stressed..other nursing options??

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2009

I remember feeling that way. Walking from the locker room to the report room, I was so tense that I often felt I'd projectile vomit if anyone so much as looked at me crosseyed. I don't have any ideas for you, as I stuck with my original job and things have gotten better as far as my comfort level. There are many other frustrations, however.

Hekate · Mar 17, 2009

Have you shared your feelings with your nurse educator? Or maybe your manager if you feel comfortable

talking to him/her....

It is probable that you will feel more and more at ease with your role as you gain experience. If you think

that it is too much for you and you don't see yourself getting better in your current position, maybe a

position in a Clinic would be better for you? At least you'd be working day shifts, and your patients would be more independent/less acutely ill. If you are a new grad however, It might be a little more tricky as I believe they require

bedside experience...but I may be completely wrong about it! Either way, I think that you would

feel much better if you could share your feelings/doubts with management and see if they can offer some kind of support or counseling.Many hospitals also have a center (I think they are mostly psychologists and advisers) that provides support to employees (whatever the issue is...it could be personal or professional...or even health related).

Whatever your decide, remember that you have to learn to walk before you could run. So take it one step at the time, or one day at the time...

Hope it helps.

Keep us posted on your progress

Big Hugs to you.:flwrhrts:

LovePurple · Mar 17, 2009

I just really hate the unknown. I don't know if I care TOO much or what.. but I Just really hate not knowing what the night holds for me.. not to mention it's nights- and I'm not adapting well at all. Everyone says you're stressed for the first year and aren't yet comfortable.. but this is consuming me. I just don't feel like as soon as I wake up in the day that my heart should start racing and I shouldn't be crying the entire day. I'm not able to function with it all. This sucks...

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2009

No, it shouldn't be that way. But this is what I signed up for...and at the same time, it's not what I signed up for. We are in a position of great responsibility, and we need support. You need to talk to someone, your NM, employee assistance, someone.

iwanna · Mar 18, 2009

I totally understand how you feel. I just quit a job in LTC after only six weeks. I felt overwhelmed constantly and had horrible anxiety. I had 27 pts. to pass meds to, and all the charting on top of that. I would barely have any charting done and the next shift was there already. I would go home and remeber things that I should have charted, but I was too tired to even think by the end of my shift. I think the nurse/patient ratio is ridiculous. I do not understand how these nurse can do it.

But, in addition to the anxiety of my job, I was having a crisis in my personal life. My adult daughter is a single mom and addicted to drugs. I need to be there for my 2 y.o. grandson. I have been very depressed about quitting my job. However, I could no longer hanle the stress and my grandbaby needs me. I am not a new nurse. I am older at the age of 52. But, I only have 5 1/2 years of nursing experience. And, all my experience has been in behavioral health. I wanted to try something new. I did not work for four years due to disability. In my heart, I wanted to get back into nursing. I even took a refresher course. For now, I need to be there for my grandson. When I do go back to work, it will probably be outpatient in a specialist's office. That is, if I am lucky to obtain a job like that.

But, I know that horrible feeling of anxiety. I would worry the night before when I had to go to work the next day. One nurse told me that it ook her three years befor she felt comfortable. I sure would not want to feel the way that I felt for even one year. For, the first time in my life, I believe that I started experiencing anxiety attacks. I would go into a pts. bathroom to do some purse lip breathing because I felt like someone was trying to suffocate me. My dr. did put me on some medication, (Celexa at hs, Vistaril PRN) but it didn't help with my work. anxiety.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 18, 2009

I know what you mean about not knowing what you're walking into every night. Ugh, I still get that feeling. Am I gonna admit a trainwreck and not get to eat tonight or will tonight be a steady pace? I just wish I knew what to EXPECT assignment-wise so I can mentally prep for it.

I used to get panic attacks when I started (but I was also going through some really hard stuff in my personal life) but they've subsided. Give it time.. once you get better at your craft, it gets easier.

Day shift isn't that great to get your routine down because of procedures and consults nonstop.

