u/Special-Nectarine853

TLDR: Any advice for someone working in medsurg? (Full details below)

I say "'medsurg" very lightly, because I haven't had a single "real" medsurg patient since the day I got hired. Almost all our patients should really be in stepdown or even ICU, but they come to my unit because both stepdown and ICU are always full (what else is new), and we just roll with it because not like we have any other choice.

Every single shift, I feel like my license is on the line. It sucks but I know this happens a lot in other hospitals too, and guess I can't complain because it's definitely preparing me for higher acuity care, since I do hope to work in stepdown and/or ICU one day later on. Definitely not anytime soon though, because if this is what just medsurg is like, Idk about stepdown or ICU anymore...

I usually work 3 12s each week. I still feel just as lost, confused, and incomptent as my first day. I already know they're gonna chew me out for overthinking things and moving too slow, taking too long, not being efficient/managing time, multitasking/clustering care etc. But then if I stop asking questions, go faster, and do multiple things at once, they chew me out for being careless and reckless and say that I need to slow down and ask for help and do one thing at a time. Literally exact polar opposites contradicting each other.

Idk how I'm supposed to last here but I don't have a choice because I really need this job to pay rent/bills and of course to get experience. I don't wanna be "that nurse" that only lasted a few months, quit, and then couldn't get hired anywhere else. Also I realize that just transferring to somehwere else might not be the solution either, because there's always a chance that wherever I transfer to might be the same if not even worse. Sorry for the rant and long post, but thank you for reading this far.

TLDR: Any advice for someone working in medsurg? (Full details below)

I say "'medsurg" very lightly, because I haven't had a single "real" medsurg patient since the day I got hired. Almost all our patients should really be in stepdown or even ICU, but they come to my unit because both stepdown and ICU are always full (what else is new), and we just roll with it because not like we have any other choice.

Every single shift, I feel like my license is on the line. It sucks but I know this happens a lot in other hospitals too, and guess I can't complain because it's definitely preparing me for higher acuity care, since I do hope to work in stepdown and/or ICU one day later on. Definitely not anytime soon though, because if this is what just medsurg is like, Idk about stepdown or ICU anymore...

I usually work 3 12s each week. I still feel just as lost, confused, and incomptent as my first day. I already know they're gonna chew me out for overthinking things and moving too slow, taking too long, not being efficient/managing time, multitasking/clustering care etc. But then if I stop asking questions, go faster, and do multiple things at once, they chew me out for being careless and reckless and say that I need to slow down and ask for help and do one thing at a time. Literally exact polar opposites contradicting each other.

Idk how I'm supposed to last here but I don't have a choice because I really need this job to pay rent/bills and of course to get experience. I don't wanna be "that nurse" that only lasted a few months, quit, and then couldn't get hired anywhere else. Also I realize that just transferring to somehwere else might not be the solution either, because there's always a chance that wherever I transfer to might be the same if not even worse. Sorry for the rant and long post, but thank you for reading this far.

TLDR: Any advice for someone working in medsurg? (Full details below)

I say "'medsurg" very lightly, because I haven't had a single "real" medsurg patient since the day I got hired. Almost all our patients should really be in stepdown or even ICU, but they come to my unit because both stepdown and ICU are always full (what else is new), and we just roll with it because not like we have any other choice.

Every single shift, I feel like my license is on the line. It sucks but I know this happens a lot in other hospitals too, and guess I can't complain because it's definitely preparing me for higher acuity care, since I do hope to work in stepdown and/or ICU one day later on. Definitely not anytime soon though, because if this is what just medsurg is like, Idk about stepdown or ICU anymore...

I usually work 3 12s each week. I still feel just as lost, confused, and incomptent as my first day. I already know they're gonna chew me out for overthinking things and moving too slow, taking too long, not being efficient/managing time, multitasking/clustering care etc. But then if I stop asking questions, go faster, and do multiple things at once, they chew me out for being careless and reckless and say that I need to slow down and ask for help and do one thing at a time. Literally exact polar opposites contradicting each other.

