New grad nurse, feeling like I am barely hanging on!

Nurses New Nurse

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Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am totally feeling overwhelmed and just need some advice. I am grateful and incredibly lucky to begin my nursing career as a new grad in a critical care unit. That being said, I am so overwhelmed! I am now 5 weeks off orientation, and many nights I want to leave work and just cry. I often feel like I am not sure where I went for the last four years, but I can definitely say real nursing is not like nursing school. I know everyone says that, but you really need to be in the field to grasp this concept.

This new anxiety (swear I am having PVC's!), makes me feel incompetent as a new nurse. I am well supported and I am so thankful for that, but I really would just like to feel that comfort level that I can actually do this job and become a fantastic nurse. I love so many parts of this job, but often feel like I am on the edge and my boss is going to call me in the office and tell me that I am not cut out for this job! Honestly, I feel that if I am struggling with the "easier" ICU patients, how the heck am I going to take on heavier assignments.

I look for feedback from my colleagues and don't take offense to constructive criticism. I am also open to different suggestions about time management and nursing care. I try to get feedback from the oncoming nurse on how she/he felt I left the patient and what I could have done differently.

This is a second career for me, one that I have wanted to do since I was 19. I really can't believe that I am asking this, but how do I gain more confidence in myself and when will I feel like I can just breathe. The best way I can put it is that when I get to work a switch gets turned on, and I feel like the energizer bunny on steroids for my entire shift! Does this mean I am not cut out to be a nurse on this type of unit??

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As someone who started off in critical care I had many days I felt just like your post. It took me about...4 or 5 months after I got off orientation until I started feeling like the world wasn't going to end every single shift ;) From what I gather it is very normal. My advice is hang in there and never lose that drive to do better and in a year from now you'll be looking back and marveling at how far you've come.

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I would give it more time before throwing in the towel. Please also be aware that critical care is NOT for everyone. I found that out, after being an ICU nurse. I wanted it to work so bad, but it was just not the specialty for me. I'm not a postpartum nurse and love it. It is totally my niche.

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Any new grad is going to feel overwhelmed no matter what area of nursing they go into. It takes time to learn to mange time, organize, and have things become second nature like prepping lines, assessing, looking up meds, etc. Lean on your co-workers and ask questions as often as you need to. It shows that you are being safe and thinking about things, and not just trying to pretend you are doing well when you are not.

If you truly think an assignment is not safe, please, please tell the manager as soon as you start getting report on that patient. Or tell them you have never had that kind of patient and tell them you may need them to be around to answer questions or take a look at things. The ICU is very much a team environment.

And if you really feel that this is not for you-- that you dread driving to work and you cry coming home every single day-- just be honest with yourself and transfer to another unit after a few months. It's not for everyone. I found out (hired to PICU as a new grad) that it's not for me. I love the mental processing part and putting together all the pieces of the patient's needs and disease process. But I did not enjoy managing several drips at the same time, and feeling the anxiety that I didn't know what normal patients vital signs were like off the top of my head, and now I'm managing several vital signs at the same time and I felt I might miss something important. I am totally happy in my step-down ICU unit. It is still critical care, but not that stress and intensity of the PICU. Management is now starting to hire new grads to our step-down unit and then hand-picking ones that would do well in the PICU after they get some experience under their belts.

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No new nurse should be allowed to start in ICU.

You were set up for failure. That was the facilities hot spot to fill.... they used you.

Stop being a victim.

File a notice with your State labor board.. go to HR and your administration...

stand up for yourself, your co-workers and your patients..

and demand adequate training at your skill level.

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Specializes in Mental health, psychiatry.

I feel the same way you do and am not even in an ICU unit so I can't imagine the level of responsibility you have. That is a tough place to start and most of the new grads I know who started in the ICU didnt last. A couple who have already who worked as aids and went on to become RN's have done ok.

Everyone says stick it out a year and see if you still feel the same but I wonder if ICU may be different and you may want to see after 6 months and you still don't feel its for you maybe see about transferring. Just keep swimming and think about the positives you are gaining experience and learning new things every day. It takes time to be competent and feel confident.

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Bottom line is, if you don't feel safe, you probably are not safe and you need to get out of there. If you feel safe but are just overwhelmed with time management skills or too much floating around in your brain, that's normal for a new nurse.

Just trust your gut on this one. I made a med error when I was new because I was given too heavy of an assignment for my skill level and I did not speak up about it. The patient was fine but I took that as a sign that I needed to get out of that place before either I harmed someone and/or lost my license. I told my manager either transfer me or I need to resign. The manager felt I was a good nurse but it was not the right area for me. I really do well where I am now and love my job.

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Thank you!!!! I can't wait for my nights to begin to flow a little more more smoothly :)

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Jan 13 by SwansonRN

As someone who started off in critical care I had many days I felt just like your post. It took me about...4 or 5 months after I got off orientation until I started feeling like the world wasn't going to end every single shift ;) From what I gather it is very normal. My advice is hang in there and never lose that drive to do better and in a year from now you'll be looking back and marveling at how far you've come. you!!!! :)

Thank you!! I can't wait for my nights to begin to flow a little more smoothly :up:

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Any new grad is going to feel overwhelmed no matter what area of nursing they go into. It takes time to learn to mange time, organize, and have things become second nature like prepping lines, assessing, looking up meds, etc. Lean on your co-workers and ask questions as often as you need to. It shows that you are being safe and thinking about things, and not just trying to pretend you are doing well when you are not.

If you truly think an assignment is not safe, please, please tell the manager as soon as you start getting report on that patient. Or tell them you have never had that kind of patient and tell them you may need them to be around to answer questions or take a look at things. The ICU is very much a team environment.

And if you really feel that this is not for you-- that you dread driving to work and you cry coming home every single day-- just be honest with yourself and transfer to another unit after a few months. It's not for everyone. I found out (hired to PICU as a new grad) that it's not for me. I love the mental processing part and putting together all the pieces of the patient's needs and disease process. But I did not enjoy managing several drips at the same time, and feeling the anxiety that I didn't know what normal patients vital signs were like off the top of my head, and now I'm managing several vital signs at the same time and I felt I might miss something important. I am totally happy in my step-down ICU unit. It is still critical care, but not that stress and intensity of the PICU. Management is now starting to hire new grads to our step-down unit and then hand-picking ones that would do well in the PICU after they get some experience under their belts.

My biggest challenge is that I feel like I am so slow. I take my time to make sure that I am doing it right. I want to be safe!! I still feel as though I am still on orientation, because I am constantly asking questions. This make me feel incompetent, but on the same hand I don't want to miss something or harm someone.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

The first year is the hardest....and in ICU it is even harder. Cut yourself some slack. If you weren't doing well trust me your co-workers would tell you.

It takes even an expereinced nurse a year to feel somewhat comfortable in the ICU. Just remember to breathe....((HUGS))

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
My biggest challenge is that I feel like I am so slow. I take my time to make sure that I am doing it right. I want to be safe!! I still feel as though I am still on orientation, because I am constantly asking questions. This make me feel incompetent, but on the same hand I don't want to miss something or harm someone.

What do you feel is your biggest issue? Are you organized? Are you being too hard on yourself? It does get better.

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