New nurse OVERWHELMED

What shift do you work and what kind of patient load are you carrying?

I agree with everyone else; don't be so hard on yourself...after all some of us have been at it for years and you are still new. Learn to do it right { and well } then you can focus on doing it in a more timely manner. we all started out slow and unsure of ourselves !!

When I read your post, it remembered me of my first year as a new nurse on a busy Med-Surg unit...I was scared every time when I had to come to work, I cried, I felt like I never would make it, I stayed over to finish my work...but it got better. It takes time, but eventually you will develop your own routine and feel more and more comfortable. Never feel bad if you ask other nurses for advise and/or help - better to ask than making mistakes.
Don't give up - you will make it!!!

I'm in the same boat. How long does it take to feel "not so scared". And what's the average for being able to take a patient load on your own? I've only been orientating 5 weeks but am scared to death to do it on my own! I recently got my RN-I transitioned from LTC PRN. They only trained me 5 days before doing that, and I never remember being this scared! Med/Surg is a whole new ball game!
Thanks

Haha, I was just starting to get a little comfortable at six months, but I don't know about your floors, our patients have just gotten really really SICK. And we just lost staffing budget... So I'm back to feeling like I did my first few months!

Scared and achy... with a lot of acute patients... Staying WAY too late with exhaustion trying to back chart at 8:30a.

I am going to stay positive!!

Hi,
I've been a nurse for 7 years now, and I promise you that the first year is the hardest. I was a flight nurse in Iraq... and that was nothing compared to my first year as a med/surg nurse. Be kind to yourself... it will get better.
Try to "put the monster in the box", that is, let things go. Don't think about work when you aren't there. Everyone makes mistakes- nurses, doctors, everyone. Just do your best, know that everyone felt or feels the way you do, and be gentle with yourself. I promise you, it will get better.

As a clinical instructor and med/surg nurse, let me just tell you that I would be worried if you were not overwhelmed. The scariest new nurses are the ones that think they already know everything. It's impossible to teach everything you need to know in school. Caring for 2 patients is a whole lot different than 5-6+. Take your time and ask lots of questions. I remember as a new nurse looking at and listening to other nurses- wondering if I would ever know as much as they do. It seems effortless on their part. Trust me, we have all been there and a good nurse will remember and understand. Keep your chin up! It will get better- I promise!!!

first of all you HAVE to relax, and quit beating yourself up. dont take it all on at once. yes it is stressful and a serious job, but you got to where you are and you can pull through it. i felt all the ways you did, but learned to shut that thinking up. it only slows you down. if you are stuck on all the things you dont or didnt do right there wont be room left to think critically. plus it drains your energy. on your days off dont think about work at all-make yourself do something else-perferrably pamper yourself (spa, massage, salon, shopping). you have to take care of you before you take care of others-it may go against every grain in your body but it works. most importantly know that this is normal, enerybody felt it to some degree..but move past it. it gets better believe me, just dont be so self critical.

What shift are you on and what is your nurse patient ratio?

Hello Leapof faith... I just read ur post, and it really impacted me. I am a little over a month into orientation on the med-surg floor... and I feel that way now. Sometimes I feel like I don't know everything and I feel like it takes me a little longer to feel comfortable with a procedure or just instructions given to me in general. I feel overwhlemed all the time.. and I always think to myself am I going to get all of this before my orientation is up? I hope you are doing better now. It seems like you are a very hardworking nurse... and I believe if you are there to learn and have a positive attidude, you can get through it. I am trying my hardest to tell me self that aswell. Becasue there are moments where I also feel inadequate and like I just want to leave. I just try my hardest to take in as much as I can. and I pray to God to please help me get through the tough moments. Just have faith. and believe in yourself and keep the determination to do your best. I think people in general, who do care about their role, no matter what profession they are in, want to be the best and do there job right. Eventually we will get comfortable in our own shoes, we just need to break them in some more. Always rememer. no one is perfect. You will be fine.