Limitations of being a new nurse

[resqgirl911]

I am trying to find a better job than the one that I have. Being the new nurse I get blamed for everything that goes wrong. I am abused by the docotrs and the other nurses. I am having problems finding another job, simply because they require a year's experience. I do not want to be stuck in the job that I am in now, nor do I want to limit myself. I am afraid of switching to a job that would not give me the skills I need as a new nurse. I really don't know what to do.

[Tbackpain1]

Try checking around at your local teaching hospitals, or if not local, in the nearest major city. In my area, new graduates are offered 12 week "preceptorships" during which they can recieve additional training in a number of areas of nursing, including Critical Care RN (CCRN), Pediatrics, wound care, etc. During that 12 weeks you work with a preceptor in a clinical environment and in the classroom as well to expand your knowledge base and gain more skills that will be valuable in the workforce.

Being a new nurse is not easy, but continue to maintain a positive outlook, stay assertive in the workplace with your coworkers, and attend to your patients needs. If the harassment becomes too much it may be wise to speak to your unit's nurse manager, or if you're in a union, speak with your union rep and see what your options are.

The hardest thing I had to deal with wasn't from other nurses, since the school I went to had me working on the floor I was hired onto after graduation...so all the nurses and aides knew me. But the docs were a whole different story. I was precepting on the floor at 21 y/o and look and have the voice of a child...so respect was something hard to come by. Until I caught a prescribing boo-boo on the part of a very tired on call doctor and questioned it. I was injured shortly there-after and was unable to finish my final preceptorship and sit for the NCLEX, so I am not an RN now, but it's in my blood and I really hope to get back to it soon...once my spine eases up, I will be approaching the program about what accomodations can be made for my diabilities.

Good luck to you in your career. Take care of your back...never do a lift****e alone! And chin up....this will pass with time. <HUGS>

Theresa

[fantasyworld_31501]

First of all you didn't state what type of job you have..If you can get thru nursing school you gotta be tuff..now, all that you mentioned sounds like a whine to me..get tuff girl..grow you a backbone, the trick of the trade for the old nurses is to lay blame to the young ones just getting out of school and especially the first year. One thing about nursing is that the doctors are always gonna give you crap.thats there job and i repeat never ever let anyone intimidate you. As you grow with experience you will grow with everything else. Getting another job may not be the answer for you, for all that your hurt about will be the same anywhere you go..one good piece of advice, keep a record when your being abused and follow proper protocol, write down complaints and go to your manager and if that doesn't work go higher. Don't worry you won't all off the ladder. I worked in a busy emergencry room for twenty years so girl I have been there done that. Just ask for a raise..lol..good luck and remember no one will ever write ,"what a good job she did on your toombstone " so just do what is legal and right. Hold up your head. and if you can't get past this, maybe being a nurse wasn't right for you and maybe you should try another line of career but listen i don't believe that, if you went to school for nursing something inside of you wanted to do it. And one thing about nursing school they don't tell u , you will be toting more bedpans than donald trump got married. keep up a good job and be proud of yourself..i am with you and holding your back...diane in ga.

[babs]

Another RN here, first remember not to take things personally. This is your chosen profession not YOU. Hang in there we need all the good nurses we can get at the moment. There are so many ways to be a nurse, I started off in Long Term Care, nursing homes mostly and I had to wake up a lot of grouchy docs. Try to have all of your facts, vitals etc, before taking on a doc and remember you are part of the professional TEAM taking care of the patients. I am a Public Health Nurse now and I like it a whole lot better than hospital based, not a lot of docs around. The ones I work with do clinics for us and it is very diffenrent working with them. Figure out which part of nursing you are best at and convince an employer that you will do a good job. Good luck and hang in there.

[JAVISI]

Resq911,
I am an R.N, and it is unfortunate that Nurses treat the New Nurses so badly! It happens more often than I think that we like to admit. You can read articles in any Nursing magazine.

My suggestion is to find someone that you seem to relate to. Ask them if they will mentor you.
Also ask questions if you don't know the answer. I gave myself to my patients, that is what I went into Nuirsing for after all. If I had spare time I would do the little extras, visiting with them, giving a back rub, going for a walk with them, fixing their hair, holdind a hand.

I got so much self esteem and self gratitude from my job. I have so many stories and so much gratitude for the gifts I was given by my patients and I am not talking about material things. I miss my job that I loved so much. Hang in there sweetie, you will make it.

Good Luck! Dream Big, with hope for Inner Peace to all!;)
Javisi

[Cry Tears]

My mother was an RN...worked nights, post partum OB/GYN dept.
I know how hard you work! I worked as a Phlebotomist for a large hospital.
I've also seen the work you all do as I've been a patient many times for severe anemia, hemaglobin 5.1 hgb....and Crohns.
So you know a little of my sufferings.
Its nurses who took that extra time...even if it was just a few mins...to hold my hand, let me know I was going to be all right....you are the ones who made my day!:)
You are the ones I always remembered and talked about long after going home and wounds healed.
You were the ones I always hoped would be there the next day.
You were the ones I always wanted to see head pop in and smile!:)
You were the ones that made my very long days just a little brighter!

