Charlottemay

So working the Christmas season has been difficult and fulfilling. The best part making someone smile on Christmas day the bad parts ... Nasty relatives. When you are trying your hardest and having to put up with constant put downs. It's difficult because on the one hand their loved one is unwell and that must be awful on the other hand we as nurses can only do what we can do as it isn't a one to one service. I often find patients that do have vocal and at times nasty relatives tend to get the better care as we are scared to say no ...So at what point is enough enough ?

Yeah I had this ward as a placement and loved it however coming back as a nurse and not a student has been completely different the staff levels have changed and it seems so much more manic than it ever was as a student ! Thanks for your advise

So after completing three long years training on the wards, writing assignments, dissertations and most importantly looking after some of the most vulnerable patients in their hour of need I felt ready and happy to qualify as a nurse. I was so happy to share with ANYONE my chosen career choice. The reality ... Well since qualifying I was well supported for the first four weeks taking full advantage of the supernumery status. Then after that I was on my own. Some shifts have been amazing and I feel I have truly made a difference however other shifts couldn't be more opposite. Take yesterday I had nine patients on a busy care of the elderly ward. Three nurses in total for the whole ward(one moved from a different ward fairly new to nursing like me ). Out of these nine patients all but one was nursed in bed needed turns and alot of care.. On top of this I had three admissions and two poorly patients and a first year student. Now I am not one to make a fuss or moan I usually just try my hardest to get on with it, however when one of my patients took a turn for the worst I literally broke down on shift I couldn't contain my tears I felt so helpless. The reality of being a newly qualified 21 year old nurse is terrifying I can't tell you the amount of times I've ended my shift in tears wondering how on earth I am going to to go back in tomorrow at seven in the morning after leaving work at nine. And as much as I love caring for patients its the forms, the stress and the pressure thats overwhelming. I hate to say this but if I knew at the begginging of my training what I know now I don't think I would of completd it. I'm hoping that in time I find the pressures easier to cope with