Laicia

I did end up taking the position. I'm nearly at 3 months. It has been quite difficult, because the office I'm in is a satellite office. I don't have anyone in person to teach me; I'm thrown a lot of things and situations I've never dealt with and expected to figure them out. Because the office is small, I'm also wearing a ton of hats, and it's chaotic. I'm kind of doubting my choice now. I've been working as long as 26 hour days (!), between the office and filling in for 24 hour cases we don't have coverage for because someone called in or had an emergency or whatever. Since I'm the only RN in administration here I'm basically on call 24/7. I haven't had anything too crazy happen, just staffing emergencies. I'm hoping it will get better as I become more competent... but we'll see :)

Hello! I received an interesting call the other day. I had submitted a resume for a home health job as an RN case manager - my current experience is acute care med/tele, and prior to that long term care, so NO home health at all. The company called me and asked if I would be interested in interviewing for a possible position as the "assistant administrator" for the area I am in. The company is fairly small. I was interviewed by phone by the RN administrator for a different region, who if I were to accept an offer for this position I would be training with and working with closely, as well as the company owner himself a couple of hours later after the administrator forwarded him my resume. I do not have any managerial experience in healthcare. They are aware, and state that it is more important to them to hire the right person who aligns with their goals and vision as a company. They state that they are completely willing to train and expect it to be awhile before I actually take on any administrative duties independently. They are looking for someone in anticipation of their clientele in this area growing, which I'm not skeptical at all that it will given the population they serve and the area I live in. In my opinion this random seeming selection is a branch off of "who you know" - my family happens to be from the same area as the owner's, although I don't know him directly. On the one hand, I think it is an excellent opportunity. I just enrolled in an MSN program for leadership and management, and I do have interest in nurse leadership. I'm not sure I will get another opportunity anytime soon to get experience in a management type of setting. On the other hand, what seems too good to be true sometimes/usually is. I get super nervous when things happen quickly like this, and I'm unsure if this would be a wise career move. My main question is basically - does anyone have any experience with a position like this? The owner states that my main functions will be coordinating the nursing staff, doing admission assessments, assisting with the writing of medical causation letters for the physicians to approve and sign, other miscellaneous paperwork, and being involved with HR issues - hiring/firing/disciplinary decisions in this region. If anyone has any experience, advice, things that I should ask or consider, I would appreciate the input so much!! Thank you for taking the time to read this!

What type of floor are you on?

Okay. So I started out working LTC/LTAC for a year to get that magical year of experience before I got into a hospital. I now work nights on a med/tele floor. I like/love the technical aspects of my job (depending on the night) - I'm learning a lot about different disease processes, medications, etc. I love the people I work with *on my shift*.... And that is about all I have to say about my good experiences. I ALWAYS have to drag myself out of bed to go to work internally screaming that I cannot possibly make it through another shift. I dread giving report to day shift because there is a tremendous amount of bullying that goes on at shift change. I have reported it to my manager who has stated it is "unacceptable" and has addressed it in meetings, but her interventions have only cut down on the bullying slightly. I understand this is the unfortunate nature of nursing and I can let quite a bit roll off my back... But when I'm staying hours past my shift because the next shift refuses to accept reasonable endorsements, it's maddening. Of course there are the patients. The sense of entitlement and the hourly rounding and lying through your teeth saying "I.have.the.time." The CNO has often instructed the clinical supervisor to make all the med surg RNs take 8 patients to keep ER flow going.... Which I feel extremely uncomfortable with on med/tele. The majority of our patients are MI or CVA (sometimes with major deficits) and our floor also accepts stable vent/trach patients. It's scary at 8. Our policy as I was told when I was hired is that days get "5, sometimes 6" and nights get "6, sometimes 7" which of course means anything less than 7 at night is like a vacation. To top it all off, management has begun writing people up for anything and everything. A CNA showed up for her scheduled shift, was told she wasn't on the board for the day and needed to wait for the manager. She waited an hour and a half for the manager to come in and see her, and left with her last check in hand. Everyone is on edge about losing their job seemingly out of nowhere and are either leaving or establishing per diem employment just in case. So to the point. Of course I have been nervous too given the culture of the floor and management's behavior, and I have been applying for other positions just like everyone else - just in case. Well, today I was actually offered one as a hospice case manager. I feel as if the autonomy and hours would suit me and my personal needs at this time in my life. I think I would enjoy the work. I am, however, worried that as I only have about 6 months of acute care experience, that it would be a huge hindrance in my career path as a whole. I am an ADN nurse and am preparing to obtain a BSN. My hope would be that I could use some time in hospice for fresh scenery, some autonomy, and some different challenges that I'm not as burned out on yet while obtaining my BSN online. But when I'm ready... Will there be a hospital willing to accept me? I know taking a break and keeping my license and sanity is ultimately better, but I don't want to regret a career choice either. Any experience or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

So I'm in my second year of nursing. I worked one year in LTC and am in my 5th month of working on a med/tele unit. And it is all too much!! I recently started seeing a psychiatrist because I have been so depressed/anxious/etc. I have hx depression/anxiety anyway, but I feel like this exacerbation is definitely job related. I know there are absolutely no "stress free" jobs in nursing, but I'm wondering if I should try to get some kind of home health or hospice or something until I'm feeling more grounded mentally? My career goal is to go into NICU though, so I really need my magical year of acute care experience and I'm almost halfway there. I just don't know what to do. All I know is that I definitely can't give to others until I take care of me, you know? Taking a break isn't an option, going per diem isn't an option, I'm a single mother so I absolutely need income and benefits. I am working with my psychiatrist on a medication regimen and healthy coping mechanisms, but as we all know that all takes time. I'm less than two years in and I'm already feeling burned out. Anyone been here? What did you do? I've searched the forums extensively and I keep reading "once you find your niche, you will like nursing again." But HOW?! It seems like it will be impossible to get into L&D/Mom/Baby/Level I Nursery.. ANYTHING that will get me closer to my goal of NICU anytime soon. And heaven forbid I get there and find that it's just as bad. Any words of support or advice would be appreciated. I've talked to friends and family but they don't have the same perspective as another nurse :)