RPN Frustrated with work and feels like quitting.

[smartway]

Hi all!

I'm a fairly new rpn in Ontario, I got my license in Feburary of this year! I was extremely happy and excited when I finally became a nurse. I was even more happy when I landed a interview at a hospital downtown Toronto and got the job. Here's the issue, during the interview I was told that a group of rpns hired will be the first rpns ever on their units. I was completely fine with that. I didn't see any type of issue at all at that point... It wasn't till after the in classroom orientation was over that the educator pulled a few of the new rpns aside and told us that the RNs on the unit are hesitant about rpns coming on the unit because of the high acuity of the patients. (It's a surgical floor) She then reassured me that the staff is a great team and she choose a mentor for me that would be good. I was worried, I thought that this is just going to stir up conflict and I was right. The staff are decent to me to my face for the most part, but when they think I'm not around or listening I can hear them talking badly about rpns and it really bothers me, currently I am the only rpn hired on that unit for now. My manager told me more will be coming next month. Everyday I feel so alone and out of place. I don't feel I fit in and being a new graduate is a challenge on its own. I feel like quitting or moving to another unit where it's more rpn "friendly". But at the same time I don't because this is a full time position that I don't want to lose. Has anyone of you been in such a position before? I really don't know what to do. I get anxious and nervous before I go into work everyday, I hate this feeling! Sometimes I don't know if it's worth all the stress. I love nursing but going through stituations like this makes it extremely difficult. Any words of encouragement is needed right now. Thanks!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

The early stages of staff mix change in the workplace is stressful, particularly when the change threatens one groups future job security. It is common for RNs to try and protect their jobs by claiming that the patient acuity is beyond RPNs scope of practice. Over time, the RNs will see that the RPNs are capable of managing the patients' care and the workplace will get better. Try to focus on doing your job and managing your own response to stress, as your response to changes in the workplace, is the only response you have control over.

[Proud Bagonian]

Hello Smartway,

Fear usually drives us human beings to behave in the most unpleasant ways! Imagine the threat that you pose to your RN colleagues as if you perform way beyond their expectations, their job security would be threatened. I am sure that prior to the hospital deciding to hire RPNs, they would have presented various objections to this being done. Now they are being proven wrong I am sure and that could never be a good thing in their minds. Continue to shine! Each day as you go to work you should view it as an opportunity for you to prove your worth and to open a door for other RPNs in the future. Embrace the challenge and be proud of the great work you are doing in spite of the many obstacles presented. It would help if you can have a very good friend and colleague with whom you can both offer support and encouragement. Communicating with other nurses on Allnurses like you are doing at this moment am sure would also help. I too am a RPN registered in Manitoba and I am happy that persons like yourself are changing the belief of administrators that we RPNs cannot function in a Med/Surg setting. I am totally behind you and know that you are strong. enough to withstand anything.

[smartway]

Hi Dishes, I completely understand what you are saying and I try my very best to focus on my practice and that only.. But it can become very discouraging when the nurses are telling me I should have went to work on a less stressful unit for RPNs such as rehab or geriatrics. I am a new graduate so I understand have much to learn already. I know working on such a unit in the beginning will be a challenge for me. I feel so isolated, which is not what I expected.

[smartway]

Thank you so much for the support! I am trying to be really friendly with all the staff. Some of the RNs have been helpful and welcoming, while some have not and that's fine with me. I'm really excited for the other RPNs to come on the unit so we can support each other.