New nurse OVERWHELMED

HOw would you learn if you never made a mistake? No one is perfect, as long as you learn from the mistake is key!

Hello all,

I just read the original post that was posted in January. I too feel overwhelmed. I graduated in May of 2008 and worked in LTC for 5 months. I got hired on to a medsurge/ortho floor at the end of March. My director wanted me to go on my own with only 3 weeks of orientation on the floor. Thank God my charge nurse spoke up and I got another few days training. I will be on my own this Saturday with 4 patients and a resource person to go to which is essentially what I am doing now. I am so slow and get done late every day. My stomach gets tied up in knots by days end. I feel incompetent and overwhelmed most days. It is so hard to remember what tests everyone is having and when to call Drs and when not to call Drs. I broke down in tears twice in private. My charge nurse says this is normal and she would be worried if I had it all down at this point. I too wonder how the other nurses keep it together and do all that they can do. I love being a nurse and taking care of people but it seems like I have time to do very little of the care giving.

It really bothers me that crying nurses seem to be the status quo in acute care hospitals. What other profession can say that?

"...this tough" is pretty common- kudos on asking for some more precepting- we often throw our new nurses to the wolves. I don't know what the job market is like in your area but it may not be you- perhaps the hospital you are working for is understaffed or poorly organized. Ask around to see what the Nurse-Patient ratio is elswhere in your area. Did you clinical at another hospital?; Was the staffing pattern better there? Any friends from school working another unit or hospital that you can call? Now that you have some "experience" you are a bit more employable than you were as a grass green new grad. My first job was a nightmare, the next one was a great fit for skills development with lots more support for a new grad, and the third position I've held for over 20 years. Don't be afraid to look for alternative opportunities in your area.

Hi! I'm also a new grad RN in a med surg floor. Unlike my other classmates, I specifically chose med surg because although there's a lot of workload at least it's not so critical. Plus, all the experienced RNs I've talked to recommended that I start there.

Anyway, it's been a month since I started working and yes, I do feel overwhelmed most of the times but I don't let it get to me. My concerns are #1, there's just not enough time to do everything. maybe it's just me being a new grad and that i have to learn more organizational and prioritization skills but time just flies by so fast! at the end of the day, i reevaluate what went wrong and what could i have done better but somehow, i just don't get it. so if any of you experienced RNs have tips, i'd greatly appreciate.

my 2nd concern is what else can i do to improve myself as a new grad RN? right now, i'm reviewing a list of common IV push medications.

i would greatly appreciate any tips or personal stories that way i can find ways to better myself as a RN.

I graduated from nursing school at 55 and now I am in my 60's. People think I have been a nurse for at least 35 - 40 years but I am still learning all the time! Yes, I make mistakes and encounter the Spanish Inquisition at report time from nasty RN's the age of my grandchildren.

Nursing is tough and not what I expected. But we all make mistakes and you are on the right track establishing an organized plan of care. I live with a drug book, my own special report sheet for each patient with medication/treatment times listed (like you do), and readjust when things change.

Often I am tired and blame it on my age. But I am not ready to sit home and watch the soaps and Oprah either. I plan to keep on going until 70 if I can. By then I may be a charge RN!!!

Please don't give up. Nursing needs you and bedside nursing is wonderful. Good luck!

I don't think there is one nurse out there who did not experience everything you are experiencing at some point when commencing. DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF.....there are enough people out there that are happy to do that for you. Be gentle to yourself and know that every day you are going to get better and better. I too am a new nurse. I have been on my own for 5 months. I have grown. Today, I am not the same nurse I was 3 months ago and I wont be the same nurse i am today 3 months into the future.

I joined the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and requested a mentor. She has been a pillar of support and knowledge. I recommend you join an organization of your interest and ask if they have a mentoring program. Joining an organization helps in that you grow relationships within your chapter and you grow in professionalism. I love it!

Good look my dear "leapoffaith". And keep leaping! You're doing great!

Thanks for taking the time to share your story. I am sorry the situation was difficult for you, but you handled it with professionalism and aplomb. The mom picked that specific time to tell her special news for a reason.... she wanted you to know her children and her husband would need an angel's eyes on them in the next few days and she trusted you with that information and that task. She must have appreciated the care you had given her and the comfort you brought her very much. Count it an honor when a patient shares such information when you are in the room - it isn't by chance.

Kudos to you for maintaining your composure for the sake of their family time. They had one opportunity to work through their situation - few precious minutes to work through their emotions. You gave them a rare gift that day. Sometimes we don't know what any particular moment will bring and what an ever-lasting gift our silence is to our patients and their families.

Hang in there and keep up the great work you are doing!

I am a new nurse myself, and last night was my first night on my own. Got first admission for the night that would not do anything for me until he got to go downstairs to smoke (psych issues). OMG, I don't know where to start. I work nights because I thought that would be a great fit for me and it wouldn't be as hard and busy as day shift. Well, it is just as busy, but in a different way. Called a Dr. and because I was so nervous forgot to ask for IV fluids and accu checks. I laugh at myself like jeesh, get it together. I want to be a great nurse, and be well-respected by my peers and docs, but when your new the light bulb just doesn't come on as bright. Real world of nursing is not like nursing school. Had a preceptor that didn't teach me anything. Orientation at my job gave one week of impacted material we are suppose to absorb, and a great 3-month on the floor orientation except that I worked with about 12 different nurses (no joke) and some were super smart, and some not so smart. So, now I am on my own trying to grasp what information I can remember. I can only make the most of these experience and do the best that I can do. When I get to a place where I am competent, good critical thinker, I am going to embrace other new nurses and take them under my wings. Remember, we are all in this together, and please don't blame anyone for something they forget or don't remember. Teach them something.
Good luck to all you new nurses. Someday we will get there, but when I don't know!!!

I truly understand how you feel. I graduated in May 08 and started working Sept 08. I had barely finished my 8wk orientation (6wks on floor) when I gave up and quit in Dec 08. I am still not working. I am afraid to try again. I don't know if the environment and circumstances were the problem or if I was the problem. Please read my post in the First year after nursing licensure under the General section titled "Lost, Afraid and feeling like a failure...now what?"

I give you props for sticking with it. I hope everything works out for you and for everyone else just starting out. Good Luck!