struggling first year nurse help needed

[coffeenurse24, BSN, RN]

Hi everyone! If anyone has the time to read this, I would greatly appreciate it.  I am new nurse and really struggling with my career and mental health regarding it.

Quick about me: I graduated from college in May and started a new grad program in august working on a pediatric med/surg floor. After a going through the program and orientation and not getting much feedback,  my bosses deemed that I was not where I needed to be to come off orientation and work on my own and told me I would not be successful working on the floor. They did not offer me feedback until it was essentially too late and did help me feel supported or help me learn from mistakes. I was put under such a microscope and it started making me extremely anxious and I started making silly mistakes. My hospital then transitioned me to work in the Covid vaccine/testing clinic, which is where I am currently working.

Unfortunately, my bosses in the clinic are no more supportive. Within the first few weeks, I made a documentation error where I documented giving someone their vaccine under the wrong person- something I thought I would never do! The hospital put me on administrative leave to investigate the issue and made me feel like I am incapable of succeeding as nurse /incompetent to do a simple job such as administer vaccines. After doing their investigation, they found out that there has been many glitches in the system and that there had been many other mistakes made, none which were user error. I never received an apology from anyone nor did anyone even give me a full explanation as to what happened despite me asking to meet with them multiple times. 

I am still at the job but am very unhappy there.  I want to quit and just start completely over, but I don't know where to go from here and am overwhelmed. 

I have made a list of things I am searching for in my next job... Any suggestions for my next steps? 

Things I like/what I am looking for in job

◦patient interaction: comforting others, being able too nurture and build relationships with my patients

◦Patient education

◦Active/hands on jobs (not sitting around all day)

◦Interprofessional collaboration/ teamwork

◦utilization of holistic and complimentary therapy

◦Not always feeling rushed: (ex: having time to look up a policy before doing a procedure)

◦***feeling supported by my coworkers and bosses***

◦Good balance between variety and consistency

◦project initiatives

◦encouraging continuing education, “climbing the ladder”

◦Something where I can travel

 

Dislikes:

◦Hostile working environment —> everyone being competitive with each other and not helping

◦Stationary work

◦Extensive documentation

 

What I want to gain:

◦Confidence and experience!

◦Hone in on these skills:

◦Educating

◦Organization

◦Time management

[Wedgepressure, ADN, EMT-B]

Hey there! Im sorry your having trouble your first year. I think from what your described in your likes/wants in a job,  PACU would be a really great option. Or possible ambulatory care/pre-op/day surgery. Both of these jobs have those kinds of descriptions you put out.  PACU would be more critical thinking and airway skills, but both would fit you in my opinion.  

Regarding how you are being treated at your job,  not all hospitals are this unsupportive.  I would seek out a faith based or non profit hospital with a great reputation and try to get hired there to see if that changes anything.  

Let me know what you think! 

Best wishes,  keep us updated! 

[Chickenlady]

In the same vein, GI lab is an outpatient surgery center type vibe.  It is routine, until it isn't, so there is opportunity to learn and get comfortable but you also need to stay on your toes.  GI also does inpatient procedures on some pretty sick people, so there is that to step up to once comfortable with the outpatient side.  I've found GI nurses to be a pretty cheery and supportive bunch. 

The negative to both GI lab and PACU areas is that it is procedural, so when your cases are done, you are done.  That can be very eary (missing out on $$) or very late (unpredictable schedule).  

[linderl]

I worked as a ward clerk, CNA, LPN then RN. I worked in rehab, hips, knees, IV antibiotics, tube feeds, hospice ect. Then, medsurg, Psych for 7 yrs, ambulatory surgery for a Retina Center , now school nurse. I gained tons of experience working rehab and medsurg. I love being a school nurse now, but miss the elderly! Hang in there , you will find your nitch!

[coffeenurse24, BSN, RN]

thank you all for your kind words and suggestions!!