get into a position where you want to work extra shifts. I know very few nurses who haven't done that in their career sometime or another. BUT, right now you have to think hard about what is important, and draw some very clear and consistent boundaries for yourself and your little one. Get away, think it through, come up with a plan, and do what you need to. When they call, or plead, or want want want you to work, smile and say you would love to, but just can't swing it right now. No need to be defensive or feel guilty, no need to get nasty with them or with yourself. Just "smile and wave" and do what you can. Then go enjoy your L&D, your baby, and be sure to throw around the thanks and the compliments when you do your 8 hours on med surg.

Ditto to Janh's post...too much at once. And raising is child is by far the most important job on the planet. You may be making milk just fine, but how much adrenaline is in it from the stress? (Disclaimer for experts--I don't really know if adrenaline gets into the milk--it is more a metaphor for a stressed out mom!) It takes a full year after nursing school to change your brain from student mode to acting nurse mode. Typically the biggest part of the slump is at 6 months. Still ahead for you, so hang on! The only thing anyone can do to make that change in that first year is to just slug through it. New nurses who have nothing else to do, have one position on one unit, say the same things you are saying. Seems like you need to make some choices that only you can make.