Ready to give up....

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2003

Wow,

I have had the exact same experience.

I kept thinking: I can tough it out, I'll try harder, I can't give up now...blah blah blah.

Well, I ended up sooo stressed out that I got rashes, stomach pains, and even had a panic attack (first and last one of my life, thank goodness).

I stayed 10 months. It was a big mistake. I really lost a lot of confidence in myself. It took awhile to get it back.

The nurse that took over after I left ended up having such a severe anxiety attack, she collapsed on the unit. Her heart rate was 120+. 911 was called. The ER doc told her it was a reaction to severe stress.

I know how you feel, but you have not failed. The facility, the DON and the nurse you thought was you friend are the ones who failed. It is their loss.

My best wishes and support to you. We are behind you.

nursetobe-babe · Jan 17, 2003

Hi Julie!

Although I am not a nurse yet , I'm sure what you are going through is very tough... but I was reading what you had put below your post which says:

" In all thy ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it."

Honey your answer is right there! Maybe He has placed you in this position for a reason and He will give you the strength to come through it!

I'm sure your circumstances are very unfair, but whatever the case, don't lose hope, and if there is another job for you out there He will guide you to it in his time!

Best of luck i'm sure you make an awesome nurse

:kiss

angelbear · Jan 17, 2003

I too can relate. I am an lpn and my first job was 3rd shift charge(only) nurse, 50 residents and 2 cna's. About 1/4 of them were pretty high acuity. It was nuts! I didnt have any problems with coworkers my shift or others but i did have some probs with management. It took 2 yrs for me to finally realize there was no shame in admitting that I had neither the knowledge or experience to be responsible for all those residents by myself. My license as well as the well being of my residents was at stake constantly. I am a hard worker and am good at what I know there was simply to much I didnt know and to many people too care for. It finally took a resident safety issue and NO support from management to resolve it to make me resign. I left on honest and blunt but good terms and would go back in a heart beat if staffing were better. I have a wonderful job now and awsome management. I learned from that experience and now realize I showed good judgement and wisdom in leaving that environment and I believe you will do the same. We are here for you.

RNforLongTime · Jan 17, 2003

Julie,

So sorry that you are being treated this way. I'd get out of there asap! Is there a hospital in your area that you could work in? Hospitals have trended back to hiring LPN's with this latest and worse Nursing shortage.

As far as the insulin goes....there is no documented reason that it has to be in the fridge it's just a habit in some institutions. When I worked in LTC, we kept our insulin in the fridge too. I work in a hospital now and we keep the insulin in the pt's med cassette.

I'd ask the 'new' RN how she seems to have so much time to find things that you've done wrong. When does she do her own job?

And people wonder why there is a Nursing shortage in the first place.......

Good luck....I'll keep you in my prayers.

Kelly

brenzgrove · Jan 17, 2003

Hi there...

I work as a "nurses aid" in a LTC facility. I've been there for 1.5 years now. The DOC has mentioned that they want me to stay on as an RN when i'm licensed. I used to think about it, but having been through so many problems with other staff (at my level, who think they run the place and know more than the actual nurses, and the nurses i work under are NEVER satisfied, always complaining to DOC about us part-timers) I wouldn't give it a second thought. I agree it is pretty bad that there is already a paper trail about your "performance". Can you see the situation improving? If so, make sure you have some sort of a plan. Give it only so much time. If you don't see results, I would say go. It is true, your reputation IS on the line.

two things i think need to be considered...(and I don't know you personally, but this just came to my mind) Is that shift really for you? Some people, even over time simply can't adjust no matter how they try to that shift. That mistake with the insulin might have been from sheer tiredness?

Another thing...you are going to find awful people, no matter where you work..It sounds like this nurse is sabotaging you. You need to learn how to deal with that sort of thing now, because in my mind its just not acceptable. If you did a professional communication course in your program, go back and review. I would also suggest finding a book or course about dealing with difficult people. There are plenty out there... I don't graduate till August (fingers crossed) but already i've had to go and pursue strategies of dealing with the difficult people i work with. Good luck i'm sure there is something great out there for you.

Just a little note i don't mean to imply that nurses aids in general are difficult, but the ones at my place are.

Glad2behere · Jan 17, 2003

I agree with debRNo1, especially that no new grad should have to handle 64 pts. UHMMM, should have been at least two of

you! :chuckle

Seriously, the big issue is that you don't need that much liability exposure to YOUR LICENSE. You are putting yourself in a position to have your license revoked. Go find another employer, this time you know what to look for and ask about and tour the facility. Anybody that can handle 64 pts can do just about anything, and there are a lot easier nursing positions available. Move on, don't be someone else's scapegoat. You have worked hard to get that license, now it's time to protect it.

rncountry · Jan 17, 2003

Julie, I concur with everything everyone else has said, I just need you to know that the write up you received was bunk though. Insulin does not need to be refrigerated anymore. If it is a written policy for it to be that is one thing, but if there is no WRITTEN policy then it is perfectly acceptable to leave insulin in the cart.

fab4fan · Jan 18, 2003

And if that RN was so torqued about the foley not being changed, why didn't she just do it herself when she discovered it was due to be changed? Hmmm...

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2003

Julie,

Run Run RUN!!!!!!!

There are better jobs out there.

debRNo1 · Jan 18, 2003

Originally posted by brenzgrove
Just a little note i don't mean to imply that nurses aids in general are difficult, but the ones at my place are.

The CNA's on my 51 bed unit were rough and mean. The nurses were not even in charge sometimes and really didnt care. They all spent more time gossiping about themselves, eating and talking on the phone than caring for the residents. The mix of LT and ST/rehab pts makes it harder too. Higher acuity patients with the same old stuck in their ways staff.

You need good management and teamwork on a 51 or 64 LTC resident's. Its hard to get a good team and usually you dont have it and a difficult staff making it worse. I think it should be split.

If mgt. want to write you up they will and its ironic the people they choose to torture with "warnings" because they usually are decent people and good workers and the trouble makers never get written up ! Some will get a slap on the wrist and some will be banished.

I spent 10 yrs in LTC and needed a change of

enviroment. :nurse:

moonchild20002000 · Jan 18, 2003

Julie,

I agree with all the other posters...get outta there!

Staying in such an enviroment will only damage you.

I stayed in a similar situation for much too long. Leaving was the best thing for me...I have a much better job,am treated with respect .

Good luck !Come here to post when you need to...we are all here to support you.

funnynurse · Jan 18, 2003

Julie, once you find a nursing job you love, the spark will ignite once again! This is a wonderful place to vent and destress.

Good Luck.