StressedNewlyqualified nurse career advice

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Hi everyone! I'm new to this.

I'd appreciate everyones honest advice please. I'm really stressed and just do not know what to do.

I am in my final year of adult nursing. I will be finishing my placement this week and then qualifying. During my training i had already started disliking working in the ward. However, when i applied for jobs i applied to work in a ward for one year and then rotate in to the community. At that time i decided to try it because some people adviced "go in to a ward as a newly qualified as it's better for me than going into community or elsewhere". But I just feel like I really don't want to and can't do it. I find wards overwhelming\stressful (am i being silly). It is such a busy ward and heavy work which i imagine would be the case in every ward. Hardly get a minute to spend with the patients because you are constantly rushed off your feet. I'm scared there is higher risk of making errors and risking my nursing pin. I'd be looking after 9-10patients!

I enjoy working and caring for the elderly i had a placement in the community which i absoloutely loved! So i'm contemplating if i should change my choices and work in the community as a newly qualified

I like hemodialysis too it's ratio of 1:4 patients, you can build rapport with patients etc. I'm just worried if I'm at disadvantage for NOT working in a WARD?

thank you!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

OP, are you in the US? I'm guessing not based on "final year of adult nursing" "ward" and some other terminology. It would help get responses best suited to your situation if we knew where you were.

US nurses receive a generalist education, which means they can choose any specialty after graduation and passing the licensure exam- another reason I have a feeling you're not in the US.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I have the same question as the previous poster. It's difficult to advise you without knowing where you are and what the healthcare system in that country is.

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Sorry forgot to mention where i'm from. I'm in the UK. Thank you :)

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Hi,

I just need some advice as I can't seem to make my mind up. I'm concerned that i will 'lose out' by not working in a hospital on a ward as a newly qualified staff nurse and at the same time I don't like acute ward work (I don't think I would ever want to be a ward nurse either). What is your opinion on this - would nurses lose their skills if they work elsewhere for eg in the community? I'm based in the UK.

Thanks!! :)

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Duplicate threads merged in the UK forum.

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Dialysis is a nice place to start. It is for me. Very few drugs, small assignment, low key. Very detailed bur doable.

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Not entirely sure how it works in the UK, but short answer: yeah, you'll lose skills. That's what happens when you specialize...anybody who goes into adult critical care or med-surg (what I think you call wards) would probably balk at taking care of a kid or L&D patient. But if you have zero desire to ever get back into wards it probably doesn't matter! If community is your passion, go for it! Keep up-to-date on the literature, go to continuing education conferences. Nothing wrong with that!

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Mel it is slightly different in the UK. We specialise from day 1...there are 5 streams of education adults, childrens, mental health, midwifery, learning disabilities. It is rare to work in another without the appropriate qualifications unless for a specific purpose.

There is nothing wrong with not working on the wards if you want to work in the community go for it! Just keep up to date with some of the acute management of chronic diseases that you are caring for in the community.

Please also realise you do not get de- registered for simple med errors. The NMC would not have a single nurse or midwife on their books if that was the case. Med errors are managed by your ward manager. I counsel at least one staff member a week about med errors. Not one have I reported to a registration board.

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Thank you. I appreciate your response :)

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Hey, 'K+MgSO4' thank you for your advice

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I went straight into community and I don't think it's done me any harm. I did two community placements as a student and loved it, didn't even for a second contemplate working on the wards.

If you feel community is your thing, go for it. You'll learn plenty of skills, don't listen to people who say community de-skills you, it doesn't at all.

Be warned though, if you're nervous and worried about "your pin", community isn't necessarily quieter or less stressful than wards. It's a different sort of stress but the risks of making a mistake are still there. In fact there is less support, you'll be out on your own, making decisions on the spot.

Some of my colleagues who started with me in community have now moved on to jobs in the hospital. Having only community experience wasn't a problem at all for them. Another girl I know did community for years, moved into the hospital and within a year was band 7.

Do what makes you happy. Good luck.

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