It will get better...right?

[Lovelymo79]

Hi all,

I graduated from nursing school in June and the following Monday, I started in the Cardiothoracic ICU. I get off orientation next weekend:eek:. The orientation for the new grads has been great. We've going through skills labs..had case studies..had classes each week..and we even have a full test date with skills and 3 written tests. They have really prepared us.

But, I'm still very nervous! I feel SOO dumb at times..it's like..what did I learn in nursing school?? I've been told it takes ATLEAST a year before I will be able to breathe normal..and even then..you never stop learning and doing. But, I just feel a little off when it comes to the doctor's rounding and helping them with bedside procedures such as insertion of Swans..or intubations/trachs. I've gotten good reviews from my preceptors and everyone (including my nurse educator) has told me I'm too hard on myself and that I can't compare my 3 months of experience with someone who has 1 or 2 years of experience.

I still have SOOO much to learn and while i don't feel overwhelmed yet..I do feel stressed. We've rotated through day and night shifts (I'm on my 2nd go-round with days) and I'll be nights for good starting in October. I feel less stressed at night. Still stressed...but not as much.

I just need assurance that it will get better...right??

[tri-rn]

It will get better, but it will take time. So give yourself the time :)

[Lovelymo79]

Thanks. I'm trying...lol

[hvnsnt234]

Hello,

Im considering applying to scott and white and read in one of your earlier threads about you working there. I just passed my boards and wanted to do the icu there? I was wondering how you feel about scott and white honestly and the inside details?

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

All I can share is that for the first 6 months as a nurse, I felt like I was 30 seconds away from killing everyone I touched. The second six months, I felt like most of them had a shot at surviving the shift. At the end of 3 years, I felt like I could pretty much handle whatever hit the door on our telemetry unit. So then I went to ICU. Bang! Back to feeling like I was the most dangerous nurse in the place, I didn't know enough, etc. Now, more than a year on, I feel like I can cautiously handle most of the stuff that happens at our shop -- now, am I ready for an Emory, Duke, MCV, Johns Hopkins ICU? Of course not, if I went to that level of criticality, I'd feel like a newbie all over again.

But that's what's great about nursing. You can always reinvent yourself by doing something different. I recommend the ICU Book, and the CCRN study guide -- they help fill in the blanks for the things you don't see all the time. We won't have an A line for 4 weeks, and then we'll have half the people in the unit on them (I'm in a small rural ICU). It's good to have as a resource in the locker for when weird stuff hits the door.

[CCRNDiva, BSN, RN]

Give yourself time. I also started in the unit as a new grad and it takes time to feel comfortable. Once you've been exposed to more patients and illnesses you will have a frame of reference when caring for patients. You will recognize the patterns and symptoms of the critically ill. Give yourself time, I've been at it over 7 yrs now and I still learn something new every day.

[Biffbradford]

I served 12 years in CVICU.

No, it does not get better, but you do.

Hang in there, it can be pure hell at times, but you can do it!

[Lovelymo79]

Thanks all! I'm officially off orientation. I get butterflies almost every time I go in (especially after a series of days off). But, I'm learning to breathe and to also use all my resources (more seasoned nurses). If I can just get through the first year mark, I'll feel so much better. Can't wait to see myself then! :)

[flo136]

Give it a good six months. I felt like I made so many errors when I started. The patient deteriorated, and it was all my fault? Of course not, but I could not see why. I was so tired and stressed, the whole anatomy and physiology of intensive care was beyond me.

But after a while it did make sense. It did 'click' and I got good feedback from my mentor. It did get better. But the first few months were really tough, and I didn't think I was any good at all.

12 years later, still in ICU, clinical nurse specialist. Some days it is crap, other days I love it. :)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

you chose to start nursing in a difficult job. it will get better -- honestly it will. but the first year of nursing is overwhelming, scarey and sometimes just downright sucks. don't ever stop learning . . . you don't know everything now, and you never will. i've been a nurse for a good long time, and i still learn something new every day.

[peyton0401]

There use to be a time in nursing where common sense prevailed. New grads had to do 1-2 years on the floor to get comfortable in their new role, become more organized, etc. . icu was a natural progression. unfortunately, many new grads are in icu 's and are fish out of water, placing a further strain on the exper. rn's, and placing patients at risk. Horror storys galore. be careful.