Idk how I'm supposed to last here but I don't have a choice because I really need this job to pay rent/bills and of course to get experience. I don't wanna be "that nurse" that only lasted a few months, quit, and then couldn't get hired anywhere else. Also I realize that just transferring to somehwere else might not be the solution either, because there's always a chance that wherever I transfer to might be the same if not even worse. Sorry for the rant and long post, but thank you for reading this far.

TLDR: Any advice for someone working in medsurg? (Full details below)

I say "'medsurg" very lightly, because I haven't had a single "real" medsurg patient since the day I got hired. Almost all our patients should really be in stepdown or even ICU, but they come to my unit because both stepdown and ICU are always full (what else is new), and we just roll with it because not like we have any other choice.

Every single shift, I feel like my license is on the line. It sucks but I know this happens a lot in other hospitals too, and guess I can't complain because it's definitely preparing me for higher acuity care, since I do hope to work in stepdown and/or ICU one day later on. Definitely not anytime soon though, because if this is what just medsurg is like, Idk about stepdown or ICU anymore...

I usually work 3 12s each week. I still feel just as lost, confused, and incomptent as my first day. I already know they're gonna chew me out for overthinking things and moving too slow, taking too long, not being efficient/managing time, multitasking/clustering care etc. But then if I stop asking questions, go faster, and do multiple things at once, they chew me out for being careless and reckless and say that I need to slow down and ask for help and do one thing at a time. Literally exact polar opposites contradicting each other.

Idk how I'm supposed to last here but I don't have a choice because I really need this job to pay rent/bills and of course to get experience. I don't wanna be "that nurse" that only lasted a few months, quit, and then couldn't get hired anywhere else. Also I realize that just transferring to somehwere else might not be the solution either, because there's always a chance that wherever I transfer to might be the same if not even worse. Sorry for the rant and long post, but thank you for reading this far.

TLDR: Any advice for someone working in medsurg? (Full details below)

I say "'medsurg" very lightly, because I haven't had a single "real" medsurg patient since the day I got hired. Almost all our patients should really be in stepdown or even ICU, but they come to my unit because both stepdown and ICU are always full (what else is new), and we just roll with it because not like we have any other choice.

Every single shift, I feel like my license is on the line. It sucks but I know this happens a lot in other hospitals too, and guess I can't complain because it's definitely preparing me for higher acuity care, since I do hope to work in stepdown and/or ICU one day later on. Definitely not anytime soon though, because if this is what just medsurg is like, Idk about stepdown or ICU anymore...

I usually work 3 12s each week. I still feel just as lost, confused, and incomptent as my first day. I already know they're gonna chew me out for overthinking things and moving too slow, taking too long, not being efficient/managing time, multitasking/clustering care etc. But then if I stop asking questions, go faster, and do multiple things at once, they chew me out for being careless and reckless and say that I need to slow down and ask for help and do one thing at a time. Literally exact polar opposites contradicting each other.

Idk how I'm supposed to last here but I don't have a choice because I really need this job to pay rent/bills and of course to get experience. I don't wanna be "that nurse" that only lasted a few months, quit, and then couldn't get hired anywhere else. Also I realize that just transferring to somehwere else might not be the solution either, because there's always a chance that wherever I transfer to might be the same if not even worse. Sorry for the rant and long post, but thank you for reading this far.

TLDR: Any advice for someone working in medsurg? (Full details below)

I say "'medsurg" very lightly, because I haven't had a single "real" medsurg patient since the day I got hired. Almost all our patients should really be in stepdown or even ICU, but they come to my unit because both stepdown and ICU are always full (what else is new), and we just roll with it because not like we have any other choice.

Every single shift, I feel like my license is on the line. It sucks but I know this happens a lot in other hospitals too, and guess I can't complain because it's definitely preparing me for higher acuity care, since I do hope to work in stepdown and/or ICU one day later on. Definitely not anytime soon though, because if this is what just medsurg is like, Idk about stepdown or ICU anymore...

