krissyr

Thanks sourapril..but how do you get into a public health job with no experience? Every job I see outside of the hospital wants at least a year of experience.Though I know there's so many different areas of nursing, everyone seems to want at least a year of acute care..It's so frustrating and that's what makes me want to give up on nursing..

Flatlander, Sorry to hear about your situation too. At least I know I'm not alone...I'm just going to keep looking. I do feel like something is wrong with me that I don't like hospital nursing..I wanted to hold out for the golden 1 year of experience, but that didn't work out..Are you working now or are you still looking too?

Wow Nursemaddie! Well our stories are very similar - as I've also been "let go" before the end of my orientation. I have to say, I was releived and knew that the job was not working out. I don't like the responsibility and liablity involved with hospital nursing (especially when being told to move faster ) and I realized that I hate to give meds. Way too stressful for me. I've been applying to smaller LTC facilities, and some office jobs, but no luck yet. I really regret going to nursing school, and am even considering going back to my former career. At least I wouldn't go to work filled with anxiety on a daily basis. I know that nursing offers so many options for jobs, but they all seem to want at least a year of experience in acute care, so I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place (not to mention broke)...I'm glad you found the job of a lifetime...How did you get it with no experience? Would love to get something like that...Thanks for your post.

Thanks Glad2baRN....glad to hear that I'm not alone (though I feel that way at work..) I wish I could do it for a year, then look into some other nursing (as everything else requires at least a year of acute care)..but I don't think I'm going to make it through orientation..I've noticed they only have me schedule through orientation, and not beyond..not sure what that's all about, but I have a feeling it means they won't be keeping me on. If I could just get another job easily I wouldn't be worried, but without experience, I 'm not sure what I'll do. But I know that hopsital nursing is not for me...I barely have time to talk with the patient's, always being told to do things faster, get in and out of the room as fast as possible, pass meds as fast as possible, constantly getting paged and interrupted...makes my head spin... I keep telling myself, if they do fire me at the end of orientation, I did the best that I could (and I truly beleive that...maybe just not as fast as they want me to do it within an 8 week period).. I think I might like PH nursing too, but I'm sure they require experience too.. Trying to keep my head up. Thanks for the message..Good luck to you in PH nursing..

Thanks! Hugs back to you too! How long have you been working?

I'm sure they've seen it before, but I feel that my clinical experience never came into the conversation during my interview, so I'm not sure they would have hired me if they new how unprepared I am. (And I didn't know myself how unprepared I was until I started working)...There are so many things I'm seeing in the hospital that I NEVER encountered in clinicals. It's a very high paced, difficult medicine unit where there are a lot of very sick people (trach's, amputations, PCA's - etc. - all of which I never encountered in school). I feel like a fraud for getting into the program, as I feel so clueless most of the day, though I did well in school and passed the boards easily..I just wish I'd had more clinical experience and less classroom work...Not sure what to do. Sometimes I'd rather be a waitress than a nurse. I don't mind working hard, but the stress is overwhelming, and the responsibility is almost too much to bear...

Sourapril..No - I had one patient in clincals....only had patients one time in my maternity rotation, so going from one patient in clinicals to four during orientation (within about 4 weeks time, after about 6 months of graduating from school) is very difficult for me)..that's where I'm finding the difficulty...My preceptor is there for me (now that I have a new one), but the expectations of the program are that I will be able to handle 4-5 pts. on my own by week 8 (which is about next week)...I just find it all so overwhelming. giving 8 and 9 am meds to 4 different pts., some who need insulin w/bkfst.,. I just don't feel confident enough to rush pulling and giving meds all within about an hour and a half time to 4 different people. I don't know how it's possible to assess pts, give meds, document all by 11 am...and deal with unexpected pain/nausea/bathroom/other emergencies that arise. So overwhelmed. Just wonder if I should pursue another type of nursing, as I'm not good under all this pressure. And certainly don't feel qualified to do it on my own. thanks for your advice.

