This is not what I thought it was

So I have gone through my 3 months of orientation & so far I can't say I love my job. The hours are long, I'm treated like **** by patient's, family members (that's expected) & coworkers & the pay is horrendous.

But my KNEES! My knees are KILLING me by the end of my shift. I was almost in tears yesterday. I have seen my PCP with no relief & am due to see a Rhumatologist this month. I wear compression socks, knee braces & special shoes. But honestly if I can't find relief I'm thinking about quiting. Nothing about working there makes me want to stay when I'm treated like **** & I'm in constant, 10/10 pain.

Sorry you're going through this. I can honestly say "I feel your pain." My first job was in a very large unit and 2-3 months into the job I started to wear knee & ankle braces because of pain and the constant feeling that my knees/ankles were going to give out. My left ankle was hurting so bad that I was regularly limping while I was on the job.

I left that unit after about 6 months. There were other reasons but among them was the pain from constantly walking too much. I work in an outpatient job and it's so much better (in every way). I'd much rather get my exercise at the gym...so much better for my joints.

Hopefully you'll find some ways to cope and handle this.

Many posts here about how tough the nursing gig is. We can't address your pain issue. But I would have the disability discussion with my provider. They can make it happen.

Best wishes.

Try Allegra shoes...made a world of difference,ni i speaking over Decades of experiences

So I have gone through my 3 months of orientation & so far I can't say I love my job. The hours are long, I'm treated like **** by patient's, family members (that's expected) & coworkers & the pay is horrendous.

But my KNEES! My knees are KILLING me by the end of my shift. I was almost in tears yesterday. I have seen my PCP with no relief & am due to see a Rhumatologist this month. I wear compression socks, knee braces & special shoes. But honestly if I can't find relief I'm thinking about quiting. Nothing about working there makes me want to stay when I'm treated like **** & I'm in constant, 10/10 pain.

Welcome to the world of acute care nursing!

Unfortunately, bedside nurses are often treated like absolute garbage, hence the high turnover rates. Oh, and the pay is absolute crap for the level of responsibility and stress that patient care entails.

Have you tried dansko shoes?

I wouldn't quit just yet. Give it more time, another six months. If nothing has changed, then I would considered looking elsewhere.

Try Allegra shoes...made a world of difference,ni i speaking over Decades of experiences

I LOVE my Allegra shoes ... and my Danskos. Expensive but well worth the money, esp. for those of us with joint pain.

I would try to hang in there, OC. Get that experience and then move on to better things. The first 3 months can be rough going anywhere.

I'm sorry to hear this. Try to get something lined up first if you can endure it long enough.

Of course. I would never quit before having something else lined up. It's always easier to get a job when you have a job. :)

Go to a local running store and have them test you for the right type of shoe for your foot and instep. I run half marathons and had the knee and ankle pain until they tested me and put me in the right shoe. Now I can run without pain. 12 hour shifts are similar to the fatigue of a conditioned half marathoner, so the concept is the same. I have 2 pairs of running shoes that are just for work and I rotate them (you should never wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row).

Also a lot of people like Danskos and those type of clog shoes. I have really high arches so I didn't like them but I have coworkers who wear by them.

You'll be surprised by how much your footwear has to do with your joint pain and muscle fatigue.

Sorry you're going through this. I can honestly say "I feel your pain." My first job was in a very large unit and 2-3 months into the job I started to wear knee & ankle braces because of pain and the constant feeling that my knees/ankles were going to give out. My left ankle was hurting so bad that I was regularly limping while I was on the job.

I left that unit after about 6 months. There were other reasons but among them was the pain from constantly walking too much. I work in an outpatient job and it's so much better (in every way). I'd much rather get my exercise at the gym...so much better for my joints.

Hopefully you'll find some ways to cope and handle this.

Exactly what I'm dealing with. I'm not even 30 yet!

Many posts here about how tough the nursing gig is. We can't address your pain issue. But I would have the disability discussion with my provider. They can make it happen.

Best wishes.

Thank you.

Try Allegra shoes...made a world of difference,ni i speaking over Decades of experiences

I will definitely look into new shoes. I hope they help but I am so defeated at this point.

Welcome to the world of acute care nursing!

Unfortunately, bedside nurses are often treated like absolute garbage, hence the high turnover rates. Oh, and the pay is absolute crap for the level of responsibility and stress that patient care entails.

Have you tried dansko shoes?

I wouldn't quit just yet. Give it more time, another six months. If nothing has changed, then I would considered looking elsewhere.

Yeah, acute care blows. I miss working corrections. My mother asked me if I was "over" working corrections now that I'm working in acute care. I told her no way! I told her I'm over working in acute care & told her all the reasons why.

I won't be quitting any time soon. I just started having the pain & hope to get to the bottom of it either with the Rhuemotolgist or Othoropedist.