Related: Med-Surg Nursing, New Nurse, Stress

I started on a surgical oncology floor in January. My orientation lasted approximately 6 weeks, and then I was on my own. I know that I have learned a ton since nursing school as well as since my orientation started. However, I continually feel frustrated will everything I do not know. I go to work terrified that I am going to see something I do [...]

Related: Hospital Nursing, New Nurse, Stress

Hello everyone,

Well I have been a nurse for just over three years.

I began my career as a new nurse in a small community hospital. It took me about a year to be comfortable there. I remember being so anxious driving into work...almost in tears! But soon enough I got used to the processes, and began to precept new nurses and be charge RN.

Well I have [...]

Related: Boundaries, Conflict, New Nurse, Nurse Support, Stress, Support

Hey everybody, I was wondering if you can help me out with something. I'm in my final quarter of nursing school and a discussion was brought up. here's the topic:

Talk with at least 2 nursing graduates who have been working as nurses for anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. Ask them about their socialization to nursing after graduation. Did either of them experience reality [...]

Related: Attitude, Caring, Emotions, Patience, Patients, Professionalism, Stress

Swine flu.  There are millions of people who are panicking over the mere mention of it.  Schools are closing.  People are changing travel plans.  Government officials have stopped taking public transportation....and everybody and their brother is calling their doctor's office.

I, on the other hand, am not panicked.  I am annoyed.  The phones of every doctor's office in the country, and possibly a few other countries, [...]

Related: Balance, Caregiving, Compassion Fatigue, Critical Care Nursing, Energy, Healthy Living, New Nurse, Night Shift, Nursing Shortage, Stress, Support

I am a nurse on a cardiovascular floor. I have been there for a couple of years and can't help but notice the increasing acuity of the patients.

Our nurse/patient ratio is 1:5/6. I know that doesn't sound like a lot to some people, but most of the patients we take care of have a list 20 miles long of medical conditions, which only adds to [...]

Related: Attitude, Career, Charting, Expectations, Mindset, Nursing Jobs, Stress

Have you taken a job that sounded perfect only to find out you were sadly mistaken?

I have often talked about how much I love my job.  I work in a family practice office and have worked there for nine years.  I love the staff and the docs.  I love (most of) the patients.  In fact, even the patients I don't like that much I have [...]

Related: Expectations, Failure, Goals, New Grad, New Nurse, Nurse Resident Programs, Organizational Skills, Orientee, Preceptor, Residency, Stress

I graduated in June, got married in July, moved in July and decided to wait a little while until finally starting a new job in Dec. I found a residency in an ER thats really close to my house, and I was really excited. However now that I've been there for 4 weeks, I'm feeling sooooo overwhelmed. The first week and a [...]

Related: Addiction, Confidence, Delegation, Drug Addiction, Failure, Fear, Goals, Mistake, NCLEX, Nurse Relationships, Orientee, Perfect Nurse, Stress

As we come to the end of 2008, I thought it would be good for us to do a little RealityRN review.  You know, think about the good, the bad, and the ugly of a year almost gone.

I spent some time reviewing what the "hot topics" have been.  We certainly have covered a lot of ground--that's for sure.  We've talked about drug addiction, the NCLEX [...]

Related: Anxiety, Charting, Expectations, Feelings, Learning, Stress, Time, Travel Nursing

My first assignment as a travel nurse, I often cried or vented on the phone during my 30-minute drive home. I would often pray before work, "God, please get me and my patients safely through this day..."

I know many nurses love the life and adventure of being a travel nurse: a new city, with a nightlife, restaurants, beaches, or other attractions. Lots of people love [...]

Related: Anger, Caring, Conflict, Delegation, Emotions, Expectations, Failure, Mindset, New Nurse, Nursing Shortage, Patients, Stress, Support, Time

I went to work: 14 surgical patients. The nurse assistant called in sick and they couldn't find a replacement for the first four hours of my shift.

The day didn’t start out great—-and soon got worse.

That day I asked the hospital cleaning crew to mop up some fresh vomit. "We don't clean up body fluids," she replied. I tried to borrow her mop to clean it [...]