LovePurple · Mar 18, 2009

I totally understand how you feel. I just quit a job in LTC after only six weeks. I felt overwhelmed constantly and had horrible anxiety. I had 27 pts. to pass meds to, and all the charting on top of that. I would barely have any charting done and the next shift was there already. I would go home and remeber things that I should have charted, but I was too tired to even think by the end of my shift. I think the nurse/patient ratio is ridiculous. I do not understand how these nurse can do it.
But, in addition to the anxiety of my job, I was having a crisis in my personal life. My adult daughter is a single mom and addicted to drugs. I need to be there for my 2 y.o. grandson. I have been very depressed about quitting my job. However, I could no longer hanle the stress and my grandbaby needs me. I am not a new nurse. I am older at the age of 52. But, I only have 5 1/2 years of nursing experience. And, all my experience has been in behavioral health. I wanted to try something new. I did not work for four years due to disability. In my heart, I wanted to get back into nursing. I even took a refresher course. For now, I need to be there for my grandson. When I do go back to work, it will probably be outpatient in a specialist's office. That is, if I am lucky to obtain a job like that.
But, I know that horrible feeling of anxiety. I would worry the night before when I had to go to work the next day. One nurse told me that it ook her three years befor she felt comfortable. I sure would not want to feel the way that I felt for even one year. For, the first time in my life, I believe that I started experiencing anxiety attacks. I would go into a pts. bathroom to do some purse lip breathing because I felt like someone was trying to suffocate me. My dr. did put me on some medication, (Celexa at hs, Vistaril PRN) but it didn't help with my work. anxiety.

Thank you for sharing. Tonight, after calling off 2 nights.. I just said enough is enough. It's been terrible for the past 7 days and I've lost 7 lbs from not eating, sleeping... nothing! All I do is cry and it's unbearable. I called the dr.. the only thing they said was they'll put me on ativan, which I looked at and of course the side effects aren't too great. I'm hoping it's just the basic nursing position that has me in shambles and that at another facility with greater respect for their employees and a better situation all together that I will be much happier and able to deal with the stresses of nursing. Please continue to pray for me though! I would appreciate all the prayers I can get as I take this leap of faith!

ThanksForAllTheFish! · Mar 19, 2009

LovePurple - I swear your posts fit me to a tee. I am a new grad, just hit my 6mth mark (less than two months of being of my own) working at my first job (ICU). This is my second bachelor's degree ( i was in research with a BS in psychology for 3 years working with mice and lab stuff before going to an accelerated nursing program.) I also work nights. I absolutely HATE having no idea what the night will be like. At my previous job/career, I at least had an idea or partial idea of the gameplan for the day whether or not things went according to plan. It allowed me to mentally prepare for the day. If I knew if was going to be a busy/difficult day, I could get myself ready. If it was probably going to be a simplier day, I could accomplish extra things during the day to make things better for the next day. It was especially nice if I wasn't feeling well or if i was sick. I knew what needed to be done during that day and I could gauge whether of not I think I could physically do it or would call in sick if needed. Now I don't have any idea what awaits me when I walk in the doors. :banghead: There are many more reasons why I'm not liking bedside nursing. (which I knew in school I didn't want to do forever, but had no idea how much it doesn't "fit" me and how much a toll it would take on me mentally and physically). I also suffer from anxiety/depression, so I know that certain things are major triggers for me and bedside nursing is becoming one of them. Think square peg, round hole. Everyone tells me to hang in there, it will get better. I think that is probably the case for alot of people, but for me its a matter of is it really worth driving myself to the brink. I honestly don't think I can make another day or week, much less another 6 months. I have always muddled through things in the past (probably more than I should have) because I never wanted to quit or always expected things to get better with time (which hasn't always been the case) I have put in a request for days (to hopefully help with some of the sleeping issues), but am trying to look at alternatives to bedside nursing. Financial I cannot just quit without having something else lined up and my family keeps telling me to tough it out (which I can only take with a grain of salt because I'm the one that has to walk through those doors everyday). I am trying to find the opportunity to shadow some research nurses or clinical research coordinators to get an idea of the daily work life. I don't want to fall victim to the "grass is always greener" phenom.

Wow, this post is much longer than I intended. My point is: You a definitely not alone. I wish I could help you with some sage advice, but this is all I got: Life's too short to misearable all the time, I can't guarantee that change will make things better, they might get worse. But sometimes, it's a chance you have to take and you are the only one that can decide if it's a chance you should take. I'm still deciding my own course of action. I wish you all the best in whatever happens and my prayers are with you and everyone in our same boat. :hgu: Whatever you do, just be sure to take care of yourself! Good Luck and keep us posted!! :typing

jjjoy, LPN · Mar 20, 2009

I never realized until I did floor nursing just how much I do "fit" with desk work! Before that, I had heartily agreed when I heard people talk about wanting to avoid being a cubicle worker at all costs. Now, when I hear folks complain about the misery of being chained to a desk, I think to myself that, for me, it doesn't even compare to the misery of being chained to a floor nursing job. Thank goodness some people seem to thrive on the chaos!

