Hi, I am a new nurse who graduated in May. I graduated with honors (this was not easy, I had to work for it) and did well in clinicals. I have been working day shift on a cardiac step down unit since July. I truly love nursing...I am just not sure I love where I am at. I feel like I am being run over but when I mention something casually to other nurses all I hear is "this is day shift" or "it is what it is" or my favorite "Management doesn't care". I also fear some of these feelings may be because I went to school and did clinicals in a large city with a very up to date hospital who treated their employees excellent. It was a CHI and magnet facility. Now, I know most may say well, go somewhere else, however, I live in a rural area with only two hospitals where everyone knows everyone so word of mouth travels faster than the speed of light around here. I am just unsure if this is what nursing is really about, will it get easier, or am I being taken advantage of as a new nurse???
I started working in July with a preceptor. First issue, I was told I would get 12 weeks of training. Immediately, management started balking until I went to higher management and demanded my full training. This didn't set well with me. Second issue, I was told I would have one dedicated preceptor...the forth day of having someone different I balked again and demanded what I was told. Another flag. From there things did seem to improve but were always hectic. However, I must mention that the hospital says they are a cardiac step down unit but will not make that official because they do not want to lower nurse to patient ratios. We also are a catch all floor as well. Basically, everyone on our floor is not sick enough for the unit but too sick for a med surg floor. It is standard, every day, without fail, I have at least 6 patients if not 8!! WHAT!?!?! This is insane. I had one patient the other day on Cdiff precautions, had a rectal tube, chest tube, stage four pressure ulcer, suprapubic catheter, peg tube, tube feeding, as well as non speaking and confused, who went to dialysis 3 days a week, plus 6 other patients just as complicated. It is nothing for each patient to have 10 to 20 meds due at nine am, 3x a day dressing changes, etc. We as nurses here are also responsible for getting our on blood sugars and passing those food trays!!! EVERYONE is a blood sugar check!!! These are all scheduled for 11 am...but they will schedule my lunch at 11 am and then get mad because I'm late going to my scheduled lunch. It is not uncommon for them to give me four patients who know they are being discharged at 6am and then give me 4 direct admits back to back who all have to have UA's, IV's, Cultures, etc and all of their information enter!! Again, when I complain I am told to "buck up" or "this is the big leagues" or some other smart comment that just completely defeats me. At this point I am ready to quit! This is so overwhelming to me. I get to work early, write down my meds, my labs, etc and none of this helps with me with my time management. I try to delegate to my CNA's but there is absolutely no team work. They are always busy or will ask you very rudely, "Wasn't you just in there, why didn't you do it!" And telling management is a joke. For instance the other day I had a patient who didn't receive her 11 oclock tray because I had an emergency in another room. With 7 other nurses and four techs and two secretaries not one person took her the food tray! When I asked two hours later why this patient wasn't taken a tray, I was told "she's not our patient!" Financially, I can't quit, I have to work but I hate this..I dread work every time I'm scheduled. Because I know it's going to be hell. Hoping for some insight.
