Tough it out? Need advice

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new to allnurses but after reading many posts and hearing wonderful advice, I decided to post and hopefully someone may offer some guidence. I've been a nurse for almost 3 years now on a med/surg liver transplant floor. I recently moved out of state, started at a new hospital in a new specialty...SICU. I've recently finished orientation and am on my own. I'm feeling a tremendous amount of pressure and anxiety in my new setting. I am learning so much and really enjoying this kind of intense nursing, however i spend much of my shift just trying to keep my head above water and trying to provide the best care that can without making any mistakes. I feel that the expectations of my coworkers are very high since i've been a nurse for a few years. I find there are only handful of nurses who i can rely on for support while others make me be dumb for asking questions, being unable to not fall behind, not knowing all the policies and procedures by heart or making any kind of mistake no matter how small. The moral on the unit is low, many new grads, tripled assignments, hostility between coworkers and a high turnover rate. I'm losing my confidence as a nurse with every critique. I am use to being the go to person for questions and help, I loved being able to help someone else or offer advice. I don't know if its me as a too sensitive person or the lack of support or any kind of encouragement. In four months i have had only one person tell me i was doing well, otherwise there is no kind words to help me get through. I was warned by many that this unit had some very "tough personalities", but I didn't want to prejudge... i'm thinking they were right. I hate to give up but i'm thinking about moving back home and continuing in the ICU at my old hospital, where i have heard nothing but positive remarks about the staff. I don't know what to do. The stress and anxiety about going to work is always with me. Does anyone else feel this way? Do I tough it out and try get by with these kind of coworkers? Its been 4 months on this floor, how long do I give it. How do you handle passive aggressive coworkers?

Thanks so much for reading.

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Thank goodness that there are some of the nurses who you can turn to.

Triple assignments? High turnover? Low morale on the unit?

Wonder why the "tough personalities"?

For yourself - think pros and cons of the current place, and your alternatives.

Hope things work out okay for you.

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new to allnurses but after reading many posts and hearing wonderful advice, I decided to post and hopefully someone may offer some guidence. I've been a nurse for almost 3 years now on a med/surg liver transplant floor. I recently moved out of state, started at a new hospital in a new specialty...SICU. I've recently finished orientation and am on my own. I'm feeling a tremendous amount of pressure and anxiety in my new setting. I am learning so much and really enjoying this kind of intense nursing, however i spend much of my shift just trying to keep my head above water and trying to provide the best care that can without making any mistakes. I feel that the expectations of my coworkers are very high since i've been a nurse for a few years. I find there are only handful of nurses who i can rely on for support while others make me be dumb for asking questions, being unable to not fall behind, not knowing all the policies and procedures by heart or making any kind of mistake no matter how small. The moral on the unit is low, many new grads, tripled assignments, hostility between coworkers and a high turnover rate. I'm losing my confidence as a nurse with every critique. I am use to being the go to person for questions and help, I loved being able to help someone else or offer advice. I don't know if its me as a too sensitive person or the lack of support or any kind of encouragement. In four months i have had only one person tell me i was doing well, otherwise there is no kind words to help me get through. I was warned by many that this unit had some very "tough personalities", but I didn't want to prejudge... i'm thinking they were right. I hate to give up but i'm thinking about moving back home and continuing in the ICU at my old hospital, where i have heard nothing but positive remarks about the staff. I don't know what to do. The stress and anxiety about going to work is always with me. Does anyone else feel this way? Do I tough it out and try get by with these kind of coworkers? Its been 4 months on this floor, how long do I give it. How do you handle passive aggressive coworkers?

Thanks so much for reading.

:typing I feel for you - I hate when people treat new people badly - what kind of manager/charge nurse do you have? Do they tolerate the behaivor of those who are demeaning to you, do they look the other way? The passive/aggressive behaivor is a huge problem in nursing and they are basically bullies. I'd prob decide on whether I was staying there by figuring out what the 'plans' for the unit are? Are they promoting a better atmosphere, lower turnover aka improving the work conditions/staffing? The nurses who are nice to you .... did you ever tell them your frustrations? Without being "gossipy" just tell them how frustrated you feel...it may help to vent, and you may find you're not alone....

Work should not be that stressful - do you think once you know the job better you'll be happy...or is the co-worker nastiness just not worth it?

Wishing you well.....:nurse:

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

I know how you feel. When I first moved to the position I have now, I had heard so much about the floor being horrible to new employees. And they most definitely lived up to that news. I would go out to my car and literally burst into tears, thinking how I wanted to go back to home-care and forget about a new experience. But I bonded with one nurse who I still am great friends with today. And she told me that sticking it out is the best thing, because the floor needs positive people. It was hard. There were many nights I thought i'm just going to quite being an aide, and find another profession, but I didn't. And eventually, things started to change. Maybe that could work for you? Maybe the place needs someone who is positive like yourself to show that you don't have to be a grumpy rude person, just because the staff is. Good luck! I know it's hard, but sometimes it makes it all the more worth it in the end! :nuke:

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.
The moral on the unit is low, many new grads, tripled assignments, hostility between coworkers and a high turnover rate.

My vote: do yourself a favor - get out! It ain't worth it.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Leave!! This floor ain't gonna change. Been there, done that.

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Specializes in OB, Med-Surg.

i tried for 9 months to "tough" it out at a previous job. hindisght tells me i just wasted my time.

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Specializes in CTICU, Interventional Cardiology, CCU.

I am at a hospital on a critical care floor that is EXACTLY the same. I hate it, I love being a nurse but I hate hate hate my floor, I am interviewing for the ICU in my hosp. next week. I can;t take the abuse from the co-workers, the HEAVY pt. assignment but I handle it and my pt's always say whay a wonderful nurse I am, the incompetence of some people, the rudeness and lack of communication. I mean every nightI have 6 pt's that are ICU/CCU holding pt's and I am calling codes and RRT's on a nightly basis..actually in the last 3 days my floor has had 3 codes and 10 RRT's, something is not right..I think I belong in the ICU. Wish we luck but I feel you pain!! I can sympathize

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