Feeling like a failure

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I graduated Nursing school in 2012. I did an 8 week orientation on a med/surg unit and was let go the last week of orientation being told I wasn't ready for that type of job after giving a blood pressure medication to someone who's blood pressure was low. Then I took a job at a skilled nursing facility which I worked for 8 months. I was let go from there after an IV and G-tube clogged up in the same day and I had to turn to my supervisor for help. I am now working in a doctors office and was told that I lack critical thinking skills. I haven't been let go yet, I am being sent to work in a different office to see how I do there. I really felt I was doing well since I've only been there 4 months. They said they were hoping I could do triage nursing but was never trained in that as of yet. I feel like such a failure and wonder if I should even continue as a nurse.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I was an "older" (late 30s) nurse when I graduated, and one of the things I learned very quickly was that the expectations were higher because I was older, even though I was just as green as the other new grads in my class. This may be part of the problem---the people you've been working with might be assuming that life experience = nursing experience, when in reality you're going through all the rough spots most new grads do. Just throwing that out there.

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I have a notebook that I use to remember how to chart certain things that I don't do repetitively. Once I have that task concord I no longer need those set of notes. Thats just how I learn. I've been there since June and rarely use them anymore.

I learn to same way, I have a little note book and I will write down step by step instructions for charting certain things that I don't do that often. Once I have it down it's no longer needed. All of my colleagues that see me use this method say "whatever works".

I am also an older new nurse, turning 50 this month, graduated in 2012. I have found that some nurses are better to work with than others. I told someone just the other day that I will take some BS from people until I know the policies and procedures of that floor/facility and then...watch out I'm going to start pushing back! Teach people how to treat you :)

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Specializes in ICU /ED.

For one it sounds like you have already defeated yourself. You have got to be a CONFIDENT nurse! Critical thinking is something that can be learned... So read, read and re-read! If being a nurse is something that you want to do CLAIM it and do what you need to do to better your self. You already passed school and passed the nclex you are there you have to just rely on what you ALREADY know and apply it. You can critically think. They have got to be able to trust that you know what you are doing but in order for them to trust you... You have got to TRUST yourself! DON'T give up!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Ok, you are probably taking to long getting vitals. Probably talking too much with patients. In office nursing you need to get those patients roomed and ready before the doc is ready because he is going to run from room to room. Never ask open ended questions with patients unless you have extra time. Get those vitals in the chart and the chart in the door. try to anticipate what the doc may need and have it ready. make sure any pending labs are present. Give them a 2 second heads op "her SBP was 200. I retook it after 5 minutes and it was 170........ If this doc sees you getting quick and efficient they will come around. Walk down the hall quickly (as quickly as pt able) and get them roomed. These types of actions will win the docs over. Criticical thinking is code for anticipating what they will want/need and having it ready.

Do not rush to start phone triage. That is a mine field! Work on your rooming first......................

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Specializes in several.

Hi,

You sound discouraged. Don't give up. Maybe you have not had a good mentor. You should ask your present employer if there is someone they can get to work with you as a mentor. You probably only need 4-6 months with a good "seasoned nurse" who has the patience and is wiling to help you.

Good luck and GodSpeed!

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Specializes in Stepdown . Telemetry.

I like what Ayvah posted. Critical thinking requires metagognition, which means, "thinking about your thinking". Primary cognition is the thinking you are doing in situations, secondary cog. Is thinking retrospectively about your primary "in the moment" thinking.

After a shift, esp one where you failed to recognize or do something, your work is not over. You HAVE to go back and fix the knowledge gap, if needed, eg BP management and reflect on where you went wrong.

When I was precepting one time I got a crit troponin, and "forgot" to tell my preceptor. I went back and studied to correct the knowledge gap, and reapplied it mentally, so that I never made that blunder again.

I hit the books hard to this day, to better grasp the knowledge, and think about how to better think critically.

I don't subscribe to the idea that some people just "don't have what it takes", bc the development of critical thinking has been occurring since childhood.

But in nursing you have to really work on it. it's not just some intuitive thing, it requires expanding your knowledge. Work on learning as much as you can about the care your field of nursing entails.

When you learn about BP in school, it has no context. Now you have actual experience so relearning things as they apply to your care is so critical!

Google "growth-mindset" "carol dweck". her work changed my whole perspective! Don't give up!

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Specializes in Stepdown . Telemetry.

This is an intro to "mindset"

http://mindsetonline.com/whatisit/themindsets/index.html

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Specializes in ICU.

I understand your feelings. I will be 40 when I graduate so I will also be an older nurse. But you really have to report to the physician when the vitals are off. There is a reasons they are called vitals. You can't just take them and leave if there is an issue. You are not seeing the big picture with that. How long does it take you to take vitals? Also nursing school and the real world are two different things. Nursing school is a perfect world situation. You are now finding out that you are not in the perfect world. You need to adjust to that. You are also finding out what many people do, nursing is just not about have the "good pay" to support you. There is a lot more to it and it is very stressful. Maybe working front office or coding or something would work for you.

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