Thank you to the nurses, aids and candystripers for your tender loving care!
I know how your feet must hurt after a long shift, doctors breathing down your necks, supervisor's ready to jump, phones ringing, charts to be done, lights to answer, bed pan needed picked up, poo-poo's to chart I&O's:D
I try and make things easy for you...I note all my I&O's, put on note, take down to desk! Its a good way to get out of bed unless I have that God awful NG tube! Now thats horrid! I'd rather have an enema every half hour that that thing stuck in yer nose for days on end! Please...not the NG tube!
Blessings to you all who've chosen this thankless profession! Too bad you don't receive tips!
and Javsi...I'm so sorry you no longer are able to do this work. Hugs to you.
cheryl
PS...I'm posting a fluffy chicken for you...enjoy! LOL!

[JAVISI]

Cheryl,
Thank you for all of the nice things that you said. It can be a thankless job at times but my patients gave so much to me:) . More than any of them will ever realize.
I loved caring for people, I guess it was just in my nature? Some Nurse thought that giving baths and changing attends was beneath them, I heard them say this is not what I went to school for. I beg to differ;) I got to know my patients the best while cleaning them up.
I hate being on the other side of the fence:mad: . But I realize all of the work that they have to do. I try not to bother them only if absolutly necessary.
I went to my pulmonologist today, my lungs are not fully inflated so I have to do nebulizer treatments. Then I went to see my gastroenterologist, I have to have another scope to see if my gastrostomy tube is creating an ulcer. I hate going to the Dr.'s but I appriciate all that they do. But The nurses are the ones that are always there to listen to you cry and hold your hand.
I miss my job so much but being so ill this past year I know in my heart that the career that I was born to do is over. I am so thankful for the love care and support that I have gotten from the new Nurses that I meet and am thankful that I got to experience one of the most gratifying jobs a person can have!
Good luck to all the nurses that are just coming into the field! And always remember a small thing to you is so important for your patients. Take the time to get to know them, I will guarantee that it will enrich your life as well as their's;)

[aprillv68]

;) I am trying to find a better job than the one that I have. Being the new nurse I get blamed for everything that goes wrong. I am abused by the docotrs and the other nurses. I am having problems finding another job, simply because they require a year's experience. I do not want to be stuck in the job that I am in now, nor do I want to limit myself. I am afraid of switching to a job that would not give me the skills I need as a new nurse. I really don't know what to do.I'm so sorry you're going through such a rough time, as nurse for 20 years i've been in situations such as yours and i can relate but avoid stress as much as possible. Too much stress can & does lead to long term health problems.

There is no way YOU should be be taking the brunt for everything that goes wrong, if that's the case then it doesn't sound like your co-workers are good team players. These Dr's and other nurses should be turned in. I strongly advise you go to administration and explain what is going on. If you are afraid of retaliation I can't guaratee it wont happen but i willl say that it has never happened to me and most companies have a policy that doesn't tolerate retaliation when complaints of harrassment are addressed to management.

Hang in there, it does get better and please take good care of yourself, make sure you're getting enough sleep, maintain a proper diet and make sure you're drinking plenty of liquids. Stay well

[prn0359]

i am new to this so please forgive me. i also work in the health field as a mental health tech i work with dementia and altzheimers patients,its a tough job. don't take things personal, be positive at what you do.Good Luck

[chunky]

HI Ladies I am a veteran nurse with 26 years in Critical Care and the last 17 years as a case manager in worker's comp field. The most important concept is to know your responsibities and document all interactions it protects you and your patients. Keep a log of interventions esp if someone is giving you advice that may be subject to different interpetations. In this world of litigation the idea is to be vigilant, but have integrity in what you do....Donna

[bewolf]

Try http://allnurses.com/forums/.

[Cherie]

What is your pre degree background? Did you work as a medical assistant or nursing assistant or LPN prior to graduation? If any of these, the year experience is almost automatically lifted. Most nursing programs today do not provide the necessary experience to move on to bigger and better positions without this kind of background experience.


As a nurse with 35 years after RN (and three years prior as a nurse's aide and LPN) I generally have the impression that recent graduates need a great deal of supervision for a year or more before I would want them tending to a loved one of mine. Most jobs that are worth anything on the ladder of success ask for two years of experience.

[terrics]

Hi,

Perhaps you should just tolerate the nonsense for a year and then go elsewhere. This new nurse thing happens everywhere. Actually I read another post that suggested a teaching hospital. That is even a better idea and you may get hired with little experience. Just don't do what I did. I was so afraid of everything that I worked as an aide when I had my LPN. It took me 20 years to get my RN from a program that was like a computer course. I failed the practical twice and passed on the third try. I am 57. I loved working in the hospital as an aide, but once I got my RN I was still afraid to work in a hospital so I did school nursing and now homecare. Soon you won't be the NEW nurse so don't worry. Next year you'll be posting as a pro.

terrics

[Cherie]

Just reread this and am wondering how you are doing after all this time has passed. As I read what you wrote again, it did sound like a major whine and I would hope you have migrated past that stage of your thinking and into a more constructive place.

I personally would not hire any RN who has not had two years full time in Med surg hospital nursing as a graduate nurse for anything relating to long term care, home care or specialty nursing.

I know that a lot of doc's offices are looking for nurses to do histories, vitals, EKGs and patient teaching and contacts. How is your career looking to you these days?