Nurses..need big hugs and support!!!

[tinkerrn]

I am freaking out right now. I am going through a career change and I have been one big ball of anxiety. I have been a nurse since '99. I was an LPN from '99 to '03 when I got my RN. I hated all clinicals except my psych clinicals. I used to get horrible anxiety for any med surg rotation we had to go through. I have only done pysch nursing, no IV's or monitors.

Well, my hubby thinks its just getting way to dangerous and has basically told me to get out. He also works in psych, he is a manager at another hospital. Its easy for him because he doesn't have this 'fear' of med surg.
I just don't know if I can do it. I have been way over the edge on this one.
The job is only 2 12 hour shifts a week, 7 p to 7 a. I have convinced myself that I am not going to be able to do this. I have never started an IV and only inserted a cath once...7 years ago. I am so despressed and unhappy about this job change. Am I being a total nut? I have broken out in hives all over, am having problems breathing, and am melting down at the thought of being on the floor. My hubby is 'proud' of me...blah blah blah. I don't really give a carp about him being proud of me....I can't hardly swallow due to the lump in my throat. UGH!!!!!! I am a horrible nurse.

 

[cheyita]

I doubt you're a horrible nurse. I bet you're probably a great psych nurse. If this is upsetting you this much, maybe you can look into nursing in a clinic setting rather than a hospital.

 

[roseprincess]

I doubt you're a horrible nurse. I bet you're probably a great psych nurse. If this is upsetting you this much, maybe you can look into nursing in a clinic setting rather than a hospital.

Hi Cheyita

 

[Fire14]

Pay may not be as good but how about a long term care facility? I work in one and in 3 yrs I've been there we've had 1 IV. We do have a few foley caths but there is usually another person around to help you if needed. It would give you an adjustment time and than maybe you could handle a hosp setting again.

 

[jenr812]

I am still in nursing school (got LPN this summer and will grad. as RN in May). Don't be so hard on yourself. *hug* How about critical care nursing? It's much different from med/surg (imho) from what I've experienced in clinical and from talking to the nurses on the floors I've done clinicals on? Or ICU? I am not a huge fan of med/surg either. What about mom/baby? There are so many options. Don't let your fear hold you back. Just remember - before you were a psych nurse, you were probably scared to do that, too. It just takes some transition - have faith in yourself - you made it through nursing school, didn't you?

 

[roseprincess]

I am freaking out right now. I am going through a career change and I have been one big ball of anxiety. I have been a nurse since '99. I was an LPN from '99 to '03 when I got my RN. I hated all clinicals except my psych clinicals. I used to get horrible anxiety for any med surg rotation we had to go through. I have only done pysch nursing, no IV's or monitors.

Well, my hubby thinks its just getting way to dangerous and has basically told me to get out. He also works in psych, he is a manager at another hospital. Its easy for him because he doesn't have this 'fear' of med surg.
I just don't know if I can do it. I have been way over the edge on this one.
The job is only 2 12 hour shifts a week, 7 p to 7 a. I have convinced myself that I am not going to be able to do this. I have never started an IV and only inserted a cath once...7 years ago. I am so despressed and unhappy about this job change. Am I being a total nut? I have broken out in hives all over, am having problems breathing, and am melting down at the thought of being on the floor. My hubby is 'proud' of me...blah blah blah. I don't really give a carp about him being proud of me....I can't hardly swallow due to the lump in my throat. UGH!!!!!! I am a horrible nurse.

You're not a horrible nurse . I went thru nursing school in hte late 1980's, in a 2 yr Associate Degree program- it felt more like a 4 yr nursing program. The nursing instructors were mean and very knit- picky about everything I did in clinicals. Some of the instructors were drill
sargeants! (they acted like drill sargeants). I was always nervous about doing clinicals, scared the he** out of me! So I can relate in that respect. I have had one instructor tell me nursing is not for me, go into another field. She just said it nonchalantly during a clinical to me! . Anyways, I graduated with my RN in 1990. Took the nursing boards twice, passed the boards the second time around. I have worked in nursing from 1990 to 1996. Now I'm a SAHM and loving it!
During hte time I did work, I did work in nursing homes as a staff RN.I worked day shift, Pm shift and night shifts, not all at one time. It is hard work working at nursing homes, but it was rewarding at times. You pass meds, do treatments. Depending what floor you work on, you may have to put a catheter in- but very rarely. Very rarely start IV's.- if you work on a medicare unit in a n. home- you may have to put an IV in- but there is usually one nurse who does start the IVs for the unit or all the n. home.

Have you looked into working on an alzheimer unit at a n. home? I have worked on locked alzheimer units in n. homes. There are no IVs involved in that.
One n. home I worked at on the locked Alz. unit, was so easy! Just crush the meds and put in applesauce, pass out meds to your Alz. residents. Do treatments,. Do paperwork and that was it! The nurses aides on that unit I worked did most of the lifting, etc. Tho I did help lift once in awhile.
Have you also looked into working at a pediatric doctors office?
for your anxiety. Hope all goes well with your nursing career

 

[Annie68]

Our hospital offers a "refresher" course for RNs who have been out of the field for awhile, perhaps you could find one in your area?

If you worked as an LPN up to '03 though, you will probably be surprised at how easily you fall back into it. Hang in there!

 

[Pop Daddy]

the bed pan thing would freak me out

 

[sugarpie]

A lot of technical colleges in my area offer IV refresher courses. A litte practice in nursing skills is all you need & you'll have your confidence back.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Our hospital offers a "refresher" course for RNs who have been out of the field for awhile, perhaps you could find one in your area?

If you worked as an LPN up to '03 though, you will probably be surprised at how easily you fall back into it. Hang in there!

