RN2012Newbie

If you chose to stay, you could always talk to your current NM and see if she can offer you a full-time position seeing how other places are now interested in offering you a position. Might be a push for them to hurry up and give you a FT position.

If you are happy where you are and there is nothing that makes you want the other hospital, other than previously having it as a first choice, then I would stay. If the benefits, pay, and environment is similar. Worst thing would be to give up your current job that you have no real complaints about and possibly ending up in a job that you may have complaints about after spending time there. It's really on what you think is best for you at this time. How long have you been working at your current job? Are you off "probation." Would the new job, if you decided to switch, require a probationary period where you have the chance of being let go? All things to think about. In short, I would stay at the current job if you have no real complaints about it and there are no outstanding pros to switching to the other hospital. Goodluck!

Congrats on both job offers! Both units will provide you with great experience, so it's just based on your preference. In the ER you'll see a lot of different patients/diagnoses and practice lots of skills. In the ICU you'll learn to care for the sickest of sick. Either way you'll learn a lot and have great experience to build on. Go with your gut and what seems most interesting to you.

I had 6 weeks of orientation on days on a busy cardiac step-down unit. I dont think I would have ever felt completely "ready" to be on my own 6 weeks or even 12 weeks in. As long as they expect and allow you to ask lots of questions once you're on your own, you will be fine. The first few weeks will be the hardest, but if you made the most of your 6 weeks and took on as much responsibility as possible, you should be fine. If you really dont feel prepared or comfortable you could always ask your NM for an extension! Goodluck!

Flowerchild89- I've never experienced this situation before since I'm almost at a year mark at my first RN position but I wanted to respond. If I was in this position I would def. look to transfer within the same hospital. If you like the hospital, their system, and flow of things there's no reason to look outside of it. Look for units that inspire you where you can learn more and build on your RN experience. Your current unit staff may or may not be upset if and when you decide to leave. If you put your one year in and there was no "contract" to stay with your unit then dont let them hold you back. Im sure you arent the first one to move on from that unit. Do what is best for you and your nursing career. Just make sure to give adequate notice and try not to burn bridges. Best of luck!

I've been working 12hr night shifts, but because we are now over-staffed my manager wants me to pick up some day shifts within my schedule. Has anyone done this? Working days and nights within the same week. I will have a few days off in between to adjust, but I don't know if that will do much seeing as how I have trouble with my sleeping pattern to begin with. Is it doable in regards to keep your sanity and health? Should I take the day shifts to keep my same hours/pay... or just have my hours cut all together? Thanks in advance!

This looks great! Organized and to the point! Goodluck looking for a new job!

Hi nsgstu! I am the original poster of this thread. I just wanted to share with you that it DOES get better and easier. I am not quite at my 6 months mark from being hired and have been on my own maybe 4 or a little over 4 months. However, my anxiety has decreased alot! I function better and have less anxiety when im at home. Yes, I still ask questions to be safe which sometimes makes me feel stupid, but ive learned to deal with it because i know its better to be safe than sorry! Hang in there! It should soon get better for you too. The first two-ish months on your own are very stressful, but it will get easier! Now Im looking forward to the day I have a year of experience and how much i will have learned by then! Keep us updated :)

No real advice from me except to try and keep yourself busy when not at work. Im replying to let you know you are not alone and that I have the exact same anxiety. My anxiety actually was probably much worse when I started compared to what you are describing, but it has slowly decreased! Now I just get anxious if I havent been to work in 4-5+ nights! Goodluck and hang in there :)

Thank you all for your replies. It comforts me to know that this has happened to other RNs (not that I would wish this on anyone of course). I will do my very best to not take it personal when I give her report. I guess I just needed to hear that I'm not the only one this happens to. Darn those nit picky report receivers! Thanks again.

Like what was said in the previous replies, im confused with the order of interventions. After finding them unresponsive but breathing, a pulse should have been taken... With compressions following right away if no pulse was felt. What was the outcome of the patient? Was it an actual arrest? I'd be surprised if a BS in the 50s caused all of that. Hopefully your unit manager reviewed this incident and made plans for staff education to learn from it! Sorry that you had to experience that. Keep pushing along, more experience to come!

Thank you all for your posts.I guess I just need to learn to make myself not get upset when she drills me at report. All I can do is tell her what I was told in report, info from shift, and what I read in the doc notes. If she doesnt like my report luckily she's on days and has the advantage of talking with the docs. Unlike nights where I can only go off the report i receive, even when i get ****** reports, and off what the doc notes say. I just wish she wouldnt drill me even after i tell her exactly what i read in the doc notes... It just sucks being a new grad and having things like this bring me down. Im prepared for report and read up on all my notes, yet still feel inadequate. Ive heard another nurse tell one of my charge nurses that she didnt want to give this specific RN report because she too never feels "adequate" enough for her. Guess I just need to suck it up and continue to give report to the best of my abilities...

I am a new grad and have been working on my own for a few months now. There is one specific nurse that has been knocking my confidence so far down that I have gone home crying. During report she questions EVERYTHING i say. When i tell he exactly what i read in a doctors note or what ive been told in report she STILL questions me. She makes noises that make her sound like she is disgusted with my report and ive catches her dirty looks towards me. I dont know what to do. It hurts my feelings and makes me feel like a horrible nurse. I even look up things extraaaa well when im going to give her report, but she still does it. No other nurse has done this to me. Im tired of it and it really is beginning to hurt my feelings. Advice?

Try clinics or school nursing. These can be less harsh on your body but a job where you can still utilize the RN license and skills you worked so hard for. A classmate of mine went in to work at a women's clinic and really enjoys it! Best of luck! Nursing has many avenues its just finding the one that fits!

You are not alone. I've been on my own for a little while now as a new grad and I still get very anxious before shifts. I get nauseous, have an upset stomach, and sometimes it can be so bad that I want to cry. You may have read a post I made recently... With time it does get better, yet I still have anxiety and its still pretty bad! So, you are not alone, I completely understand how you are feeling. I try to keep myself busy before my shift ( I work nights) if I'm not able to sleep. If I sit there doing nothing I seem to get more racing thoughts.