Bradydown

At my hospital going PRN is not that easy. They have a dedicated amount of PRN slots to fill, and they don't open up often. Many nurses would prefer to fo PRN because they think they can pick up as many shifts as they want and actually work their 3 shifts a week but make more money doing it. It does work this way some of the time, but my unit has cut back the use of PRN staff because they are so expensive. They have actually asked those of us who are able to pick up one more shift per week permanently.

I havent been a nurse very long, but I have let students start IVs and give meds to me. I have felt comfortable for the most part. I love to teach students, so if they seem nervous I always try to ease some of their nerves by explaining that I have been there, and if they need any help along the way I would be happy to help. I have good lookin veins, many many a nurse have told me they could stick me from ten feet away, but in actuality even though they look nice and plump, they collapse more often then not. All the student nurses have gotten the stick in 1-2 tries. Its the ones that are most confident that usually take more attempts. Actually, I think their confidence at sticking me scares my veins into hiding.

7 Years!! I have a long way to go! Thank you all for your kind words and advice. I think PRN is what I am going to do. I live alone, not married, and no kids yet so I have been able to save quite a bit in the last year. It is so exciting and nerve racking at the same time just thinking about new possibilities. I think I have enough saved to go PRN for at least a year without having to worry about money. I hope it doesnt take me that long to find a part time gig some where else, but I know the troubles with the economy right now. I never thought you could burn out in any job after such a short time being employed, but I do admit I dont have much else in my life at this time other then work. Im thinking with the extra time on my hands I will have to pick up a hobby of some kind. There are a lot of things that I dislike about the unit. I think the biggest reason is that I work on nights and I am usually one of the most senior nurses on the unit (scary right?). We have had an influx of new grads and new-to-ICU nurses, which leaves me as one of the resource RNs to go to for advise. I feel that my short time in the nursing field leaves me and the new hires at a disadvantage since I have to take on the leadership role with such little experience. Also, recently I have been charge a few times per month, it may not seem like a lot but for me, especially since we take patients as charge, its hard. I am responsible for all RRTs and have to respond to all codes as well.

Thank you both! It is very hard to give up on something you have worked so hard at. I have thought alot about going PRN if a slot opened up and trying my hand at something else. I am really not sure what area I would be interested in, maybe nuclear med, or home health. We have home health positions within our hospital but I think I would feel better with a few more years of acute care under my belt before I tackled the home health arena.

This is my very first post. I have been coming to this site for a long time, and I think I have found some wonderful information especially in relation to critical care. I am sad to say that I think ICU is not for me. I have worked hard in the year and a half I have worked in the ICU, and have been hoping since day one that I would eventually get used to it. I have taken every oportunity to learn, been to every confrence or educational opportunity. I have been studying (and continue to do so) on my own time learning about the areas I am weak in. I work 4 12 hour days a week (by choice) in order to improve and give my very all to succeed in this job, and I typically pick up 2-3 extra shifts a month. I dont think I am horrible at it, but I am not great either. I feel like I would have to be in ICU for 10 years before I could really say I was comfortable. I didnt come into this job expecting it to be rainbows and butterflies, I knew it would be hard. But I just really dont like it. How soon is too soon before you felt good about moving on? I feel guilty about searching for a new job so soon.