Any other new nurses slapping their heads saying DUH!?

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

At least 20 times a day, I find myself saying "Dur" to myself. My boss says I'm doing great, but I feel like a big giant idiot. Normal?

[TazziRN, RN]

VERY normal!!! It takes a year or even two before a new nurse will feel comfortable in his/her new shoes, and even years later there will be "Huh??" incidents.

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

I still do that!!

[socalpca]

At least 20 times a day, I find myself saying "Dur" to myself. My boss says I'm doing great, but I feel like a big giant idiot. Normal?

I'm right there with you. My supervisors are very happy with me, but I feel like averybody else on the floor knows more than I do. I've only been working for 4 months and I know I will gain lots of knowledge & experience in the months & years to come, but I still feel like an idiot most of the time.

[Crash_Cart]

In fact, I would start worrying when you STOP having those duh moments.

[loricatus]

In fact, I would start worrying when you STOP having those duh moments.

So very true!

I think that those DUH moments occur with increasing frequency in direct proportion to years of experience, compounded with increasing age

[DoubleblessedRN, ADN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-P]

Yes... I did something really stupid on a clinical once (something I have known for years not to do) but I was only focusing on one thing and overlooked the other, and the CNA said something really snotty to me. Sometimes the way to learn is to learn from your mistakes and others'. You live and learn.

[leslie :-D]

hi, my name is leslie and i am duh nurse.

[Suninmyheart]

hi, my name is leslie and i am duh nurse.

funny!!!

[not now, RN]

After my first day on the floor all I could think was "I don't know anything!"

[ericalynn, BSN, RN]

I feel this way EVERY day, at least 5 times a day!! You are definitly not alone:smackingf

[al7139, ASN, RN]

I swear I say DUH! to myself several times each shift! It's really very normal ( I am told) for a new nurse. I am lucky I work in great unit with great staff, so I never feel dumb asking questions. I am able to laugh about these moments with other people I work with, and they frequently share their DUH! moments with me so I don't feel like I am alone in this. Since it is a cardiac unit, we have pts who are really sick, and I can't always recognize things until someone else gives their input. Then, it's like "Oh yeah, I know this, why didn't I think of that?"

Even nurses with years of experience have these moments!

Amy