That was going to be my suggestion too. And if you tell them it's been a really long time, they will precept you with someone really good and usually let you take as long as necessary to find your comfort zone.
Another option you may want to think about is the OR. Anesthesia does the IV, most come with cath's in place. You just have to learn sterile technique. I did it for 5 years and I said it was the most non nursing, nursing job I've ever had.
Good luck to you and your transition.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

the bed pan thing would freak me out

No, its when they "miss" the bedpan that would freak you out.

 

[tinkerrn]

Thanks guys....this has just been a stressfull time anyway, the job change just has added to it. I have just hit a dead end to the psych field. I have done supervision and been offered an asst. manager position in the past. There is little opportunity to find a job outside of a hospital. I have appiled for plenty of jobs and they come back with "we need someone with med surg experience". So 4 years as an LPN and 3 as an RN as a psych nurse has left me with little variety. I have worked gero psych, and enjoyed it. The thing is, my father is in a nursing home with end stage alzheimers.

I am just frustrated, and upset with my hubby. He has been a nurse for 11 years and has only worked in one hospital, as a staff nurse for 5 years and nurse manager for 6.
Its just so easy for him to tell me to 'quit' my job and go into another field. For years, I was never the 'nurse' he was. I went through his 'competitiveness' when I did supervision of an 11 unit hospital..a 244 bed hospital!!!

 

[MagicalMom]

My hospital gives all new hires 3 months of orientation, no matter how long they have been a nurse. During this time you receive plenty of practice in every area. Most of our IVs & Foleys are inserterd by a tech & if there is anything you are unsure of there are plenty of other nurses around to give a helping hand. I know some hospitals have IV teams now so you may never even have to worry about it. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[tinkerrn]

I think alot of my fear is my thinking 'I am going to kill everyone by making some mistake'. The whole death and dying thing....I am not good at that. You don't have much death in psych, unless they do the taking.

 

[frndofpooh]

Have you thought about public health nursing?

I got into public health after 5 years working Burn ICU. I just could not take seeing another abused child or 95% burned adult. I was also having a lot of anxiety about possibly overmedicating a patient (at that time, the nurses did their own concious sedation without an MD present). So, I switched to public health. I really enjoyed it! I worked prenatal, family planning and immunization as well as TB/STD clinic. Loads less pressure, a wide variety of options, and great teaching opportunities (which might work well with your psych skills. We had a few ex- psych nurses that were great at home visiting ).

Don't be so hard on yourself - change is never easy. If med/surg doesn't feel right, look elsewhere. Nursing is a profession where you have to like the population your serve to do well. Keep us posted!

 

[tinkerrn]

I appreciate everyones support. This has just been really hard, which it really shouldn't be. I am just having the hardest time taking this challenge and turning into something positive. Did any of you have problems or anxiety about working in a hospital? I mean....I am a nurse....I aced my boards both times, had a 3.75 gpa,
never missed a day of clinicals and had pretty decent care plans. I am just not a great 'hands on' nurse. I trried raelly hard, but just wasn't a 'superstar' with clinicals.
I had some really mean instructors whose job they said was 'to fail you'. Talk about a negative enviroment.

 

[tinkerrn]

Just an update...2nd day of orientation. Well.....I have discovered I am just not med-surg material. I have learned how to properly place a body in a body bag, prep the body before placing in the body bag, and first and formost notify our organ harvesting organization of a pt. close to expering.
I am not sure how I feel about this...another thread maybe. It almost makes them seem like vultures...waiting for their prey. I know that transplants save so many lives, but they way they go about it in such an aggressive way.
I would much rather have a pt. saying they wanted to kill me then actually having them pass on me. I am going to end up putting a chest tube where a foley goes. One day at a time..or until I find another job.

 

[jenr812]

At least you have a Disney trip coming up to look forward to In all seriousness, I hope things look up for you soon!

 

[damom2daboyz]

Hey Tinkerrn . I feel your pain. When switching specialities it's like being a "new grad" all over again. Med-Surg is a tough floor for anyone, new or experienced. Every Med-Surg nurse I know always looks as if they have been plowed over by a bulldozer. I agree with finding a refresher course and taking advantage of any extended orientation/preceptorship available. Sometimes during a switch it's just a matter of time before you become comfortable with your new surroundings and not so much like a "fish out of water". I had worked in small ICU units for 5yrs at small hospitals before I got up enough nerve to try out a larger, trauma hospital. I was a nervous wreck for 3 months but everyone was great, well, most everyone (you know there always has to be a "know-it-all-Miss-Perfect-Nurse"). Anyway, I began to loosen up after that. I highly recommend of being up front about your skill level at all times. I always would say, "hey, I haven't had a Swanz in 3 yrs" or "I've never done that but if you show me and explain it, I'll be more than willing to give it a try". Now, I'm no where near as nervous. I just assisted with a chest tube, the first one in 2 years. I just told the MD that "hey, it's been a while, I've got the stuff, if you'll walk me through it". And I work in the Burn ICU...no problems...they just told me what to do.

Best of luck. Even if Med-Surg isn't your cup of tea, after a couple of months of experience you'll feel like you can do anything. Keep the faith.

HTH,
Debbie

 

[ilovepcot]

One area you may find a good fit for you is working for an insurance company. Many RNs who enjoy the administrative end of nursing as opposed to floor work review medical records for them. My cousin was a clinical supervisor in a large city hospital for nearly 30 years. Loved it but her feet gave out on those concrete floors. Now she works for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and loves it. Monday-Friday from 9-5 and all holidays.

I worked nearly all areas of nursing with the exception of surgery. I gave it all up to play with glass...stained glass, that is.