RN on med surg for 3 months, need advice

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Sorry so long. This is my 1st job, I've been there since the end of November, all was great, but lately, I'm miserable most days. I pray before and on the way to work about it for a better attitude, and God helps me each and every day. The people I work with for the most part are great, some more than others. I leave at 6 am drive 20-25 min to work and leave at 7:25 if I'm lucky, most days near or after 8' and then drive 20-25 min. more--I really hate driving. We have a mixed floor ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics (I really like the geriatrics). They try to keep us at a 6 pt to nurse ratio, but I recently had 7, which is a lot for a new nurse, not counting admits and discharges, which gets really crazy. The charge nurses help me a lot. I'm still trying to get used to being a new nurse, now on my own for close to 2 months. I'm so busy sometimes just checking the chart and giving meds which most days don't all get given before 10/10:30, depending on the pt. I origianlly said I wanted to work at this hospital, got a job at our local hospital, which is a swingbed facility, which will take acute pt's but usually transfers out- they didn't have a position for me, then I got an offer from this current one where I will get good experience. I said that I would work for at least 6 months, and then see. I'm only near 2 months in and the day before I go to work, I'm dreading it. Once I'm there, I do my job the best I can, and can't wait to get home. I work 2 days in a row, and am off for 2-3 days depending on the week. I don't feel like I have time to talk much with my patients, because of all the paperwork, because I don't want to be there until 10:00 charting- we still do all paper charting. Don't get me wrong- I love being a nurse, I love interacting with my patients and taking care of them. I'm doing a good job, I just have so much to learn. I'm just really having a hard time. My husband is upset that I can't just suck it up and do the job for 6-8 months, which we said would be good. He says that if I'm miserable, just quit- but I know he will be dissappointed. We have put so much into school and have plans. I know I need the experience, but I don't know if I'm just being selfish or if this is natural. It's really causing tension between us because I can't seem to balance it out, and he senses that I've been down. I would love to work back at the hospital here, 5 minutes from home, but haven't called yet because I'm trying to put in at least 6 months. I have about 4 weeks for my current schedule, and then I'm going to try to work 2 days during the week and a Sat. and 3 days during the week the next and see if that will help. I also have a 9 year old daughter and feel guilty because I'm not closer to home. Can anyone out there relate, or is it just me. I just want to be happy where I am at. Any advice or guidance will be appreciated, from someone who knows what it's like.

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Reedemed98, I've been a nurse for about three years now and can totally relate. Please do not feel alone. I remember my first RN job at a local hospital on a med-surg/surgical short stay unit. It was horrible. All the problems you just mentioned and then some (not enough equipment, lack of staff, flip-flipping from days to nights, dreading going to work, panic attacks). I saw other new nurses at the hospital just a miserable as I was. I tried to stick it out for a year so that I didn't have to return my sign-on bonus, but I eventually left after 3 months. I've tried a few other aspects of nursing outside of the hospital and am now coming to the realization that nursing is most likely not for me. I've only liked one nursing gig and was recently downsized from that position. Now, I'm looking at non-nursing options. I've realized that I did not fully investigate what I was getting myself into by being a nurse. I didn't know any nurses before I became a nurse and had rarely even been to a hospital, much less about the role of a nurse. I just jumped at the money and did an accelerated nursing program. Bad idea, I know! But enough about me, I think that you should follow your bliss. That's what I'm doing, by transitioning out of nursing. Life is too short to be miserable. Look at other hospitals or non-hospital positions if possible. Yes, there will be those who say, "Get your 1 year in the hospital and then leave." But if you are that miserable you need to leave,now and look at other nursing or non-nuring options. I didn't get my 1 year of torture and I have since found a plethora of jobs, you will,too. And also, those non-nurses who can't figure out why you want to leave your hospital position have absolutely no clue what about the state of acute care now adays. So IGNORE them. Take care of you!

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Country Girl 1, Thank you for your reply. My mom said that somethings not right if I'm still miserable. She was a waitress, but she said that she loved going to work. I do love nursing, and my patients, not pediatrics right now, but I want to find a job that I can nurse and be happy. I've got a lot to think about.

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I also want to say something. Being a new nurse is very difficult. It is not just you. I have just finished a year on a busy med surg floor, and its been hard. seven patients is a huge assignment for a new nurse. If you feel like you are progressing, learning, and moving forward, and liking it , stay.

If not, there are tons of options out there. There is psych nursing, which I am about to try, and am very excited. There is home health care, there is medical coding/office work for RNs, etc. There is hospice, private duty, and if you want to stay in med-surg, there are places with less nurse/pt ratios.

THere is rehab nursing, legal nursing, clinic/ambulatory care nursing, the list is endless. Look at your options. If you enjoy nursing, you can certainly find something that fits you. Like the other replier said, follow your bliss.

There is no law stating you HAVE to stay at your first job one year, or two months. Your life is PERSONALLY yours. Whatever you want to do, If your husband is a decent man/spouse he will surely support whatever decision you make. Things WILL get better hang inthere;)

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Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

Wow I am going through the same exact thing. I have been on the job for 1 month and 5 days and I HATE it! I really wish I went to a teaching hospital. This hospital is small and the nurse manager promised to have a three-month internship and just this week she is trying to push the new grad to have two pt. The unit is short staff and 90% of the new grad leave within 6 month. I did not quite understand the reason why until now.

?- if i apply for a new job and they do a background check will the background check included the hospital I am currently at?

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I am now a med-surg nurse, have been a nurse for 17 years. My advice: find a position that is right for you. Specialty nursing is easier (fewer physicians, more understanding of care, a limited variety of meds other than home meds) for me, possibly it would be for you. You may want to try being an office nurse or a school nurse. Or try getting on with an insurance company (if your conscience will allow it). Check out Utilization Review, Nursing Education, Patient Education, etc. If you have the personality for it, consider working in sales-there are numerous medical sales jobs out there-beds, wound care, dialysis products, to name a few. If you are computer-saavy, consider It, although I've heard that IT is brutal. If you absolutely hate your work, it will suck you dry. I enjoy the patients and can remember a time when we really took care of them, so it's hard to quit my attachment to bedside nursing. Don't wait until you are used to the $$$-there are jobs out there that pay better., Sit down and figure your salary minus the overtime and minus the lunchtime and break time that you didn't get but that was still taken out of your check, You really don't make that much, you just work a lot. IF you want a complete break to another field, do it now, if you can afford it. Don't wait. Enjoy life.

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Specializes in med-surg.

you are totally not alone!

when i was a new nurse (also med surg), my first 2 years were miserable! well, miserable because i felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and my lack of experience. it was extremely challenging (mentally and physically) and required so much critical thinking. plus i used to work at a smaller hospital with less staff and less resources, so i was always caring a 6 patient load too. i complained all the time (to my family) and i broke down and cried in front of my charge once. but my co-nurses were really great to work with so their fun and laughter made all the difference. looking back i am really thankful for those 2 years.. it was so difficult, but i'm a more competent, independent, and capable nurse because i persevered through it and learned a lot more than i thought i ever would.

i still work med surg and it really does get a lot easier with time.. so just hang in there!! try to stick it out for a few more months to gain your experience and build upon your knowledge base. afterwards you'll be more versatile when you apply for other jobs. i do agree with the other nurses that maybe you might consider a different kind of nursing later. you may find a better fit for you career wise and lifestyle wise.

oops- i just noticed this was first posted 2 years ago. how are things now, redeemed98?

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I'm glad this thread has been brought up again, it's an old one. I'm curious to know what the OP decided to do. Redeemed98, are you still here?

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