Stress/Panic Before Going to Work

Wow, this is exactly how I usually feel going to work, too. I can't sleep or relax before work at all, and my heart is pounding so fast when I approach my unit... I don't know what to do about it. Otherwise, I'm a happy person besides work and don't experience any stress in other areas of my life. Sometimes I think nursing is a devastating profession, we are supposed to teach others about health, but in the meantime we develop physical and emotional symptoms that can have serious consequences on our health. Most of my coworkers agree that nursing is a sucking profession, at least in the hospital setting.

I think every nurse has had this experience. And every time you stretch yourself with a new skill, job or dept the anxiety can creep back into your life. I like you started in the ER about 3 yrs ago and for the first year I was often anxious before work. In fact I used almost all of my PLT time by offering to be the first to go in the first 6mo. But after I experienced the same critical care scenarios again and again I increased my confidence and the anxiety went away. I have since started traveling to stretch myself once more and I am all the better for it. This job isn't easy and it is full of the unknown. I think you should forge forward and master the skills you need. You might just one day turn around and realize you are now the teacher and you are mentoring others going through these struggles. You will never know it all just talk it out with your confidants and find yourself some mentors.

Are you in the Education field or patient care .?? Now I am very curious after reading some of the responses. I to do patient care.. my co-workers drive me nuts with all the drama and bull. Let me know . Thanks

FWIW, I find ICU a lot more stressful than ER.
I agree with the other posts that if you aren't generally anxious, and ER makes you that anxious, you might look for a better fit.

With your background you have great skills that might be well used in another ER, or another department.

Good luck.

hhern

I used to feel the same way. Panicky, nervous, wondering what on earth the shift was going to bring. It got better the more experience I gained, so hang on in there. I eventually did switch to a less stressful position purely to save my sanity and home life!

Good luck!

Are you sure about that - it would be kind of hard to take care of 4 pts on vasoactive drips/vents.....?

Ha. I had to manage up to 6 of those type of patients, along with 6 other bays/beds at one place in NYC. I got through those shifts by repeating to myself "NO ONE IS GOING TO DIE ON MY SHIFT" After leaving there and going to another state that had 1:4, it was a walk in the park, even if they were all critical patients.

I could have written your post! I have basically been anxious since I started nursing... I have been doing ER nursing for 2 years now and I still feel anxious before I go in to work, not because I don't feel confident in my abilities, but because I don't know what the night's going to bring. It could be total unruly chaos, or it could be nice, controlled chaos, which I don't mind. I too go home from work and sleep lousy because I keep dreaming about scenarios at work, etc. Then on my days off, i can't sleep worth anything... like tonight I went to bed at 3am and woke up at 630 am. Yeah, I feel real rested after doing 3 night shifts, 2 nights off, then 3 more night shifts in a row. And no, I don't like that schedule but I'm kind of given a "too bad" response. Blah, I am done commiserating, I feel terrible right now and I really would like to get a better shift somewhere, possibly not ER since there are pretty much no mid or day shifts available anywhere, and definitely not on the floors or ICU because I am just so sick of working in hospitals and the lousy hours!