Unhappy as a New Grad
Hello all, I graduated in May and I’ve been working a job as a med surg nurse (they said it’s a respiratory floor but it’s actually like a lot of different things) for almost a month now.
I wouldn’t say I hate it but I dislike it. It’s really only been 3-4 weeks on the floor but every morning is a constant battle with anxiety. As a student, I was a lot more confident doing skills, now in the morning I start shaking even just pulling PO meds. Everyday it sort of gets better— but I feel like I didn’t learn anything hands on in school and my orientation has just been basic skills like programming an IV pump and hanging fluids since I only got the chance to like 3 times in school. Never worked as an extern or CNA so I have no healthcare experience. Everyday during med pass in the morning I wanna throw up, after 9AM med pass and assessments I feel slight relief and am able to think more during my tasks.
My preceptor said my skills needed work, and I agreed with her. We have only been working on basic skills and not focusing on charting, documentation, placing orders etc… and it’s making me feel really stupid I am professing this slow compared to other people. I feel like my preceptor does a lot of it for me and it embarrasses me.
HOWEVER—- I need some advice.
I got hired into this same hospital for an inpatient psych job. I chose the med surg job over the psych job because everyone says to not do psych out of school ( my sister who’s a nurse, her husband who’s a NP, my professors.) So, I turned down the inpatient peds psych job where I could have been working days. Would I lose my nursing medical skills like IVs and stuff? Yes probably. But would I be happier? Yes I would. I have always had a passion for mental health, had family members struggle with addiction and it’s fascinating to me. Im just scared I will shoot myself in the foot and make my career sink into a hole since I do wanna go back to school for a more advanced nursing degree . I would love to ask to maybe transfer to psych since they are always looking for help, but I turned it down and decided to do med surg for almost a month now.
Do I give the med surg job more time and build confidence ?Should I ask to transfer to psych? I can’t keep hating my job.