Working Girl

So nclex is done - I passed!!! Orientation is over- I made it!!! My first three nights on my own are over.... and were scary as hell! Ha! Somehow, it seemed like I made it all the way through orientation without experiencing anything too exciting. Then... of course.... my first couple nights on the floor alone, I had blood pressures tanking on me, blood pressures going through the roof on me, a crazy family, a patient with v tach (no huge deal apparently to the experienced nurses on the floor- but scary to me!!), crazy patients, and rhythms changing all over the place. Trial by fire I guess. And great experience. And no one died on me! So that's always a plus. I really really hate it however, when 3-4 things go wrong at once. I never know which to address first and how to balance it all. I am assured I will learn...Those that know me however, know that the not knowing how to do it all perfectly is the worst for me. I do however, have great team members to work with at night. They are awesome and I'm thankful. Some of my favorite patients are the crazy old ladies that just won't stay put! One lady I had to put to work folding towels up by me at the nurses station just so she would sit still. She was super funny and pleasantly confused. I've given my share of haldol and ativan also. I'm surprised at how much of that we give on a non-psych floor. My friend Tedra works at an inpatient psych clinic and she has SUPER interesting stories to tell. I'd almost work there for a year or so just for the sheer experience of it!
So, I've had some trouble adjusting to the night shift. I'm not loving it to be honest. I've been sick and exhausted for about two months now. I'm so thankful for the good job, but I will def be looking for something on days as soon as possible. And I already know that I want to be in an ICU or in L&D. I love the things I am learning on the cardiac floor. LOVE IT. What I don't love is the rush of patients and not having the time to be more one on one with them. I love my patients so much and I love kind've waiting on them, making them feel cared for, etc. That's harder to do with 6-8 patients all needing pills at the same time. So, I'll put my time in like a good girl- learn as much as I can, and move on as soon as I can! There are a lot of places I'd like to experience, so we'll just see what opens up for me :)