84reyna84

I'm 31 and still get told I look too young. I find the same thing happening to me. Patients, their family members, fellow coworkers and doctors have sometimes not taken me seriously. I don't think you have to change your personality. I, too, am down-to-earth and like to be positive and laugh a lot. I think if you just show you know what you are doing and get serious when the time is needed, it will show. I've had a patient laugh at my pt education and call say "child please"...when I was actually older than her! Maybe playfully say that you are an adult with a degree! Sorry if my post is scattered, I have the same problem and wanted to give my input but also see what others recommend.

I have had my Dansko's for a year and they are still working for me. I am an L&D nurse and run around constantly. My back usually hurts, but I don't think that is due to the shoes lacking in help, just job related stress. My feet usually never hurt after a shift.

In response to ndnrnbsn: Hello! Just saw this...The night schedule is definitely something that takes time to adjust to. Thankfully I can sleep through almost anything if I am sleepy enough, so sleeping during the day is not too difficult. The thing I find tough is trying to sleep the day before a shift after being off work for a while. Usually it is hard to stay awake that night before, so I spend the whole day stressing about how I should be sleeping for the upcoming shift. I have found that bulking my shifts in a row works. It may be hard to work a few in a row, but the off days on a normal schedule at home make up for it. Also, never schedule yourself for one day off in between. (For example, you work mon/tues nights, are off wed night, and back on thurs night). That day off in between doesn't really even count, because you are tired from your night shifts and end up sleeping most of that off day, and then end up having to rest the next day for the upcoming shift. On the plus side, L&D nights has a lot going for it. It definitely does not get slow just because it's nights. People come in in labor at all times! You get to learn a lot without management and Dr's overwhelming you. You still have the support though of all around you. On our unit, there is usually a Dr or two that stays in hospital at all times, especially if they have a laboring patient. I find that night crew are closer and become like a family. We all help each other out greatly. Aside from the crazy sleep schedule, I actually love nights so far!

I finished an 18 week residency program in July leading me into my spot as an L&D nurse. I really think it helped me a lot. I had such immense support from the coordinator of the program. If we felt we were not getting the training we needed or the support from the dept, she was there to jump in and help us any way she could. We had a mixture of classes on various subjects (not just in our dept) and floor training on our unit. It was very exhausting, but now as I work on my unit, I miss the time I had in that program. It definitely will get better once you finish the program and move to your 3 shifts a week. Just remember those are exhausting too, because you are still so new. At least for me they are. And I am on the night shift. So that is another thing to get used to. I'm curious to see the responses to this since I am still pretty new myself...

Live music shows, gym, hanging out with my pups, books and movies, venting to friends and family...

I am in the same boat as you. I am a new grad on an L&D unit. I have been told I am doing great and will do great on my own when I get off orientation at the end of this month. Also that I will never be fully alone. I am terrified and lack the confidence. I'm curious to see how you are doing now...?