I usually work 3 12s each week. I still feel just as lost, confused, and incomptent as my first day. I already know they're gonna chew me out for overthinking things and moving too slow, taking too long, not being efficient/managing time, multitasking/clustering care etc. But then if I stop asking questions, go faster, and do multiple things at once, they chew me out for being careless and reckless and say that I need to slow down and ask for help and do one thing at a time. Literally exact polar opposites contradicting each other.

Idk how I'm supposed to last here but I don't have a choice because I really need this job to pay rent/bills and of course to get experience. I don't wanna be "that nurse" that only lasted a few months, quit, and then couldn't get hired anywhere else. Also I realize that just transferring to somehwere else might not be the solution either, because there's always a chance that wherever I transfer to might be the same if not even worse. Sorry for the rant and long post, but thank you for reading this far.

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

***EDIT:

Hello everyone, first off, I'd like to start by saying thank you to everyone who read and commented on my post, I really appreciate it. I assure you all I've read every single comment, and I'm doing my best to reply to all of them one by one, it's just taking a while, so please bear with me. However, if I continue to keep getting the same questions over and over again (even though I've already answered and explained multiple times), I'm going to lose my mind. That being said, please save both yourself and me the trouble and read the following. If this doesn't clear things up, then Idk what will:

Yes, I did go to nursing school and yes my school is accredited. I graduated and got my license last year. I'm an LVN, so no, I cannot work as a CNA or tech. I work full time in a hospital both nights and weekends, so yes, I already get both night and weekend shift differentials, but I still only make $21/hr, which comes out to only about $17/hr after taxes and all other deductions (so please do yourself a favor and never come to Texas and/or work at an HCA facility if you can help it) And no, I cannot just go get a different job, because the hospital where I work at is the only hospital in the entire area that hires LVNs and offers tuition assistance. Speaking of this so-called tuition assistance, the "assistance" is only up to $5k of tuition reimbursement, which of course is better than nothing and I don't wanna sound ungrateful, but reimbursement and direct bill tuition assistance or not the same thing. Reimbursement means that I'm still responsible for paying all $38k out of pocket up front, only to be repaid $5k after I've already paid everything. If I had $38k, I wouldn't be making this post. And yes, I already submitted my FAFSA and spoke with someone in the financial aid department in my school, and no I do not qualify for any loans. Yes, my hospital pays school, but only for the ADN to BSN bridge, not the LVN to ADN bridge. I don't have an ADN yet, so I can't just do the BSN bridge for free instead. Yes, I'm very aware that there are community colleges and public universities that are way cheaper. I came from the poorest district in my city and grew up in the foster care system, so and I'm definitely not too good to go to a CC or public school, in fact, I'd actually prefer it. But none of that matters if no one accepts any of my credits. The reason why they don't accept them is because the school I graduated from utilizes the quarter system rather than the traditional semester system, so the credits don't transfer over evenly. But I DID take all the same prereqs and nursing courses that any other LVN student would take in any other LVN program, just in a quarter system rather than semesters, and all at the same institution instead of prereqs at a community college and then transferring to a university. I am however seriously considering starting over, because $38k for just an ADN is ridiculous. Also no, military is not an option. I am well over the max age limit (I'm not just some young 20 something year old fresh out of nursing school barely trying to get their life and career started for the first time) and I am 99.9% positive that I also have a disqualifying health condition. Also even if I were younger and healthier, "just join the military" is not that simple, for me or for anyone. It's not what what you see in the movies or on TV so stop believing that lie. It's a whole process and there are some extremely strict requirements that have only become even more strict over the past few years. Back in the day, they used to take almost anyone off the street, but now they actually have standards (no offense to anyone who enlisted or commissioned back in the day). Nowadays more people are rejected than not, even young healthy 18 and 19 year olds fresh out of high school. Last but not least, since I made this post to hear from everyone, you're more than welcome to share which state you're from and how much tuition costs in your home state, but if you're gonna unnecessarily turn it into "Aw you're so lucky, you have no idea how good you have it, I pay way more than you do, I wish I was you", respectfully, STFU and GTFO. It is NOT a pissing contest or competition to see who pays the most. I'm sorry you pay so much, but if you come from a very high cost of living state, if you're paying out of state tuition, or are doing a grad/post grad degree, then no shit your tuition is gonna be higher than mine, because I'm in a lower cost of living state, and I'm paying in state tuition since I'm a permanent resident of my state, and I'm only doing an ADN, not a BSN, MSN, or DNP. As a wise commentor stated, "Everyone's problems are relative", so just because you pay more than me and I pay less than you does NOT mean that I'm lucky or have it good at all...I am literally homeless and don't even have a car to live in.

