Support Stickie for New nurses who are not coping

Thanks for starting this thread!! It is so appropriate for me.... I graduated in May, passed boards in June and started working in a high level SICU as a new grad. I have never been so overwhelmed in my life. I am a 2nd career nurse, and did very well in school. I was so far over my head. The other nurses liked me and most were extremely kind and helpful.-they are called the baracudas of the hospital, though...it was just way to much for a new grad with NO nursiing/hospital experience. I couln't eat or sleep...myy husband would almost have to make me go to work. then I'd come home crying. finally I went to my nurse manager - who is incredible and she brought me to her good friend's floor for a 3 month "detail". Kinda help me get more comfortable with basic skills - and then come back to SICU...MMMM I miss it sometimes, but I am in love with my new floor. It fits me like a glove and its so much less stresss than ICU ...I mean it can get busy too, just not all the time crises. Anway, I can't tell you how much this has meant to me and my sanity. I'm not sure I'll ever want to go back to the old floor.

I too am a new grad, graduated in May, got my license in June, and started work on a cardiac intermediate care unit. I feel so overwhelmed, like I'm always messing something up. It's so hard dealing with the jerk doctors and techs who give you attitude. Giving report is a nightmare to me sometimes, the night shift nurses can make me feel like a complete idiot. I dread going to work, can't sleep the night before my first day back because I dread what kind of patients I will get... and what else I might screw up... I want to just skip this new unexperienced nurse part and fast forward to the experienced nurse part! Don't get me wrong, I love being a nurse, love taking care of patients, but the stress can be so overwhelming! Thank goodness for 4 days off!