barbwire

Drowning: that's a very good description. I took my lunch break today, sat in my car and cried, then cried on the way home. This frantic pace isn't new to me so that's not the issue. Every day I feel like I take 2 steps forward, and 10 backward. I learn something new, but screw up something I should have down by now, or had down last week. I tried to slow down a little bit today because I make more mistakes when I go fast, but then I got so far behind with stuff I didn't think I'd ever catch up. Can't win for losing. I do know if it weren't for my coworkers I probably would have already quit. The tech's, LVN's and other RN's (that work stations too) have been extremely helpful and supportive. I do know what you're saying SoCal about pumping people full of saline. Have seen it done a few times and thought to myself that's not a reason to give saline. But all the things I've read about tech's running the show, I haven't seen. They are extremely knowledgeable about the patients and are always willing to step in and lend a hand. It's just nothing like I thought it would be. I'm hanging in because I know as I get more familiar w/ things that it'll get better. But not liking the hours at all. Not liking how exhausted I am after only 10 hours of work. And there are A LOT of issues w/ the company itself. It is very helpful to hear from others. Thank you!! Now to go soak my aching feet...

LOL!!! And it's probably the truth. Have seen so many things over the past few months that make my jaw hit the ground and I know it's all centered around the almighty dollar: pile more and more on the workers so money is saved, cut corners (with a total disregard for safety) so that people at the top make more money. Guess that's par for most every company/organization out there. The jury is still out if I remain where I am. Which is a shame bc I actually, for the most part, enjoy what the job entails. Ok, except for when the patient passes out on you with a BP of 45/15 causing one to almost wet their pants bc this has never happened to one before. But I capped off the day with a big hug and a kiss from a patient. THAT made all the b.s of the day worth it.

Well, this is my first RN job and I don't really know what to think. I started working in a 24 chair facility. We do two shifts a day, Monday through Saturday. The first part of my training has been learning the tech's job. I'm out of training now and either work as a float RN or have a station of 4 patients. The days I work vary but the hours are all over the place. Sometimes I'm in at 4 am, others at 5, then sometimes 6am, depending if I'm running a station or floating. I'm being told that after about 6 months from my hire date I'll be a charge nurse. The charge nurse sometimes has to help put patient's on and take them off, depending on staffing. I feel like I am a chicken running around with my head cut off. I am so tired by the end of my shift that I can barely walk when I get home. My feet hurt constantly, even on my days off. I need to exercise on my days off but I'm usually so tired trying to recover from work I simply don't have the energy. I bought a great pair of work shoes but I'm still dog tired and my feet kill me. Going in at 5am one day, 4am the next, 6am the other is wrecking havoc on my sleep. The charge nurses usually come in at 5am so at least that would be consistent. Does it get better? One day I feel like I'm doing great, then the next I forget to do something and the day goes down hill. Why is change over such a nightmare? We're given 15 minutes between patients to get them weighed, assessed, etc, and put on the machine. Lord help you if they have to be moved to the chair using a lift. There are maybe 2 people I work with that can get someone on in that time; they've been doing this job for several years. And that's if everything goes right with the patient. Coworkers are scared to death to call in sick, so they come in when they shouldn't. They all say they don't want to get chewed out. I understand some people abuse taking off. I've been told by my coworkers if I call in to have a doctor's note ready to hand in. I chose dialysis because I liked that it was a small work-place setting where you don't feel you get lost in the crowd at say a big hospital. From day one the people I work with have told me "give it at least 6 months" so I'm trying. And most everyone I work with has been wonderful and very helpful. But I have found myself the past few days not wanting to go to work and that's not me. Sorry if this sounds whiney. This is only the tip of the iceberg with my questions/concerns about my chosen career and employer. Just wondering what I got myself into.