What to do?

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi,

I'm a nurse that graduated in Decemeber of 2010. I recieved my liscense in February and found a job about a month and a half later. I was looking to get into med surg to get a good foundation, but I was not able to land such a position I finally got a job working on the rehab floor (general rehab to be exact). I was excited to finally start working and happy I found a job in this economy. Well I had started working there in April and was guarenteed a month orientation. The first 2 weeks I had computer training and I shadowed a nurse things were going great. Then the third week came around and I was put with a different preceptor which was fine because she was really nice. Moving onto the 4th week orientation and my 6th day of working hands on the floor,I come to work and see my name on the board with patients room numbers next to it. Im thinking this has got to be a joke.I ask the charge about it and she said the NM said to put me down on my own and give me 3 patients because I could handle it This happened because they were short but how is that my problem!!!!!!! I was livid to say the least. I wanted to scream, cry, walk out. I didnt know what to do and all i could think about was my liscense. My preceptor I was following even apologized about the situation and couldn't believe they did this to me. I survived the day but couldn't believe I was thrown to the wolves.

Well my manager extended my "orientation" ( if you wanna call it that) to next month because my first 2 weeks weren't hands on and I needed more hands on experience. Im so mad about the situation because I have literally have been on my own ever since. I dont think its fair to me or my patients.

I have talked to my NM and she said well we are short so its hard to have a preceptor.. well then WTH! This is unsafe! My preceptor even had a full load she was taking care of so it was hard to ask her questions. One of my patients had fallen and I had to document the incident in the computer. Well my "preceptor" was in a rush that she showed me the wrong place to document the fall in the computer. I got a call back from the hospital asking me if I ever documented it. If I had an actual preceptor this would have been prevented. I guess people are forgetting that I'm a new grad. Just because I have an RN behind my name does not mean I know everything. This is not how I imagained my first job to be going. I think I at least deserve a proper orientation. Is that so much to ask? Apparently it is. You know its bad when your team leader thinks the situation is wrong and even asked if I thought about applying elsewhere because what they are doing to me is not right. She even said if this was her, She would have been long gone.

We are often short. Meaning we can have 2 nurses to 21 patients so I can get up to 10 patients which is ridiculous in my book. We have PRN nurses and agency nurses that sometimes work there. But they dont even want to work there because of the nurse patient ratios and how the nurses get treated there. Ive had people tell me to get out while I can. And one girl who was a new grad last year said she almost quit and cried many times in the med room over the same situation.

I want to quit so bad. I feel so sick to my stomach everytime I think about my job.

I dread going to work. I wonder is this what nursing is really like?

I also cant transfer because there is nowhere to transfer too. My rehab was bought out by a company and is going to be moved to a different facility next year. We are own entity just located in a hospital that is no longer associated with rehab, if that makes sense. I so wish I could work in the hospital on a "normal" floor at least I know I would get proper training. It's hard to think of staying for 6 months the thought of it makes me cringe. I went out and bought because I was just getting to scared about this situation.

Should I walk around the hospital and ask if they are hiring? Who is going to want to hire a new grad, plus they might think I cant even keep a steady job or handle the heat. Which is not true.

I just want an orientation THATS it. and im not getting it.

So I'm just looking for opinions on what I should do?

Thanks in advance!

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back in my day we got three days of orientation and we were grateful! you guys seem to have it easy these days.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

I understand your frustration. I know it can be scary. I have been working now for 18 years but a similar thing happened to me years ago while I was orienting on ( of all things ) a PICU unit...as a relatively new nurse...I had only been working as an RN on general pedi for about 6 months and finally got my transfer to PICU...I was thrilled...I was supposed to orient for--I dont' know, say 4 weeks, after the second week, one of our charge nurses got very ill and had to take a leave which left us very short, and a similar situation came up. I came in to work to find my name on the white board next to 2 vented kids-alone-no preceptor.....ACK..same thing--our manger said "oh, you can handle this"..and every one will help you....well, I did, they did and I stayed there for a long time and LOVED IT.

They must think you can do this. I would encourage you to try. Ask questions, ask for help, and when you get frazzled, step back and take a deep breath and try again. It gets easier as time goes on and you get your "sea legs" and more organized.

Also, the job market for new nurses is so dreadful right now, I would not leave unless you had another job for certain, and one last thing...sometimes "the devil that you know is better than the devil that you don't know":devil:

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
back in my day we got three days of orientation and we were grateful! you guys seem to have it easy these days.

Back in your day? I have to smile, when was your day--last week? You are 27 years old, I think that's adorable:D

That's like, In my day we walked to school barefoot, in the winter, up hill---both ways!;)

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I won't leave no matter how much I hate it, until I find a new job. I just spruced up my resume and am currently sending out applications. I'm just so irritated about this situation. Last night I actually had a preceptor. I learned alot. More than I learned on the 2 weeks on my own.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
I won't leave no matter how much I hate it, until I find a new job. I just spruced up my resume and am currently sending out applications. I'm just so irritated about this situation. Last night I actually had a preceptor. I learned alot. More than I learned on the 2 weeks on my own.

That's actually a good reaction...get mad, don't get depressed...channel all of that frustration into learning the job you have right now while you are looking for something else. That way, when you do find something, you will have more experience, and if you dont' find anything for a while---you will be getting more proficient at this one, and who knows, you just may end up--if not liking it--at least tolerating it!:)

And by the way--there is no guarantee that this will not happen again on your next job..in fact I think it probably will! So be prepared.

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