After feeling overwhelmed and on edge trying several different clinical nursing jobs, I found myself dreaming of a quiet office job. And I was more than ready to accept lower pay for less stress. I finally took the plunge and focused all my job seeking attention on non-clinical positions, since I had found myself more drawn to the less clinical practice aspects of the work and school I'd done up to that point (eg I had enjoyed being a research assistant for a nursing prof as a student). I figured there's no point in a good wage if I'm on the verge of quitting every day. And I also figured I'd have more opportunity to grow professionally if I'm not feeling like I'm drowning every day.

I eventually got a job offer in a related industry (health care publishing). I started feeling saner almost immediately! It's been several years since then and I've been successful. And, something I don't take for granted, I don't dread coming to work every day. I sometimes wonder about the 'road not taken', but I think it was the right decision for me.

LovePurple · Mar 20, 2009

First of all, I'm so glad from the other post that I'm not alone. And I knew I wouldn't be, but the classic phrase I keep hearing is.. . stick it out, it'll get better. Or 'you'll get used to nights'. For me personally, it just won't work! I typically am very level headed and can work through things.. even tragedies and deaths in the family, but with this job I hit my breaking point. All the unknowns on top of not sleeping and eating... just put me over the top. My family said they've never seen me like this and were getting very worried!! Even though I don't have something else lined up, even my parents said they were happy I quit because it just WASN'T right!! So I'll let you know how things pan out for me, and I pray that you can find something more suiting to you as well! In the mean time, I admire you sticking it out! It's more than I could do! Be sure to keep me posted!

I never realized until I did floor nursing just how much I do "fit" with desk work! Before that, I had heartily agreed when I heard people talk about wanting to avoid being a cubicle worker at all costs. Now, when I hear folks complain about the misery of being chained to a desk, I think to myself that, for me, it doesn't even compare to the misery of being chained to a floor nursing job. Thank goodness some people seem to thrive on the chaos!
After feeling overwhelmed and on edge trying several different clinical nursing jobs, I found myself dreaming of a quiet office job. And I was more than ready to accept lower pay for less stress. I finally took the plunge and focused all my job seeking attention on non-clinical positions, since I had found myself more drawn to the less clinical practice aspects of the work and school I'd done up to that point (eg I had enjoyed being a research assistant for a nursing prof as a student). I figured there's no point in a good wage if I'm on the verge of quitting every day. And I also figured I'd have more opportunity to grow professionally if I'm not feeling like I'm drowning every day.
I eventually got a job offer in a related industry (health care publishing). I started feeling saner almost immediately! It's been several years since then and I've been successful. And, something I don't take for granted, I don't dread coming to work every day. I sometimes wonder about the 'road not taken', but I think it was the right decision for me.

So you're in health care publishing huh!? Please tell me all about that. What you do?! How you got into it?! I agree so much with your statement about loving being chained to a desk! I love the predictable, or at least the general idea of what's to come! I keep hearing so much of nursing has so many options, but the only thing I can find at this point is hospital or nursing homes.. just different units in the hospital setting which is still bedside nursing. I would LOVE to hear more information about your job and how you came across it if you have some time!!! =) You give me hope!!

ThanksForAllTheFish! · Mar 20, 2009

"but the classic phrase I keep hearing is.. . stick it out, it'll get better. Or 'you'll get used to nights'. For me personally, it just won't work! I typically am very level headed "

Oh yeah, my favorite quotes. Getting used to something new is one thing. Getting used to something that isn't right for you . . . a completely different beast.

Unfortunately my family seems to think this is a matter of getting used to something new. My mother sees the toll it's taking on me, but she tells me to tough it out. Hmmm, sometimes I just want to scream. I am at my breaking point. In fact I broke, tried to glue it back together, and its not holding! :chuckle

I am glad that you realized you job isn't working for you and you are taking action. You are my new hero! :bow: