Should I accept or decline this job offer?

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

I am a 50 yr old career truck driver. My employer went out of business so I went to nursing school. Now I am a new grad with a job offer on a 26 bed med-surg unit. I’ve just completed my 90 day orientation and have been granted an additional two weeks with the preceptor. My problem is that while I can probably care for five patients, I am still absolutely unable to take care of six patients. The last night I worked I was overwhelmed with pt. care issues for six needy patients. As a result, my preceptor had to work hard to keep me caught up. My nurse manager says not to worry because I will get faster as time goes on. But this does not help my current situation. I need to be faster right now because I will be on my own next week. As bad as I hate to do it, I think I should turn down this job offer. This hurts because I really like the hospital, the unit, and the staff. Should I accept the job and take a chance on six patients? Is there a lower level of care that doesn’t require a new grad to be so fast? Is it just me or have other people had this problem?

Stick it out, please don't quit. Have you seen some of these other

threads where people quit their jobs before 1 yr and have very hard

times trying to find another job. If I were you, I'd hang in there. Yes,

6 pts can be hard, depending on the acuity level, but you will become

more efficient as time goes on. It's usually busy like this everywhere.

I had the same problem at first, but it does get

easier. Taking 6 pts can lead to a very busy shift, but it really

depends on the acuity level. Some nights, I have easy pts, so

taking 6 isn't that big a deal. I've also seen very experienced nurses

that take care of 6 and have to stay up to an hour late to chart.

I will also suggest that you don't try to get too fast, or you'll make an error.

Just take care of your pts and chart at shift end until you learn

to be more efficient. Take care.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

I've run myself ragged with only 4 patients and a tech, so don't judge yourself so harshly. Sounds to me like you're on a good unit, since you got help from your preceptor, your manager thinks you're doing OK, and you say you like the staff. My advice would be to stick it out and give yourself time to grow.

helper T cell · Jan 21, 2009

You will make it!!!

As above don't give up. Yes it is hard and you will feel and be over-whelmed. But.... prioritize the have to do right nows, need to dos and the maybe they can wait dos. Don't forget your 6 rights of medication administration. Potentitial for medication errors always exist. Ck your orders. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You sound awesome. I am 52 just finished up my first year on Med Surg. I've had to stay late lots and sometimes I feel like I'm way out of my league but each day you work you will learn so much (I felt like i was a computer uploading at first). IV's are fun now (of course I don't get them all), I love foley caths and I'm getting into wound care. Keep on keepin on. You have alot of life experience, it will serve you well as a nurse. it's important to REALLY listen to your pt.

jjjoy, LPN · Jan 22, 2009

I think it's great how supportive folks are on this site - reassuring newbies "you can do it" "you'll make it" "it'll get better" etc. But that doesn't address the question of how does the newbie deal with the here and now of not being able to keep up with their workload? How does the newbie determine if their "too slow"-ness is a danger to their patients and their license or if it's at least good enough?

One way is to assume that if the hospital continues to schedule you and let you work, that you must be doing well enough, despite one's shortfalls. Another way is to look at each day where each patient is alive at the end of your shift as a success and meaning that you are functioning good enough despite whatever else didn't go right. Perhaps looking at "near misses" as successes (it wasn't a miss!) as opposed to a fault (shouldn't have even been a near miss) can help.

I know when I make a mistake thinking "well, I'll never do that again" doesn't usually help... as depending on what it was I might very do it again! I do better thinking something like, well, two more times and then I won't make that mistake again! (of course, I wouldn't take this attitude with a life threatening error). Or taking the lesson as being about how to deal with the mistake so the next time I or someone else does that, I'll know what to do about it.

Scraggles · Jan 22, 2009

Take it from an old RN with various specialty experience, stick it out. It will get better, perhaps not easier but better. My number one piece of advice is to prioritize each pts needs into what I have to do, and what I would want to do. Eventually you will understand the difference, always be ready to ask, scream if needed for advice or assistance.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jan 23, 2009

In time you will become faster and more efficient. You just started, cut yourself some slack!!

You are in a supportive unit... that's a valuable thing to waste. Are you on days or nights? Maybe you can switch to nights where you can occasionally catch your breath, and then transition back to days when you are more comfortable with the pace...

FinallyNursing08 · Jan 27, 2009

When I first started on the floor I felt so overwhelmed, as you do right now. I decided to go to nights to find my comfort zone. I have been there for 6 months, and I have to say it is totally different from days. If the night is not so busy, there is lots of time for learning and trying new skills. On days everyone is so busy and there is never anytime. I feel more comfortable with the skills I have learned and now ready to try days again, which would be in 2wks. So long story ending.. don't give up, maybe try nights as stated in previous post. :nurse:

learning08 · Jan 27, 2009

Give your job a chance. If you can receive help when you ask, you'll be able to get through your shifts.