Nursing is hard!

Specialties MICU

Published

Specializes in Cardiac.

So I knew nursing would be hard. My mom is a nurse and everybody I know is a nurse. I had been a PCT for 10 years in an ICU, and did lots of cool stuff there. I went in everytime someone did a wedge, or inserted a line. I would zero lines, intrepret rhythms, ask lots of questions about meds and vents. I was a straight A student, and found nursing school and the NCLEX to be very easy. I could draw blood out of the tiniest vein and put a foley in anybody!

But GEES, when you get out there as a nurse, it's all different! I beat myself up over every little mistake I make. What if the next mistake harms one of my patients?? I am always feeling stressed during my shifts. In nursing school, I could easily handle the assignments that I have been getting, but as a real RN, I just feel like I'm always forgetting something. And the phone never stops ringing!

Please tell me it gets better....

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Specializes in Critical Care.
So I knew nursing would be hard. My mom is a nurse and everybody I know is a nurse. I had been a PCT for 10 years in an ICU, and did lots of cool stuff there. I went in everytime someone did a wedge, or inserted a line. I would zero lines, intrepret rhythms, ask lots of questions about meds and vents. I was a straight A student, and found nursing school and the NCLEX to be very easy. I could draw blood out of the tiniest vein and put a foley in anybody!

But GEES, when you get out there as a nurse, it's all different! I beat myself up over every little mistake I make. What if the next mistake harms one of my patients?? I am always feeling stressed during my shifts. In nursing school, I could easily handle the assignments that I have been getting, but as a real RN, I just feel like I'm always forgetting something. And the phone never stops ringing!

Please tell me it gets better....

4 stages of being a nurse:

1. Unconsciously Incompetent: don't know what you're doing and don't know you don't know.

2. Consciously Incompetent: don't know what you're doing, but KNOW you don't know.

3. Consciously Competent: know what your doing and usually know why.

4. Unconsciously Competent: know what you're doing but don't always know why.

Those last ones: those are the nurses that can immediately size up a situation and say, "he ain't right." They may not be able to put their finger on WHAT is wrong, but you better start looking.

See, you are dealing with the technicals and working on becoming aware of all the skills that are involved in nursing. Just wait.

One day, you'll wake up and understand JUST HOW MUCH YOU DIDN'T KNOW. Think you're scared now? Wait till you look back and realize just how blind you were!

Especially in Critical Care! Critical Care is ABOUT picking up on the subtle changes and preventing their full expression.

Just wait.

But, actually, this is what I LIKE ABOUT NURSING. It's always challenging.

Good luck with your learning curve.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

It takes a while to find your groove, it is easy to forget things try to make a list so you can refer back to it. You will be fine what you are feeling is normal. So hang there, ask questions you aren't alone talk to your fellow nurses. Good Luck:flowersfo

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Specializes in ICU, Education.

Great post Timothy.

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Specializes in M.S.N.(ACNP/FNP), ICU/Flight, Paramedic.

Yeah; even SEASONED Docs will take the hint when a nurse that's been around a while looks down and says, "he ain't right".

That should be a sign in itself.

Once you get the groove things will get alot better for ya.

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Specializes in ICU.

I know what you mean! I just started in an SICU as an RN after having worked in an ICU as a clerk/tech for 4 years. It is very different. I've started taking benadryl to sleep at night when I'm working so that my mind will quit re-playing every little nuance.

I'm hoping a certain amount of peace will come eventually once I'm more settled in to my job and more sure of my knowledge. As for now, I'm taking it shift by shift and trying not to beat myself up too much. I know that I'm my own worst critic.

Best of luck!!

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
4 stages of being a nurse:

1. Unconsciously Incompetent: don't know what you're doing and don't know you don't know.

2. Consciously Incompetent: don't know what you're doing, but KNOW you don't know.

3. Consciously Competent: know what your doing and usually know why.

4. Unconsciously Competent: know what you're doing but don't always know why.

:p :yelclap:

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Specializes in none.

very cool post timothy words to live by!

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So I knew nursing would be hard. My mom is a nurse and everybody I know is a nurse. I had been a PCT for 10 years in an ICU, and did lots of cool stuff there. I went in everytime someone did a wedge, or inserted a line. I would zero lines, intrepret rhythms, ask lots of questions about meds and vents. I was a straight A student, and found nursing school and the NCLEX to be very easy. I could draw blood out of the tiniest vein and put a foley in anybody!

But GEES, when you get out there as a nurse, it's all different! I beat myself up over every little mistake I make. What if the next mistake harms one of my patients?? I am always feeling stressed during my shifts. In nursing school, I could easily handle the assignments that I have been getting, but as a real RN, I just feel like I'm always forgetting something. And the phone never stops ringing!

Please tell me it gets better....

It does get better. Hang in there. I remember asking when I was new how long does it take until you can go through a shift and not constantly doubt yourself and everything you do. The reply I got was about a year before you feel totally comfortable in the unit. I remeber being a new nurse thinking a year is such a long time to come in praying you're not going to kill anybody or have to code your patient. Now I come in and deal with whatever I get and don't stress about it. I vividly remember it was almost exactly a year into my nursing when I thought to myself halfway through the shift, I'm starting to feel really good about coming into work, being on top of things, and not worrying over every little thing I do. I just takes time, you'll get there.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

The good news is that if you're worried about it, you're probably a good nurse.

Be very wary of taking meds to take your mind off it - this is a trap a lot of nurses fall into. Try taking up a hobby or going to counselling!

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I agre with augigi, completely. By asking this question, you are showing that you "get it", and that is a great place to start!!!

Hang in there, be kind to yourself!!

I can assure you that you will make mistakes, and thank goodness ....... the key is what do you do then??

Can you admit it and learn from it.....if so you will excel at this!!

Good luck........

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I really enjoyed reading this post and all the responses. I have been an LPN for 11 yrs and have been out of the hospital setting for at least 9 of them. I recently became an RN and want to jump back into the hospital seting, hopefully in an ICU position, but I think back of all those same feelings I felt 11 yrs ago when I started. I wish I would of had this kind of place to turn to when I felt that way. It seemed like even some Doctor's could pick up on your low self confidence and make those feelings worse. All the nurses I worked with would tell me not to worry and that it will get better. It is hard to believe that though.

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