New nurse feeling incompetent

Nurses General Nursing

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So I am a new nurse just off orientation this week and for the most part it is going well. I am doing well with my time management and getting everything done with my patients.

The thing that is worrying me is that when urgent situations arise (not just codes) I feel like because I've never been in those situations before I find myself having to ask for help a lot. And whenever I ask for help the other nurses are happy to help but idk if after they may feel like I am incompetent? And being on the night shift, a lot of issues we resolve on our own. And initially I will try to do something about the issue but if it doesn't work I'll ask for help, and the way the other nurses come into the room with much more confidence, knowledge and experience, I feel incompetent and wonder to myself, is this how I am supposed to be at this point? Am I behind, do I need more training?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It sounds like you are doing fine. Reread your second sentence. :) Also, it sounds like are trying to respond to issues yourself when things arise, rather than running for help immediately — you are using critical thinking and recognizing your limitations, both of which are essential to safe and competent care. Also, be thankful for helpful coworkers! Hang in there. It gets better! You'll eventually look back and realize this is normal. Do you have someone who could be an informal mentor on your shift?

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I constantly tell new nurses that this is a career. Your first year, you will wonder if nursing school had any idea what really goes on in the real world. You will not feel confident until about the third year. Never stop second guessing yourself, for your patients will be safer for it. There will never be a stupid question and "I don't know" is not a reflection on you, it shows humility. You are doing great, trust me, you are just willing to acknowledge it. Others feeling the same, just too stoic to chime in.

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At least you made it off orientation. Some of us never get that far.

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If you're off orientation, it's because they trust you. And in an urgent situation, there's no problem with asking for help. In fact, it's expected that you will, because so much needs to be done. No one should be giving you grief for that, and it sounds like they are not. If extra help is needed to make sure that the patient stays safe, then that's what needs to be done. You should feel good that you know when something needs to be done and you know that you don't have all of the information, and that you're willing to reach out.

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Specializes in Coronary Care.

Hello! :) Every nurse goes through that unsure stage at the beginning of their careers. I don't think you are incompetent. It'll get better in time my dear. And it's always best to ask when unsure, it's one way for you to learn. In the future when you're faced with the same situation, you'd know what to do already. Just sharing, when I was a newbie in the CCU, on my first ever code, I was very nervous, my hands were obviously shaking while breaking the ampule. My senior noticed it so she asked me to go out and observe. She was discreet and nice. Then time passed by and attending to codes became familiar and common occurence. No more jitters for me. 😄

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I've been a nurse for about 2 1/2 years & I still have times when I feel this way. Confidence comes with experience, but even then somebody can portray confidence & feel incompetent. There are also others that are wrongfully confident. If you've got your time management down, the rest will come.

I felt the exact same way when I was new. Took about 9 months to feel better about what I was doing. I'm somewhere new now that has a broader range of illnesses and ages & I'm now a float/flex nurse so I go to other floors, so there are still many times I have to ask what something it or how to use it.

Hang in there everybody goes through this!

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

This is normal. I'm been on my own for six months and there are days that I feel I have it together, and days where I feel overwhelmed. Don't be afraid to ask for help, you are not expected to know everything, but everyday you'll learn more and more. You are doing just fine!

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/LDRP/Ortho ASC.

A little fear of incompetence is healthy...it keeps you from killing someone.

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