REHAB IS NOT MY FORTE! ...it's actually making me sick.

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hello everyone,

i've been working my first nursing job for about 6 months. and its been very difficult for me to say the least. when i began to work at my facility, it started off as long term care, and corporate decided to turn us into rehab. and im going crazy. i know that my first year or two as a nurse is going to be a learning expierience and scary... but i am literally walking into work everyday SICK to my stomach. not only do we have about a hundred policies and procedures that i cant remember... BUT, the worst part is the admissions. of course, being new, they stuck me on fridays 3-11 (which im told by many, that fridays 3-11 ANYWHERE is usually hell night).... and im facing 2-3 admissions a night (complicated admissions) on top of three med passes, treatments, and a morbidly obese patient with pressure sores and 3 cnas for 40 patients. BOTTOM LINE, rehab is not my forte. the stress is just killing me... and its making me not like nursing. until i talk to my former classmates who are working in group homes and doctors offices and they seem to really enjoy their jobs. my question is, can you offer my any insight? do you know of any places hiring? (offices, LTC, home care). i have been looking a good amount on craigslist, hotjobs, careerbuilder, ctjobs, the new haven register, the ct post.... but a lot of jobs are word of mouth im finding.

thank you! :)

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lol i dont mean to laugh but IMAGINE HOW THE CNAS FEEL WORKING THE FLOORS!!! IM A CNA AND IT CHANGED MY WHOLE OUTLOOK ON NURSING-UNDER PAID -OVERWORKED-UNDER APPRECIATED--!!!! IM THINKING TWICE ABOUT BEING A LPN-I JUST WANT TO GET OUTTA HEALTHCARE--ITS HORRIBLE:angryfire:uhoh3::madface::devil:

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The only advice I can give you is to keep looking and do the best that you can while you are still at your current job. My job is identical to yours. 40 patients 1 nurse, 3 CNAs on 3-11pm shift. I'm responsible for all meds, tx, trach care, paperwork, dining room duty etc etc.

The way that I managed to cope before I went on maternity leave was to cut back to 4 shifts per week and I refused to work two 3-11pm shifts in a row. I also don't work any OT ever.

I managed to last 18 months and when I started I was sure I wouldn't make it past 90 days. Last Tuesday was my final day before maternity leave and I am hoping to find something else after I have my baby. Rehab nursing is hell on Earth and I don't how any floor nurse can last more than a year or two on 3-11pm shift.

Some ways to cope that worked for me are to pamper myself when I am not working and to NOT think about my job during my off time. When I first started I would go home and feel panicked and stressed out over my shifts but after 6 months or so I made up my mind to do my best at work and forget about it once the day was done. No point in being miserable during your off time. Read books you enjoy, watch funny movies, connect with friends etc. Be very firm about having time off and try to let things roll off your back.

When I was at work I always tried to cluster certain tasks together and I refused to run like a chicken with my head cut off for anyone. I knew it was bending the rule but if I had a trach patient with a wound who needed meds I would do it all on one trip. Sorry but their just isn't time to give the meds via GT, then come back to do trach care, then come back to dress a wound. Forget about it you will never finish if you operate this way.

Prioritize your care and always explain that you are moving as quickly as you can and if they rant about it act like your deaf. As long as you get to them then they can't say that their needs are not being met. Don't let the supervisors, CNAs, or family members guilt you because you're not an octopuss on roller skates.

Sorry but if it wasn't an emergency then folks just had to wait. Some of the residents can be extremely demanding and think you're their personal slave. They could care less about the next resident and even when they can see that you are with someone else they will interupt and demand things from you. I always attended to their needs but after a while I stopped caring if they thought I was witch because I wouldn't drop everything and fetch them whatever their hearts desired immediately. Sorry but waiting 5 minutes for another dose of "perky" never killed anyone.

As long as you know at the end of the day that you have done your best that is all that matters. Don't ever expect any praise or thanks either because so far my experience of nursing is that it's a thankless job 92% of the time and if you get your self-esteem from receiving gratitude or praise then your going to feel like poo every day.

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that really true---i praise u because i couldnt do nursing or cna pregnant! but yes it best not to work ovt.sometimes i need it but its not worth the stress

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