I don't feel like I'll ever know enough

[SuesquatchRN]

Every day I learn. Now, that's a good thing, but I wish I weren't learning such basic things.

Do you ever feel adequate as a nurse?

[lil' girl, LPN]

Nursing school only just begins when you get that first job. I think everyone wonders what the heck they have gotten themselves into. Eventually you become more confident, but we NEVER stop learning.

[nghtfltguy, BSN, RN]

hey~~

some days i feel stupid...

some days i feel smart...

on the days you feel stupid..

drink some mt dew........

breathe.. relax

and realize... you have a job to do..

ppl's lives depend on you...........

fyi to all>> I GOT ACCEPTED TO MED SCHOOL!!!

WOOT!!

[nyapa, RN]

Every day I learn. Now, that's a good thing, but I wish I weren't learning such basic things.

Do you ever feel adequate as a nurse?

Hey Sue, how are you?

In a word, N...O. Ask some one who has been in the job for many years as an EN; you will find that what they taught you as gospel once is now anathaema. So it is the responsibility of all nurses to keep up to date with the latest knowledge. Make use of publications, books, the internet, your peers, lecturers, other allied health and medical officers - pick their brains! And maybe you too can teach others a thing or two; after all you are now at uni, where up to date info should be taught...

:studyowl:

As for feeling adequate, hardly ever as an RN. I always feel I have left this or that for another staff member to do. I hate others doing what I consider 'my' work...though I have been told off roundly for this, the others say we work as a team. And when I do something new I get scared...don't ask me why. But I do know that it is always important to ASK

Jay

[nyapa, RN]

i remember in nsg school, I was at a clinical when one of the nurses told me "all you have to do is follow doctor's orders. you don't have to understand the whys or whats....just make sure it's safe."

OMG. The nurse contradicted his or herself. How do you know if something is safe unless you understand the whys or whats? I wouldn't call your attitude anal leslie, I'd call it sensible.

[nyapa, RN]

My problem is no one wants to help. They think @ my age,50, I should know what to do. When I do know, I get pushed away. We had a code a few weeks ago and the other two on duty with me literally pushed me aside, then told I didn't know what to do. I'm having a really hard time going to work each night now. I just stay one my hall and do my work, I have even stopped asking anyone if they need any help. Maybe that's the wrong way to be but it's the only way I can handle the situation right now. Any one have any ideas?

Age is their problem not yours. How dare they push you away. They overstepped the mark. They are demeaning and bullying you. I can understand why you are not offering to help. If they aren't supporting you, then why support them. But it may be important to pull those particular ppl aside, and just say how you felt, assertively. Maybe it may help to work out on paper what you plan to say before you bring it up. And if you get no satisfaction then you may need to go higher.

Bullying is an occupational health and safety issue, it should not be tolerated in the workplace.

Hugs

Jay

[ebear, BSN, RN]

nghtfltguy!

CONGRATS!!!!! Just caught that you were accepted to Med School! GOOD LUCK!!! :balloons:

ebear

[MNmom3boys]

whenever i hear/learn something new, i check it out when i get home.

(and yes, i'm very anal like that.)

i have a gazillion links that will bring me to anything i want to learn.

i just learn the basics so i can understand the process.

i remember in nsg school, i was at a clinical when one of the nurses told me "all you have to do is follow doctor's orders. you don't have to understand the whys or whats....just make sure it's safe."

that was one of my many turning points.

i NEVER wanted to be a nurse like that.

so i've always made it a point to understand and follow the big picture.

it feeds my natural curiosity but also enables me to understand the whats and whys, thus making me perform more efficiently.

I knew there was a reason I value your feedback so often here! Never stop learning is part of why I went back to school in the first place, spend so much time reading (and asking questions) here, and tend to research things people tell me that don't make "sense". I would certainly hope that most nurses want to understand the "whys or whats", if only in the pursuit of keeping their own practice safe!

PS Yes, I know this part of the discussion is old, I just found it and the responses to it interesting.