Thanks HouTx...I'm definitely working with my preceptor on ways to prioritize my care and handle what needs to be done first (and I agree...I never take morning break or sit around chatting with other more experienced nurses chattting...just kind of wonder how they have the time to do that..My concern is what if I can't meet the expectations of the program of taking on 4-5 pts..at 8 weeks time(which is only really 2 weeks away) when I'm currently just barely making 3 pts..Any one hear of new grads being terminated for not being able to meet expectations of the orientation program? I'm finding it hard to go from one patient in clincials during school, to 4-5 pts. in real life (all within about 7-8 weeks time of orientation)\? I feel like I'm the ony new grad struggling to do this..and think I might get fired..uggh..is it worth all the stress? Or maybe I'm not cut out for fast paced med surg unit? Thanks all...

Thanks GrnTea...very encouraging words..you're helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel..Thank you..!

Thanks sourapril..I'm trying..Just need to get my anxiety under control and take it one day at a time. Thanks for your input..

Thanks all for your input. I did speak with my NM and she's changing my preceptor, so I'm hoping that I have a different experience (one where I'm not looked down upon for not knowing a certain skill). I know my lack of confidence is a huge factor, but I'm wondering how one has confidence in doing things they've never done before? And I see other new grad nurses (the younger one's) all seemingly able to handle the 4 patients they are taking on, while I struggle with two patients. I was told by my NM they would evaluate my performance over the next 2 weeks and see how it goes (she did say it's in their best interest to help me succeed). I just find it so overwhelming, and wonder if the extreme stress is worth it and at what point does one decide - maybe this type of nursing is not for me? Thanks and good luck to you all.

So I'm a second career nurse (never worked in health care before - in school I was working in former my career through school). I graduated in December, passed the boards in February and applied to every job possible. I was lucky enough to be accepted into a new grad residency program at a well known hospital out of state (and moved by myself over 600 miles from home). I was told the program would be a 12 week orientation with a preceptor, as part of the two year residency committment. Well I've worked about 4 weeks on busy med/sug floor with the same preceptor (so far I've worked 15 - 12 hour shifts), and I'm due to change preceptors soon). The problem is I feel like I'm drowning already. My clinical skills are week, and I'm pretty sure my preceptor thinks I'm stupid (as well as the other younger nurses on the floor). I'm full of anxiety all day long, and feelings of shame, and doubt. I cry almost daily, and feel like I will never get the hang of everything. I'm supposed to be taking care of 4 patients on my own now, but I'm still at 2, and still being told I'm too slow and my time management is not where it should be. Again, everything is completely new to me, and I thought the program would be more of a transitional period from school to RN (with more one-on-one assistance.) But I'm finding the expectations to be much greater and faster than I anticipated. Not to mention the fact that I'm really supposed to be on my own at 8 weeks, not at 12 weeks which is what I expected (and really feel I need more like 6 months). My NM said she wants me to be at the expected 4-5 patient level in about 2 weeks. All of this is completely overwhelming me and I feel like I won't be able to make it.I know people say the first year is the hardest and just push on through, but I feel sick to my stomach that I'm going to have a major screw up, due to rushing around or forget something pertinent. I'm wondering if it's worth it for me to continue in the program -considering the amount of stress and anxiety I'm experiencing (it just feels so wrong to me). And I don't want to work in an environment like this. I feel like I made a huge mistake in going into nursing. I don't like the responsibility of caring for people so sick when I feel so incompetent. And I know my preceptor and other younger nurses on the floor think I'm stupid. (I wish I could do PT - but the schooling takes so much longer and at my age I can't do that). With no acute care experience, where can I go to work as a nurse? I just don't want the pressure that I'm feeling..Any thoughts/advice to a struggling, extremely stressed and anxious second career nurse?

I graduated from an ADN program in December, passed the NCLEX in February, and am now in the midst of a very discouraging search for a job. Every job posting says "No new hires" and/or at least one year experience required. I live in the North east but am searching in all areas of the country for a job. I wanted to get a job as an aid in a hospital while searching, but now that I'm an RN, they will not hire me as an aide. Any suggestions on what an RN can do to gain some experience while searching for a job. And possibly get a foot in the door for any potential jobs? Thanks!