Its been a long time since I last posted on this site, have had a really tough year, hada death in the family and getting to grips with a new job, its all been a bit crazy. I've been working on a surgical ward for the past 3 months, and it feels like starting over again as I went out of nursing for 6 months. I feel like a total fish out of water and I am having real problems with managing my time well...i always seem to never have enough time to finish the nursing kardex's and get everything done that needed to be done... manager put a bit of pressure on my today saying that i need to quicken up...she didn't mean it personally but I feel like im not nursing to the best of my ability... can any of you please please give me some advice on time management and how to quicken my pace up?? I would realllly appreciate it!
the answer to you coming to the states or canada with out patient experience is not an ideal one, as they usually want you to be coming from an acute area, even if you dont end up in one over here, but its not impossible, its a different way of nursing over here and can be pressure for nurses and busy, but depending where you go and what area you go to it can be very laid back. most hospitals over here are glad to have you and will give you good orientation to do the job that they hire you for.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I was working in the community when I was offered a job in Az, Maybe think about bank/agency to get acute experience but work in an area that you are happy as a main job. For Canada I didn't have to list my hours as per what area just had to document my hours that I worked for the last 5 years
I was working in the community when I was offered a job in Az, Maybe think about bank/agency to get acute experience but work in an area that you are happy as a main job. For Canada I didn't have to list my hours as per what area just had to document my hours that I worked for the last 5 years
Thanks Sharrie and Silverdragon
I have decided to tell my old boss today that i would like to come downstairs to the outpatients, and she going to talk to the top level management to see what can be done. I am absolutely dreading going back into the ward on tuesday , i feel sick at the thought of it...I wish I could assertively tell my current boss how she has made me feel, but I am totally petrified of doing so...if this feeling continues however , as I think it will I will have to say something.
Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.
Tina - how did it go? I sometimes feel management uses 'time management' to make overworked nurses feel guilty if they have not finished all their duties. Instead of addressing the need for more staff etc it is easier to blame the nurses.
Remember, you only have one life and work is a big part of that. Be happy in your work environment. If you are not, move. It is not a failure. I worked in outpatients in Australia and loved it. After moving back to blighty I worked in loads of settings and ended up on a surgical ward for 4.5 years. I am now working in outpatients (have been for the past year) and love it. Do not think I would ever go back to the wards (am getting on in years lol).
I agree wholeheartedly with the advice given Tina. Life is too short to be miserable. I have worked in many areas that weren't for me over the years, and life is not pleasant when you wake up with that awful feeling of dreading work. No amount of money is worth that - and let's face it, with the wage we get in the UK, I can hand on heart say it's not enough to feel that way each day - and the knock on effects to your health that will come if you remain in that state for long are not worth it either.
OPD nursing is a skill all of its own, not one for everyone, but if you are happy there, then that's the place you should be. Also - is going to the USA a dream or something that is likely to occur - because again, I wouldn't suffer those feelings for any length of time if there's a chance you might not get to the USA - it's not worth the effect on your body long term - the stress might make you really ill (sorry, speaking from bitter experience here!)
Good luck in what you choose to do - and please keep us updated - I love to hear about when a plan comes together! :)
I agree wholeheartedly with the advice given Tina. Life is too short to be miserable. I have worked in many areas that weren't for me over the years, and life is not pleasant when you wake up with that awful feeling of dreading work. No amount of money is worth that - and let's face it, with the wage we get in the UK, I can hand on heart say it's not enough to feel that way each day - and the knock on effects to your health that will come if you remain in that state for long are not worth it either.
OPD nursing is a skill all of its own, not one for everyone, but if you are happy there, then that's the place you should be. Also - is going to the USA a dream or something that is likely to occur - because again, I wouldn't suffer those feelings for any length of time if there's a chance you might not get to the USA - it's not worth the effect on your body long term - the stress might make you really ill (sorry, speaking from bitter experience here!)
