It’s extremely stressful for new grads

I will say I learned a lot and some of the nurses really supported me during times I was so overwhelmed. It’s extremely stressful, especially for new grads. I was the first one to leave and I’ve heard others from my cohort are on sick leave or have left to go to another specialty or facility. But again, there’s definitely a lack of support on the administrative/management side and from the floor.

I often didn’t like having to take seven to eight patients on nights, with two of them on Airvo, another on DKA protocol, another coding and many of them confused. I’m only one person, but I’m somehow expected to manage that patient/workload with such limited resources and supports, especially on night shift. Patients are sicker with more comorbidities now. We need more support.

I also got frustrated with doctors not listening to what I was saying. Just multiple experiences that I found not nice, and if anything happens, who will get blamed? It's always the nurse.

I did my best every shift, but it feels defeating when it destroys me. I do believe that the entire system needs to be changed, but not sure when that will occur or how it will look.

Safe patient-to-nurse ratio is what I and many others desire. I’m so passionate about ONA fighting for that. I feel like I'll only ever return if I see that change. 

Note: The comments expressed here do not necessarily represent the views and goals of ONA.