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Original poster

Nursing - at my wits end

52 replies

Gomoza2018 · 21/06/2019 18:35

Hello fellow mums ... I’m stressed ... I qualified as a Nurse just 3 months ago... as a student I didn’t enjoy most of my placements but I was encouraged to hold on until I qualified as many said my perception would change! However, 3 months in outpatients & I feel depressed having to go to work... I just don’t feel it ... plus the blame culture, gossiping & backbiting amongst colleagues is making me feel more despondent! Anyway my question is what can I do as a newly qualified Nurse with a mere 3 months experience? I’m lost on the way forward ... I enjoy working with figures & used to be a Secretary/Administrator ... please help me ... I’m desperate ... thank you 🙏

OP posts:
ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 21/06/2019 18:38

Can you talk to your preceptorship team? At our trust they're pretty good at moving new starters who aren't happy. It sounds like the culture in your workplace is the biggest problem.

Nursing is so varied, I'm sure you'll find something that suits you but it might take time.

What are your interests?

TemporaryPermanent · 21/06/2019 18:39

Maybe theatre nursing? what was your least bad placement?

HippyChickMama · 21/06/2019 18:41

What made you want to be a nurse? Did you enjoy any of your placements?

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Babysharkdododont · 21/06/2019 18:43

Get your preceptorship done, then maybe look at research?

Grumpbum123 · 21/06/2019 18:45

Take a step back do the minimum that is acceptable then look at all aspects of nursing both NHS and private. Move on from there

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/06/2019 18:47

Do your Botox training.

Jemima232 · 21/06/2019 18:48

Tell us which area of nursing you enjoyed most.

OPD is not always the most enjoyable place to work.

Wifeofapostie · 21/06/2019 18:53

Sounds like you need a change of department and find a better team to be part of. Are you adult branch?

bellalou1234 · 21/06/2019 18:57

You sound like me only im 8 months qualified. Currently on a weeks holiday and the anxiety about going back is killing me...

Feilin · 21/06/2019 19:34

Try surgical or medical wards.

Theworldisfullofgs · 21/06/2019 19:36

Clinical audit or research might suit you better

Theworldisfullofgs · 21/06/2019 19:37

But I agree, stick it out and get your preceptorshipf irst.

KipperTheFrog · 21/06/2019 19:41

Outpatients is probably one of the most soul destroying places to work as a nurse! Very little nursing goes on there!
Finish your preceptorship then look into research? Or drug rep? Or another area of clinical practice - wards or general practice.

madcatladyforever · 21/06/2019 19:43

I trained as a nurse in 1983 and back then we were very well prepared for being a newly qualified nurse and spent most of our third year being in charge of the ward with supervision and were very much eased into it when we qualified.
That really has all changed now and I very much feel new members of staff are chucked in and left to sink or swim with no decent support from their colleagues or managers.
It really is gutting, I'm glad I'm not nursing any more, I went back to uni and trained to be a podiatrist which is so much easier and 9-5 with weekends off.
it would be a terrible shame for you to waste an entire three year training when there are so many satisfying things you could do when you have that essential one year post grad experience - try and stick it out and see it as only temporary.
You could go onto health visiting, district nursing, private hospital work, nursing home, or if you prefer ward work.
Nursing really is a very flexible career which you can do part time round a family in any area you choose - it saved my bacon when I was a single parent.
I felt the same about my post grad theatre placement, I absolutely despised every second of every day and the sister was a complete bitch. But at the end of the year I was accepted at East Grinstead hospital to do [lastics and burns and absolutely loved it.
The first year is horrible but then opportunities open up before you.
Don't let a few nasty people make you give up your whole career.

Mildpanic · 21/06/2019 19:54

So sorry you aren’t enjoying it. The beauty of nursing is it is so diverse. I think with a few more months of experience you are ready to go into another area. I agree with a previous poster that OP is mind numbing.
Why did you want to go into nursing? What perception of where it would lead you did you have?
I have been in nursing/midwifery/health visiting for 28 years and love it most of the time. So diverse, low paid for what you actually do, I make a difference some of the time which is so worth it. I wouldn’t give up yet. Explore other areas.

AppleKatie · 21/06/2019 20:12

Find a nice local independent school and try and get in as a school nurse. Their jobs look great from the outside.

MoreHairyThanScary · 21/06/2019 23:04

Did you enjoy your community placement? We are crying out for nurses...

Northernlurker · 21/06/2019 23:18

What made you go for outpatients?

What vacancies is your trust advertising? They will much rather move you than lose you.

ScribblyGum · 22/06/2019 07:50

What aspects of your placements did you enjoy? What made you go into nursing in the first place? Do you like working with and helping people?

As other posters have said if OP isn’t working for you, you need to try a different area of nursing before you decide that this isn’t the career for you. Try and focus on what you like doing and what you are good at and see if there is job that will help you tick some of those boxes.

princessspotify · 22/06/2019 08:28

What Hairy said. I'm a nurse with15yrs experience and went into the community 18mths ago. was the best decision I ever made. Yes it has it's own pressures but I feel so supported by the team I work with.
Alot of community teams are taking on newly qualified staff.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 22/06/2019 08:38

You need a different team and area, not necessarily to leave. As others have said nursing can be very flexible and interesting if you find your niche. Not going to lie, it is stressful but I do enjoy my job.

Any reason you didn't want to do ward work? You learn so much and teams can be more supportive.

Disclaimer; I'm an RMN and my experience is based on that.

millymae · 22/06/2019 08:43

I would try and find a new job as quickly as I could.
My frequent visits to clinics for patients with long term conditions ( so perhaps not a fair comparison ) has left me wondering why there are always so many people in nurses uniforms who may or may not be qualified wandering around with seemingly not much to do other than weigh patients, take blood pressure, dip stick wee ( often while chatting to colleagues at the same time) and chaperone if required when wards are being run on skeleton staff.
I know that there are specialist nurses in out patients that do so much more than this but I can see how for a newly qualified nurse outpatients may not be the most stimulating place to be.

Powerplant · 22/06/2019 08:59

Please hang in there for now nursing is so diverse. I used to get nervous before going on shift so changed jobs and love it now. My daughter’s just qualified too so I know it’s stressful at the start. Definitely change from outpatients though there are plenty of opportunities out there and you’ve worked so hard to get where you are now. Best of luck 😊😊

aurynne · 22/06/2019 09:39

Padiatrics. Newborn intensive care unit. Paediatric oncology if you feel you can do it. These are the areas where my nurse friends find the most satisfaction and the least horizontal violence.

NerrSnerr · 22/06/2019 09:49

@aurynne you can't just change 'branches'. If the OP wants to become a children's nurse she'd have to retrain and that'll take at least 2 years (if the conversion courses still exist).

I'd get a new job before you decide to pack in nursing for good. I have been nursing for nearly 20 years now and it's brilliant once you find your area with your kind of people.