Good luck in what you choose to do - and please keep us updated - I love to hear about when a plan comes together! :)
Hello fone nurse and Cheshire cat,
Thanks for your posts! I ended up having a huge talk with my line manager...(she is the wardmanager) and I told her my general feelings about what was making me unhappy about the ward and why i did not think it was for me...but i didn't tell her my feelings towards her, she even was trying to twist someof what i was saying, it was she she wasnt' listening to my point of view at all.... the long and short of it is that she has agreed to let me go back to outpatients and i start back in outpatients on monday so i have all weekend to relax and get back to normal! I am quite relieved about it all actually, she has said I can come and do some bank shifts up there on the ward still if i want to, to keep my hand in the clinical care side of things so i may do that as well, as didn't totally want to loose my ability to nurse in a ward setting.
Fonenurse, going to the usa and canada, has ALWAYS been a dream, and one i am still determined to do, but I will just find another way of getting my hours and applying to facilities directly over there as agencies will only recruit those nurses from acute care settings...I will end up there somehow one way or another lol but in the meantime i am not going to stay somewhere i am unhappy... so thankyou for the advice :) its been much appreciated... i will let you all know how my first day back goes
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello fone nurse and Cheshire cat,
Thanks for your posts! I ended up having a huge talk with my line manager...(she is the wardmanager) and I told her my general feelings about what was making me unhappy about the ward and why i did not think it was for me...but i didn't tell her my feelings towards her, she even was trying to twist someof what i was saying, it was she she wasnt' listening to my point of view at all.... the long and short of it is that she has agreed to let me go back to outpatients and i start back in outpatients on monday so i have all weekend to relax and get back to normal! I am quite relieved about it all actually, she has said I can come and do some bank shifts up there on the ward still if i want to, to keep my hand in the clinical care side of things so i may do that as well, as didn't totally want to loose my ability to nurse in a ward setting.
Fonenurse, going to the usa and canada, has ALWAYS been a dream, and one i am still determined to do, but I will just find another way of getting my hours and applying to facilities directly over there as agencies will only recruit those nurses from acute care settings...I will end up there somehow one way or another lol but in the meantime i am not going to stay somewhere i am unhappy... so thankyou for the advice :) its been much appreciated... i will let you all know how my first day back goes
Lots of love
Tina xx
Tina
I don't think you will have any problems in Canada if you have no acute experience. Although I haven't yet applied at hospitals on my application form it only asks hours worked not where. Plus can easily do it on your own without agency. Paperwork is easy
Thanks for your posts! I ended up having a huge talk with my line manager...(she is the wardmanager) and I told her my general feelings about what was making me unhappy about the ward and why i did not think it was for me...but i didn't tell her my feelings towards her, she even was trying to twist someof what i was saying, it was she she wasnt' listening to my point of view at all.... the long and short of it is that she has agreed to let me go back to outpatients and i start back in outpatients on monday so i have all weekend to relax and get back to normal! I am quite relieved about it all actually, she has said I can come and do some bank shifts up there on the ward still if i want to, to keep my hand in the clinical care side of things so i may do that as well, as didn't totally want to loose my ability to nurse in a ward setting.
Fonenurse, going to the usa and canada, has ALWAYS been a dream, and one i am still determined to do, but I will just find another way of getting my hours and applying to facilities directly over there as agencies will only recruit those nurses from acute care settings...I will end up there somehow one way or another lol but in the meantime i am not going to stay somewhere i am unhappy... so thankyou for the advice :) its been much appreciated... i will let you all know how my first day back goes
Lots of love
Tina xx
Tina your post shows how much better a person you are than the line manager, and also how you will go much further - I wish you every luck in the world. You are using the situation to learn and move on, which shows a depth of maturity the line manager doesn't have.
I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing about your journey to achieve your dream - your determination shows you stand a good chance of achieving it - the only brick wall will be retrogression....
Ok, so I was reading this post as a soon to be new grad who is struggling with time management and I just have to say, why oh why would you want to move to the states! Canada's fine, however the US is not fully a place I would come to willingly, at least not from the UK. I mean really, health care and social policy are awful. Anyway just had to point this out. Go to Canada stay away from the states. If i could afford to leave I would!
cariad
628 Posts
the answer to you coming to the states or canada with out patient experience is not an ideal one, as they usually want you to be coming from an acute area, even if you dont end up in one over here, but its not impossible, its a different way of nursing over here and can be pressure for nurses and busy, but depending where you go and what area you go to it can be very laid back. most hospitals over here are glad to have you and will give you good orientation to do the job that they hire you for.