***ORIGINAL POST:

Aside from anything illegal/illicit, dangerous/unsafe, how the actual heck does one even begin to afford monthly tuition payments of almost $2,200?! (Yes, you also read that right. I wish I was kidding, but I unfortunately am most definitely not.)

I'm very open-minded and willing to try just about anything within reason, nothing is beneath me and I'm never too good to do anything, as long as it doesn't break any laws or hurt anyone, that's all I care about, seriously.

Sorry if that sounds so dramatic, but I'm only saying what I'm saying because I've already tried everything else I can think of (applying to a cheaper school, applying for grants and loans, working multiple jobs, working overtime, picking up extra shifts, asking for a raise, applying for credit cards and payday advances, canceling all my memberships/subscriptions, never eating out or ordering delivery, buying only generic store brand items, buying all clothing/shoes and household items second hand from thrift/consignments stores only, asking family and friends for help, making a GoFundMe, donating plasma, participating in compensated clinical trials, moving to a smaller/cheaper apartment, getting a roommate, selling almost all my stuff, etc.)

Also, sorry if any of y'all on here are going through something similar as me, I know it's really hard and I'm right here with you trying to figure it out, but hopefully we can all figure out something together.

Thank you for reading all the way to the end...much love to every single one of you, have a great day.

***EDIT:

Hello everyone, first off, I'd like to start by saying thank you to everyone who read and commented on my post, I really appreciate it. I assure you all I've read every single comment, and I'm doing my best to reply to all of them one by one, it's just taking a while, so please bear with me. However, if I continue to keep getting the same questions over and over again (even though I've already answered and explained multiple times), I'm going to lose my mind. That being said, please save both yourself and me the trouble and read the following. If this doesn't clear things up, then Idk what will:

Yes, I did go to nursing school and yes my school is accredited. I graduated and got my license last year. I'm an LVN, so no, I cannot work as a CNA or tech. I work full time in a hospital both nights and weekends, so yes, I already get both night and weekend shift differentials, but I still only make $21/hr, which comes out to only about $17/hr after taxes and all other deductions (so please do yourself a favor and never come to Texas and/or work at an HCA facility if you can help it) And no, I cannot just go get a different job, because the hospital where I work at is the only hospital in the entire area that hires LVNs and offers tuition assistance. Speaking of this so-called tuition assistance, the "assistance" is only up to $5k of tuition reimbursement, which of course is better than nothing and I don't wanna sound ungrateful, but reimbursement and direct bill tuition assistance or not the same thing. Reimbursement means that I'm still responsible for paying all $38k out of pocket up front, only to be repaid $5k after I've already paid everything. If I had $38k, I wouldn't be making this post. And yes, I already submitted my FAFSA and spoke with someone in the financial aid department in my school, and no I do not qualify for any loans. Yes, my hospital pays school, but only for the ADN to BSN bridge, but not the LVN to ADN bridge. I don't have an ADN yet, so I can't just do the BSN bridge for free instead. Yes, I'm very aware that there are community colleges and public universities that are way cheaper. I came from the poorest district in my city and grew up in the the foster care system, so and I'm definitely not too good to go to a CC or public school, in fact, I'd actually prefer it. But none of that matters if no one accepts any of my credits. The reason why they don't accept my credits is because the school I graduated from utilizes the quarter system rather than the traditional semester system, so the credits don't transfer over evenly. But I DID take all the same prereqs and nursing courses that any other LVN student would take in any other LVN program, just in a quarter system rather than semesters, and all at the same institution instead of prereqs at a community college and then transferring to a university. I am however seriously considering starting over, because $38k for just an ADN is ridiculous. Also no, military is not an option. I am well over the max age limit (I'm not just some young 20 something year old fresh out of nursing school barely trying to get their life and career started for the first time) and I am 99.9% positive that I also have a disqualifying health condition. Also even if I were younger and healthier, "just join the military" is not that simple, for me or for anyone. It's not what what you see in the movies or on TV. It's a whole process and there are some extremely strict requirements that have only become even more strict over the past few years. Back in the day, they used to take almost anyone off the street, but now they actually have standards (no offense to anyone who enlisted or commissioned back in the day). Nowadays more people are rejected than not, even young healthy 18 and 19 year olds fresh out of high school. Last but not least, since I made this post to hear from everyone, you're more than welcome to share which state you're from and how much tuition costs in your home state, but if you're gonna unnecessarily turn it into "Aw you're so lucky, you have no idea how good you have it, I pay way more than you do, I wish I was you", respectfully, STFU and GTFO. It is NOT a pissing contest or competition to see who pays the most. I'm sorry you pay so much, but if you come from a very high cost of living state like Cali or NY, if you're paying out of state tuition, or are doing a grad/post grad, then no shit your tuition is gonna be higher than mine, because I'm in the very low cost of living state of Texas, and I'm paying in state tuition since I'm a permanent Texas resident, and I'm only doing an ADN, not a BSN, MSN, or DNP. But as a wise commentor stated, "Everyone's problems are relative", so just because you pay more than me and I pay less than you does NOT mean that I'm lucky or have it good at all...I am literally homeless and don't even have a car to live in.

