This is not what I thought it was

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

I was happily surprised to learn that my favorite Case Manager at my acute care job is an LVN. Maybe that is an option for you?

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sorry to hear- but seriously get another job lined up and get out!

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Specializes in PACU.
A lot of knee pain comes from improper foot/ankle alignment. It's not just ensuring that your ankle and feet are put into neutral alignment, it's also ensuring that you have an effectively equal leg length and so much more. A good running shoe store will help you figure out what type of shoes you will need and how to best put your entire lower body into a neutral alignment as this puts the least stress on all the joints. The kind of running shoe store isn't likely to be the one you'd go to at the mall. The kind you want is a specialty store that caters to actual athletes. This is the store that the marathon runners will go to for proper shoe fitting. The generic mall store usually doesn't have employees trained to do that kind of shoe evaluation.

Here's a hint as to how you know you've found the right place... they'll ask to see your shoes and they'll look at the wear pattern. They'll look at how you stand and walk. They may even measure leg length...

My Store has a spot where they actually watch you walk and run... the squat down so they see the way your lifting your feet and putting them down along with knee alignment. They have you do one footed squat to see how you align.... Some stores will do it on a treadmill with a camera that video's you from the knees down.

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I feel your pain on every level. this job sucks sometimes and were extremely underpaid for what we do. plus it doesnt help when coworkers are dick heads. i finally took time off after working for 7 months straight (3 months preceptorship, 1 month studying and writing NCLEX, 3 months of paid work) and ive been reflecting on how hard this job is. one of the biggest things that pisses me off is the lack of recognition and encouragement from coworkers and management and how they only point out flaws and mistakes. anyway, im going to keep my head down and power through until i have enough experience to work somewhere better that pays more and has better management and a less toxic work environment. rant over! all the best to you!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I was happily surprised to learn that my favorite Case Manager at my acute care job is an LVN. Maybe that is an option for you?

No, she's a RN-BSN. :(

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
sorry to hear- but seriously get another job lined up and get out!

I need to get my RN first & then I'll be out the door!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
My Store has a spot where they actually watch you walk and run... the squat down so they see the way your lifting your feet and putting them down along with knee alignment. They have you do one footed squat to see how you align.... Some stores will do it on a treadmill with a camera that video's you from the knees down.

I need to find one of these wonderful places!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I feel your pain on every level. this job sucks sometimes and were extremely underpaid for what we do. plus it doesnt help when coworkers are dick heads. i finally took time off after working for 7 months straight (3 months preceptorship, 1 month studying and writing NCLEX, 3 months of paid work) and ive been reflecting on how hard this job is. one of the biggest things that pisses me off is the lack of recognition and encouragement from coworkers and management and how they only point out flaws and mistakes. anyway, im going to keep my head down and power through until i have enough experience to work somewhere better that pays more and has better management and a less toxic work environment. rant over! all the best to you!

My boss isn't terrible but my coworkers are & that makes me dread going to work. My preceptor was HORRID! She would snap at me for little, stupid things. Things that in my mind didn't require attitude. But then she would joke with me right after. Uh, what?!

The last straw that broke my back. One of my patient's had a critical potassium & had to get 4 bags of IV potassium. Well the pharmacy didn't send it up until after 1200. My preceptor told me that since I started it on my shift, I had to finish it. Cut to the end of shift & the patient hasn't finished all four bags. So I stayed. The night nurses had attitude with me & were upset as to why I was staying. I told them why & I knew it was something I could hand over to night shift since all they had to do was spike the last bag. I ALSO knew my preceptor wouldn't stay over & finish the last bag. That is the kind of ******** my preceptor did.

I maybe new to acute care but I'm NOT new to nursing. I have 5 years on her. If she wants to play these petty games, good for her. I'm not gonna stick around for it.

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Specializes in NICU.

get out

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

[quote=OrganizedChaos;9719308The last straw that broke my back. One of my patient's had a critical potassium & had to get 4 bags of IV potassium. Well the pharmacy didn't send it up until after 1200. My preceptor told me that since I started it on my shift, I had to finish it. Cut to the end of shift & the patient hasn't finished all four bags. So I stayed.

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I never would have done this, this is ridiculous!!! Next time, nicely ask your preceptor if this OT has been cleared by management. If she says yes I would talk to my manager and find out why this task cannot be passed on to night shift! I have never in 20yrs heard of such a thing.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
get out

Lol! I know. I want to at least work a year so it looks good on my resume & I can get my RN.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I never would have done this, this is ridiculous!!! Next time, nicely ask your preceptor if this OT has been cleared by management. If she says yes I would talk to my manager and find out why this task cannot be passed on to night shift! I have never in 20yrs heard of such a thing.

Yeah, I haven't heard of that either. I knew she was making ******** up. It blew my mind! It wasn't my fault the potassium didn't get started earlier & even if it was it still wouldn't be a reason for me to stay after my shift!

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