New Nurse

5 posts · started Jan 27, 2009

dnightnurse Jan 27, 2009, 3:19 AM
Hi. I've been an RN since June, 2008, and I love nursing. I'm also 58 years old! My job is as a staff nurse on a cardiac telemetry med-surg unit in a large teaching hospital. There are times when I feel overwhelmed with the idea that I know NOTHING. My fellow nurses are very helpful, thank goodness, and I'm learning as I go. We're contemplating a move to another part of the country when I have finished my first year and am wondering whether I'd be better off in another large hospital or in a smaller, community oriented hospital. Hospice also interests me. Thanks for your feedback.
Grandma-RN Jan 28, 2009, 2:18 AM
dnightnurse wrote:Hi. I've been an RN since June, 2008, and I love nursing. I'm also 58 years old! My job is as a staff nurse on a cardiac telemetry med-surg unit in a large teaching hospital. There are times when I feel overwhelmed with the idea that I know NOTHING. My fellow nurses are very helpful, thank goodness, and I'm learning as I go. We're contemplating a move to another part of the country when I have finished my first year and am wondering whether I'd be better off in another large hospital or in a smaller, community oriented hospital. Hospice also interests me. Thanks for your feedback.

Welcome to the board and to nursing.

Feeling overwhelmed is "normal" not only in the first few years, but throughout the career of a nurse. The thing is how we decide to handle the stress of the job.

We all start out knowing nothing and surely, we began to see the big picture and critical thinking shows its head and the instinct abounds, too.

You should consider what you want career wise and what kind of atmospehere you would like when dedicing where to work.

In time, sooner than later, it will all come full circle.

Much success.
cougarnurse Jan 28, 2009, 2:36 AM
Glad to have you join us! If you want a slower pace, perhaps the smaller hospital would be a good choice. You do have some good background right now in the teaching hospital. You ARE learning how diseases affect people, and all this will help you if/when you decide to move on to Hospice.
Hope you drop by often!
SoldierNurse Jan 28, 2009, 10:56 PM
dnightnurse wrote:Hi. I've been an RN since June, 2008, and I love nursing. I'm also 58 years old! My job is as a staff nurse on a cardiac telemetry med-surg unit in a large teaching hospital. There are times when I feel overwhelmed with the idea that I know NOTHING. My fellow nurses are very helpful, thank goodness, and I'm learning as I go. We're contemplating a move to another part of the country when I have finished my first year and am wondering whether I'd be better off in another large hospital or in a smaller, community oriented hospital. Hospice also interests me. Thanks for your feedback.
Welcome! IMHO, most Telemetry Floors are hectic D/T the majority of Tele patients are just a step away from being admitted to the ICU.

I started my nursing career on a 64 bed Tele Floor and learned alot in 1.5 years. However, decided to move on to critical care where the nurse - patient ratio is lower. Many reasons exist for working in a smaller community hospital vs. a large medical center, and vice versa. However, working Hospice [very commendable] is a whole different ball of wax.
Robert F Jan 29, 2009, 4:11 AM
I sometimes float on occasion to surgical stepdown, or some other ancillary unit.I dread sending patients up to the units due to the fact that we (I) have to login to MediTech and change up the room # on all lab orders (and of course the pt has standing orders for BMP, CBC, etc). I am like you Soldier, I prefer to stick with Critical Care.