***ORIGINAL POST:

Aside from anything illegal/illicit, dangerous/unsafe, how the actual heck does one even begin to afford monthly tuition payments of almost $2,200?! (Yes, you also read that right. I wish I was kidding, but I unfortunately am most definitely not.)

I'm very open-minded and willing to try just about anything within reason, nothing is beneath me and I'm never too good to do anything, as long as it doesn't break any laws or hurt anyone, that's all I care about, seriously.

Sorry if that sounds so dramatic, but I'm only saying what I'm saying because I've already tried everything else I can think of (applying to a cheaper school, applying for grants and loans, working multiple jobs, working overtime, picking up extra shifts, asking for a raise, applying for credit cards and payday advances, canceling all my memberships/subscriptions, never eating out or ordering delivery, buying only generic store brand items, buying all clothing/shoes and household items second hand from thrift/consignments stores only, asking family and friends for help, making a GoFundMe, donating plasma, participating in compensated clinical trials, moving to a smaller/cheaper apartment, getting a roommate, selling almost all my stuff, etc.)

Also, sorry if any of y'all on here are going through something similar as me, I know it's really hard and I'm right here with you trying to figure it out, but hopefully we can all figure out something together.

Thank you for reading all the way to the end...much love to every single one of you, have a great day.

Aside from anything illegal/illicit, dangerous/unsafe, how the actual heck does one even begin to afford monthly tuition payments of almost $2,200?! (Yes, you also read that right. I wish I was kidding, but I unfortunately am most definitely not.)

I'm very open-minded and willing to try just about anything within reason, nothing is beneath me and I'm never too good to do anything, as long as it doesn't break any laws or hurt anyone, that's all I care about, seriously.

Sorry if that sounds so dramatic, but I'm only saying what I'm saying because I've already tried everything else I can think of (applying to a cheaper school, applying for grants and loans, working multiple jobs, working overtime, picking up extra shifts, asking for a raise, applying for credit cards and payday advances, canceling all my memberships/subscriptions, never eating out or ordering delivery, buying only generic store brand items, buying all clothing/shoes and household items second hand from thrift/consignments stores only, asking family and friends for help, making a GoFundMe, donating plasma, participating in compensated clinical trials, moving to a smaller/cheaper apartment, getting a roommate, selling almost all my stuff, etc.)

Also, sorry if any of y'all on here are going through something similar as me, I know it's really hard and I'm right here with you trying to figure it out, but hopefully we can all figure out something together.

Thank you for reading all the way to the end...much love to every single one of you, have a great day.