RNdonut

What about working in an infusion/hydration center? There are some nurses that do that part time and make decent money (although I'm not sure how much exactly).

You should speak to your manager first before applying for a transfer. He/she may be able to work with you. Just be honest, and you can come across respectfully, and just say you want what is best for the unit and that you just may not be who they need. If you have a good manager, they will help you find where you fit. If you manager is not very supportive, then just apply anyway! Life is too short to be unhappy.

Hi all. It's been a while. A little background: I have been at the same facility for a couple of years and am involved in Unit Council/Shared Governance. I just took over the Chair position for my hospital for Shared Governance, and it is a big responsibility. There are several hours of meetings per week. I am also still a bedside nurse and am in school for my MSN in Leadership. The hospital has progressively worsened as far as workload, sticking to policies/procedures and employee satisfaction. There has been high turnover. Many units have a new manager, including my own. This manager is very abrasive, and it is their way or the highway. I have sat down to speak with her many times regarding what we have come up with in unit council, only for her to shut down all ideas. I even met with her prior to taking on my shared governance position to see if she would help me modify my schedule so that I can keep up and succeed. She appeared very excited at the time for me. However, she is now refusing to help me when it comes to modifying my schedule. The way it is now, I will have a ton of overtime that I honestly will not have time for. This manager has been on upper leadership's radar for a while. The manager has stripped our ANMs of all supervisory tasks, denies our PTOs when requested, etc. It's a negative, miserable environment. I am meeting with the hospital's VP tomorrow about Shared Governance things, but following that, I will be having a 1:1 with her regarding my situation. I don't want it to come off as a complaining fest. I really do want to help our unit and help decrease our turnover. Because we've lost so many, our unit is full of new grads, and we are severely understaffed. It does not help that the staff morale is very negative. No one feels that Unit Council or Shared Governance is important. I have been fighting this battle for over a year...and if I give up now I will feel like I've failed...but I am so tired. How should I approach this meeting? Sometimes I have trouble with words in stressful situations. I don't want to come off like I am complaining about said manager. But I need to get my point across. Any ideas on boosting staff morale and involvement would be awesome as well.

I'm going to jump in, too! lol I have a year of experience on a Cardiac PCU and my boyfriend is an engineer. We are looking to move to Seattle/Bellevue area in 6 months or so. Is it difficult to find a job? Also, what hospitals are considered 'good'? Thank you!

Hi! I am going to be moving to Seattle/Bellevue from Florida in the beginning of next year. What are the best hospitals to strive for? Right now I'm on a cardiac PCU and would love anything cardiac! I'm also looking to go back to school. Are there any good Master's Programs in the area? Thanks!

All of the above advice is great. Also remember that they are people, just like you and me, and they had to build their career from knowing nada just like us. They are not God! Plus, if you don't call and report those values, it's your a**, not theirs!

A get together would be a great way to get everyone to casually get to know one another and be comfortable around each other! Maybe the assigning of mentors can happen then so that they can meet in a laid back environment. Pairing a nurse with a mentor who is a similar age to them is a good way to promote honesty and enjoyment at work. The only reason I ask as many questions as I do as a new nurse is because I had a wonderful preceptor who was just a little bit older than me who I can ask anything.

I am wondering if getting my MBA, MSN or DNP is worth it for me right now, but I just can't stand bedside nursing anymore! Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I graduated last year with my ASN and more recently with my BSN in December. I have been in bedside nursing since October, and it is just not filling my cup. I am unhappy and dread each day that I have to go in. I drive an hour each way to work (which has a little bit to do with it but I honestly don't mind the drive as much as I thought I would), and our budget keeps getting smaller and smaller and more patients keep getting added to our load! It is a small community hospital and apparently "not that difficult" per more experienced nurses but I just don't love it. Aren't you supposed to do what you love? I feel that I'm ready to go back to school to continue to advance my career. I would like to get into administration, therefore I am debating on MSN vs MBA. Do you believe that one is more beneficial than the other, based on your experience? I also debated on possibly getting a DNP but I am unsure how I feel about that as well. I enjoy management, I just do not know if I want to be under the constant stress of the hospital life. Does anyone have any advice for these paths? School is expensive so I want to make sure I am making the right choice and that I'm happy. I'm 23 years old right now, and I just want to be done with school while I'm ahead and while I have the time. Please be honest and tell me what you think. Thank you! :)

Rose_Queen, I entered a new grad program at a hospital and had to sign a 2 year contract. I know some of it has to do with where I work, but I also dislike a lot of the extra dirty work (a lot of my patients are total cares) due to the lack of support by my co-workers. I don't like taking care of people who are so ill that they cannot do anything for themselves. I would rather focus on preventative care or administration. It is good to know that most require an MSN. I was hoping that I could cointinue gain some experience while in school. I'm also considering FNP.

Hi all! I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I am trying to decide different routes to go with nursing. I am currently in bedside nursing, with only about 3 months experience. I realized that I need to get much more experience before I move positions, but to be honest, I am very unhappy in bedside. IMHO life is too short to be unhappy and I could really use some advice! Eventually, I want to be on the administrative side. It's something I've always had a passion for. I know I need to go back to school, but I'm not sure when the right time is. I'd rather it be sooner than later. Have any of you managed working 3 days a week with Master courses? I'm also wondering if it would be more beneficial to get a Master in Business Administration or a Master in Health Care Administration, or if I should get it in something else. If anyone has any personal stories or advice, it would be much appreciated. Thank you!!!!!! :)

Okay, so I just need to get a few things off of my chest. I will tell you that I am a new nurse (still with a preceptor), and I feel absolutely exhausted. I was yelled at by a doctor for the first time today for something that happened yesterday and I did not know how to feel. A group of people (including the doctor) was at fault, and I was in that group, however, most of the yelling was directed at me. Why is it that health care is the only profession where co-workers, superiors and subordinates are allowed to treat each other like total s*** and get away with it? I completely understand that we are handling sick people who require much more work and attention that anyone who isn't in health care could even understand, but there is a way to have a conversation that is productive and leads to the same solution without everyone becoming angry. This is such a major stressor with this job. I started my job a little over two months ago, and since then, I have had an unexpected death in my family and I have been sick three times (and am currently with a horrible cold). I am really starting to feel so stressed out and unhappy when I think about work or if I'm going to work. When I think about why I wanted to be a nurse, all I can think is, well, I didn't think that it would be like this. Missing lunch breaks, being dehydrated/hungry and the majority of my patients being rude is taking a toll on my body and mind. What gets me is that you can be doing everything right and still get in trouble for something extremely minute! I am beginning to think that I'll never be able to do this on my own! I can't even think about having to get up at 0430 to go back... Any advice or words of encouragement would be appreciated.

Yes, I went through the program. It's really beneficial for a new grad. You can PM me if you have any questions.

I was having the exact same problem. I had to branch out and apply up to an hour away. Do you have your BSN? I live in Jacksonville and couldn't find a job close to me because I won't have my BSN until December. Your best options are to apply to the residency programs. There is a nursing shortage...of EXPERIENCED nurses. It's throwing off all the new grads. Don't worry, keep trying!

Many new nurses are graduating and starting their first nursing jobs (as am I). I am curious as to what you wish you would have known as a novice nurse (regarding organization, stress, communication...anything at all). If you have any advice for all of us new nurses out there, please share! :)

Mayo Clinic has the ability to be very picky because they are so popular. They usually will not hire you unless you apply to their Graduate Nurse Position. They can get anywhere from 250