Ready to quit! HELP!

[Aimee03, BSN, RN]

So I've been a RN ince May 07, I am currently on my 2nd job. Through no fault of my own my first job ended after 6 months. I now work on a med-surg unit. I'm almost done with orientation but not quite it. I do work the night shift, which is killing me.

My issue is that I have around 8-10 pts. No PCA/PCT or LPN. Just me. Other RNs have only 5-8, when i questioned that, they said I needed the experience. :angryfireI'm expected to assess and chart on everyone, Vitals are done at 8pm,midnight, & 4 am. Meds are given at 9pm, midnight, 4am, 6am. I am also expected to bath and change the linens on at least half of my pts. Oh and give pain meds about every two hours!

Not only does thus seem unreasonable to me, It is impossible to do everything on time.

Right at this very moment I feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life when I went to nursing school. So should I call it quits and find a new career or should I stick with it and see if it gets better?

[Miami NightNurse]

I thought where I worked was bad. Aimee That is ridiculous that you have more patients because you need the experience. You should have less patients because you are new!!!!! I would talk to your manager. If you get nowhere RUN honey!!!! Not from Nursing, just from that job.

[AprilRNhere]

That sounds insane. I don't think it's nursing that is hurting you...it's your job! I work nights..and never have more than 6 at night. I could NEVER do 8!!! Have you talked to management or is that the charge nurse telling you it's for the "experience"?

[aeauooo]

I've heard it said the people don't quit jobs, they quit managers.

I think the most important part of nursing as far as job satisfaction and quality of care is the nurses you work with. I can't tell from your post what your coworkers are like, but it sounds to me like you're getting The Shaft.

I've been told that it looks bad if you leave a job before one year of taking it, but if it's a bad fit - and especially if you're working in a poisonous environment (you've heard the expression "nurses eat their young," I presume) - get out, before something bad happens!

Maybe you can find another unit within your facility and make an in-house transfer. I did that last year after taking a job in one unit where I found the nurses to be rather immature, then got floated to another unit where none of those nurses wanted to go, and found the nursing staff there to be very helpful and mature.

The first year out of nursing school is rough! I still remember some of the nightmares I had (similar to what your job sounds like).

Did I see on your profile that you had worked corrections - as a nurse? Tell me about it, please.

I met a couple of nurses working in the infirmary the county jail in Seattle while doing a detention ministry. They told me they really enjoyed their jobs. My Mom worked at a juvenile detention center and enjoyed it.

Even though I like the nurses I work with, I still don't like my job. I've been thinking about working in the jail here in New Orleans, but I'm sure the Orleans Parish Prison is nothing like the King County Jail.

[Aimee03, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone, I feel a little better, I'm not crazy.

Aeauooo, I currently work PRN at a maximum security prision. I LOVE my job there. It is awesome. You have protocols to follow, but you get a lot of autonomy. Your not worried about "customer service" You treat them with respect do your job and leave. I love it!

everyone- Although I do work med-surg now, my first job and my passion is women's. I LOVE L&D and Mother/baby, but ther are no women's jobs in my area right now. The hospital is aware that I want to transfer ASAP.