Quitting my first nursing job? advice

[RavenRipley]

Hi everyone,

So I just became a RN and I have been working on a sub-acute unit at a nursing home.... The thing is, I have been here for almost a month and I seriously want to quit.

So on my floor there is 2 nurses and 2 CNAs and on the night shift there is 1 nurse and 2 CNAs.... However- the people I am working with are very rude and it's just a bad working environment.

I worked my first overnight by myself (and 2 CNAS) on Friday... 32 patients. The CNA's are each suppose to have a hall to monitor, and answer call bells/ go to a patient's room when an alarm goes off. However, both of them sit down one hall watching movies and cannot even see if an alarm/call bell is going off. I went up to one of them and gently touched her back because she wouldn't answer me (they both have headphones on) and she answers "WHAT"... I needed another hand to help me boost a patient who is 309 pounds and then she tells me I should be able to do it alone. The entire time working with them I might as well be by myself.

I am having more anxiety than I ever had in my entire life every time I go into work or think about working.

On Thursday I had a 3-11 shift- a patient who is immobile was puking all over herself and I needed help cleaning her up/boosting her and I also had 7 blood sugars/insulin to give before meal trays come in 10 minutes... When I went to look for help it turns out the other nurse was on her break, and both CNA's were off the floor. I was alone and it was terrible. The CNAs will each take over an hour break and I am honestly afraid to ask them to help me with anything. They are running all over me, lots of attitude and very condescending towards me. I don't even know how to respond to them.

The problem is the nursing home is very short staffed on CNA's... They pay them only $1 more than minimum wage and sometimes not a single CNA will even show up for their shift. I can't boost a 309 pound man by myself.

I have so much anxiety because everyone there is just mean and even orientating I was not welcomed at the facility. The nurses do not get paid more to train someone and if you ask a question it is a "go figure it out yourself" attitude. I'm worried I will have a patient code and I will have no support. There isn't even a supervisor that works 3-11 or 11-7 so you are completely on your own.

I have spoken with the DON and she is not supportive either. I've spoken with several nurses who have quit recently because of how ridiculous it is.

I'm just worried about my license working in such a hostile place with no mentor.

Sorry for such a long rant, but any advice? I want to quit but I feel so crappy. I've worked so hard to become a nurse just to quit a month later

[FutureNurseInfo]

I have only two words for you QUIT NOW! There is no reason you should stay any longer. Let those lazy ass CNAs watch movies and eat donuts all night long. You should not be forced to undermine your health lifting 300 lbs patients, or be run over by other staff. You can do better than that.

[caliotter3]

Resign this job before you hurt yourself or damage your own health. But you should reread your initial post, especially the part about where you are reluctant to tell the CNA's to do anything. You need to learn how to assert yourself and how to write counseling statements for employee files before you go to a new job or you may find yourself with most of the same problems.

[oceanblue52]

Find another job. ASAP. Not worth your back, sanity, regard for the nursing profession, and general well-being. You do need to learn to assert yourself, but this is a skill that comes with time, and is greatly helped by a more supportive environment.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

You need to get our of there. It's obvious that these two CNAs do not care about the human beings they are hired to care for. If you have no compassion for another human being then at least do the job because you are paid to do it. I would have a few choice words for the lazy bums before I left though "Something along the lines of this," One day sister you may be laying in a bed praying someone is going to help you and I hope no one comes and you would deserve it for the suffering you could have relieved but chose not to"

[beekee]

The CNAs already refuse to help you, so asserting yourself is unlikely to make the situation worse. í ½í¸œ

So, stop "asking" for help. You need help boosting? "Hey, Bob, let's go boost the patient in room 100." And then wait for them to get up and follow you. If they say no or give you grief, just repeat "I need you to help me." It'll be a war of wills at first, but stand your ground. Eventually, you will feel confident enough to ask them to do things without you. Be nice, respectful, firm and persistent. It feels weird and uncomfortable at first, but it gets better/easier.

[ChryssyD]

I feel beekee has given good general advice for normal professional interpersonal conflict. However, the ability to spot a sinking ship before finding oneself completely underwater is a survival skill. This place is going down eventually--get out before it drags you down with it.

If things are truly as bad as you describe, a call to your local health department or JCAHO might not be out of order.