New to this board!!!

luvbug · May 22, 2003

Hi!! I am pretty new to this board, too. I have been reading alot of posts, and you WILL get a lot of encouragement here. You will read lots of other ideas and thoughts that may help you find new ways of doing things. I used to worry alot when I first started my job, too, :eek: but I think it helps to have a close interaction with at least one co-worker--someone you can really trust. You don't have to break any confidetiality rules by talking to this person, sometimes it helps just to get things off your chest. Everyone does worry some, and if you DIDN'T, that could be just as bad!! It doesn't hurt to double check things, either. also, it helps to take some time just for you, epecially before you try to go to sleep :zzzzz helps clear your mind. I wish you lots of luck.

krisRN2B · May 23, 2003

Hey Stella. Welcome to this board. I too am fairly new here but I visit almost every day just to read up and give my support to fellow nursing students. It is great here, we are all now or have once been in the same boat. When I read your post I thought that it could have been something I would write when I finally become a nurse. I am a worry wart and am anxiety ridden all the time. YOu made it this far and you sound geniuinely caring and level headed. Don't give up. Don't let the demons in your head get the better of you. Good luck and take it easy.

".....keep on keepin' on..."

atownsendrn · May 23, 2003

Stella - hang in there girl. We have all felt that way at some point are another. My advice - #1 find a mentor. My mentor was the best anxiety-reliever ever. She lead me over some rough times in the ED but I pulled through them and can't imagine working in any other profession. #2 take time for yourself. You deserve it. #3 Maybe you need to look into a speciality. There are hundreds of different opportunities out there. Find one that interest you and research it. Who knows - you might find a speciality that is meant for you. Don't give up on nursing - you worked too hard and it is too rewarding for you to give up after one year.

Let us know how things are going. We are here for you!!!

stella123 rn · May 23, 2003

Thank you for all the nice replys. I really tried to have a positive attitude at work last night. I could feel the anxiety creeping up though quite often. It was an ok night for me. I had to stop and take some nice deep breathes a few times. I know that it will take time, and I appreciate all the advice here. I also love having a place that I can ask stupid questions that I can not find in my books. I think another one of my stressors is I am trying to get pregnant and it is not happening and this just adds to everything else. I blame the stress of my job and the odd shifts.

mattsmom81 · May 23, 2003

Welcome and Hang in there Stella! That first year or two is rough for most new nurses...until we develop self confidence in our abilities. :)

karenG · May 25, 2003

welcome to the board!

I have been a nurse 24yrs- and still have moments when I think- 'ohhhhhhhhh' so dont worry- its healthy!!

Karen

Agnus · May 25, 2003

If you did the best you could under circumstances of the moment then let it go. There will always be something that was missed or done imperfectly. Your patient will survive even flouish anyway.

Look at all the patients you have sent home. That is a good thing.

You are likely a very very good nurse. Now when you leave the hospital find a bush tree or something and hang every thing on it from work. When you go back to work the next day you can pick it off the bush. I learned this little trick a long time ago and it works most of the time. Sometimes I will forget to hang the job related stuff on it and I have to go back. I used to use a shrub by my front door but now I don't even take it with me on my trip home. I leave it by the hospital door.

I truly believe that some of my patients did not survive and did not get better because of me but inspite of me. Nature is very forgiving and human bodies heal themselves. It is hard to do real harm if you are conscientious. You are conscientious.

Get a hobby, pray, learn to forgive, determing to have fun at work, dance, sing, praise yourself, count your blessings, make someone (your patient?) laugh, learn to develop raport with your patients. What ever of these things that it takes to get your mind off your anxiety.

I agree with the posters who said to find a mentor, and to write out what you need to do on your clip board, and to delegate.

You will fee anxious from time to time. It is unhealthy to feel it constantly. Find the source if you can and with your mentor's help work out a solution. Continuing Ed in you speciality even review of the basics can help. We do surprisingly forget a lot. When I first got out of school I seemed to remember a whole lot more than I do two years later.

nimbex, RN · May 25, 2003

what agnus said, plus, only a conscientious person would carry this anxiety with them. I had it for a long time too!!! It does pass with each new experience. Trust your assessment, trust your gut and when in doubt ask another opinion. A year from now I AM SURE you will be giving the same advice to a new nurse posting on this board.

I've been in ICU over 6 years and still get the willies with some patients, still come home evaluating my actions and try to decide... IF I was wrong, what would I do different... then I do.

I STILL make judgement errors 8 years into nursing, we always will. I give them attention, decide on the change, and let it go.... or it will eat you up. That's the best anyone can ask of you.