New Nurse, Having a Hard Time Adjusting

[Empress_iana]

Hey everyone! So I'm a new nurse. Fresh out of LPN just got done orienting, so I'm now working the floor by myself. I've noticed that I'm having a really hard time adjusting. I was a CNA for 2.5 years and it took a while to get used to it too. I thought maybe my transition to LPN wouldn't be so hard. Wow, I was wrong. Its only been a month since I got my license and I constantly feeling overwhelmed. Ever since I've started my nursing career, I cry every time I leave from work. I'll admit I do feel miserable. I thought that I would be enjoying it. But I'm always catching myself doing stupid mistakes, even I'm doing things by the book. All the nurses don't really offer much support. They always comment how I'm doing a great job and how I caught on to my position quickly. I don't feel like I'm doing a good job. And I struggle with that every day. Do you guys have any good advice for a new nurse with a perfectionist personality like me? I already take medication for my anxiety and depression but it seems like it has gotten worse since I've worked as a nurse.

[myhoagie02]

Nursing can get stressful. It's just how it is. I've been working as a nurse for 2 years and clearly remember feeling overwhelmed, frightened, anxious ,etc when I got out of orientation. Even after one year, I was better, but hadn't quite found my groove yet. Two years later, I'm comfortable, happy to be at work, and make every effort to learn as much as possible.

Im curious to know what kind of "stupid mistakes" you think you're making. Like if its med errors, doing things "by the book" will keep you from making errors.

Maybe you're being too hard on yourself. One thing I found out very quickly is nursing in school is NOT what nursing in real life is like. It's never black and white. Maybe being "perfect" in nursing is unrealistic and perhaps try focusing on being "safe" instead.

I recommend you voice your concerns with your direct supervisor. If you get no support from that person then maybe look at going to a different floor (since you've already said you get no support from your coworkers). Hopefully, your supervisor can guide you and help you critique your own nursing practice to make adjustments.

Good luck!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

If your feedback from your work has been positive, then I'm inclined to think you are being hard on yourself.

You are a novice nurse-you are learning at a very new stage; being a licensed nurse is VASTLY different than being a CNA. You have to give yourself time to make your own nursing practice-and even once you have one to your liking, you still have to have the perspective to evolve your practice beyond THAT point.

With your history, I think seeking medical intervention will help during this stressful time-check in with your provider help during this new endeavor.

Best wishes.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

One month out is a very short time. Feeling overwhelmed at first is very normal. For that first job, it takes a while to lose that feeling. I am at 9 months in my first position. Make yourself some "cheat" sheets. A rough schedule of your shift (what you do when). Even make a list of who gets what meds when so you can familiarize yourself with those. I have also put together examples of different reports one needs to fill out such as falls, skin assessment and such with notes on them about what needs to be done on them and who/where they need to go.

You don't say what shift you are working. I work evenings, but I have noticed that the day shift can be really crazy. I knew going in that I did not want the day shift.

Hang in there, it does get better