Typical Day at Work?

[RN1485]

I'm a newish nursing grad who recently made the switch to psych nursing because I loved my clinicals and I find psych itself super interesting....well already (and it's only been 2 months) im feeling overwhelmed and burned out! I already left my 3 month cardiac job because I just HAD to do psych and now I'm hugely regretting my decision.

I'm scheduled to work 7a-3:30p but rarely do I ever get out on time. I usually get out at 6. There are 37 patients and 3 nurses with one being charge. I have to write weekly notes, shift notes, progress notes, special observation notes, prns and refusals and group notes. Today for example: 1 weekly, 1 shift, 3 progress, and 2 special observation. Lots of medication refusal notes and prns. We didn't have group today but if we did that would be more notes. The other nurses chart too but I always seem to get the most. The LPN can only chart on certain things and the charge nurse making the schedule gives herself a lighter load. So much charting and it's all free hand. No check a box charting. It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have pts becoming aggressive everyday! We have 5 on our unit that wreak havoc. Seclusions, holds, cocktails every single day. I'm in a state facility so we get the worst but I'm wondering how typical is this across the board? I'm really wishing I stayed where I was but now I feel like I have to stay where I am for a while so I wont be viewed as a job hopper.

[femaleRN]

Midwest, and you only have to have a ADN.

P.s. Once I have 15 post of this site, then it will let me PM you back RN1485.