Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Neuro Intensive Care Nursing /

Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 385,815 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Mar 02, 2009 06:58 PM

Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.


I am a newer grad and have been working in an ICU for one year in June 2009. I have been getting kudos from my coworkers and compliments on how I have been doing so far. The problem is that as time goes on I should be getting more confident in my abilities but instead I am getting anxiety. I start worrying about work the day before I have to go in. I think about if I'll have a terrible night, have a difficult family, or just one of those crazy hairy nights. I work night shift and have had some whoppers so far and I have handled them fine.

I just don't know where this anxiety is coming from. Sometimes I just want to cry before I go to work. The staff is great and is always helpful. I enjoy the focused care of just the two patients and and most nights are fine. The main problem is that resources and dr's aren't around during the night which makes things crazy sometimes. I wanted to get two years experience in ICU because I have heard some specialties like that two year background. I just don't know what to do. I used to handle stress fine. I just wish I could have a job I enjoy and have fun doing. I think I'd like something more uplifting and fun, yet I like the learning oppertunities of the ICU. Any advice on how to deal with my anxiety situation. It is to the point that I hate my job and dread going to work!!!


Share: Submit Thread to Facebook Submit Thread to Twitter Submit Thread to Technorati Submit Thread to Google Submit Thread to Reddit

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
8 Comments
No. 1
from HT3RN
Old Mar 08, 2009, 10:01 AM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
It took me about 2-3 years before I quit having anxiety about going into the unit. All I can say is it takes time. It sounds like you have a good team. That makes all the difference. Just remember caring for any critically ill patient requires a whole team and you are never alone.
Top
 
No. 2
Old Mar 09, 2009, 01:25 AM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
I understand how you feel. I graduated in May 08 and have been working in the Neuroscience ICU in Detroit ever since. There are many nights I worry about being able to provide the necessary care it takes to care for those high acuity pt's. We are a teaching hospital so I have residents and NP's available which really helps. I try not to work more than 3 nights in a row and getting plenty of sleep on my days off is a must. Also being able to talk to my friends who are also "new" to nursing lets you sort of de-brief, which is really important. Sometimes ppl still make fun of me because I always have my 2 ton backpack with me with all of my resources, books, and a scrapbook I put together with important tid bits I collected. It's kinda like my security blanket I can look anything up that I need, it's kinda a work in progress...lol...anyway, you're not alone, there are many of us "newbies" out there. Hang in there, but if the job is seriously impacting you in a negative way you might wanna think about other options, only you know what's best for you. Right now with the nursing shortage there are tons of options out there. Good luck to you....Brigitte
Top
 
No. 3
from ksail2000
Old May 19, 2009, 09:13 AM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
Hello Funny girl,
I am sorry that you are feeling such anxiety about your work but, I must tell you that it is very normal. first of all you are working on the night shift which I believe is a poor choice for a new ICU nurse. You simply do not have the resources that are critical for you in the first few years. There are sooo many unknowns for you right now and you need your clinical educator, your Nurse Manager and Doctor support. An ICU nurse, once she is experienced is very autonomous.. and at times the leader in a patients care. Many times, as you become more experienced you will be offering solutions to the MD. But, when you are a new nurse it is not possible to do that. Hence, your anxiety. Even though you are getting kudos from your piers, they can not give you the knowlege that only time and experience can... I strongly suggest you switch to the Day shift until you are more experienced..
all the best to you and dont give up.. you will be so rewarded for your work I promise.
Karin Schweers rn Neurosurgical ICU (JFK Medical center) WPB
Top
 
No. 4
Old Jun 21, 2009, 12:13 PM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
If it makes you feel any better.....I felt that way my 1st 2 1/2 years as a nurse. Seriously. I would pray (and I'm not religious) that my night would go ok.

YOu will get through this. Good luck.
Top
 
No. 5
from TCUFrogs!
Old Aug 11, 2009, 05:57 AM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who feels like this. I dread work and think about quitting all the time, but I know things will get better if I just keep at it. So that's what I've been doing. I have 8 more months until it'll be a year... I hope I can make it! I can't wait until I can go to day shift though, I think that'll make a huge difference!
Top
 
No. 6
from PICNICRN
Old Aug 12, 2009, 11:49 PM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
I was a new grad to the ICU also... I can totally relate. I remember praying in the shower getting ready for an "easy" assignment... I was so scared of making a mistake and looking like a fool, saying the wrong thing to a family member, or even worse- harming a patient. I can remember thinking- how are they letting me take care of an actual patient?? But they did because I was ready and able- and so are you!

I can also remember going through a peroid(right around 9 months into my first year) thinking that I had made the wrong choice and kinda hating my job too. I wanted to have "jucier" assignments but I was still not confident in myself that I could handle it. I compaired myself to fellow new grads that started before or after me and wondered why they were chosen for a specific assignment and not me. I wondered if I had to prove myself. I wondered if the experienced nurses thought I asked too many questions or not enough. Did the docs take me seriously? I remember going through a phase where I thought screw this- and I started looking at the posting for floor and clinic positions. Then, I realized that ICU was what I really wanted to do- so I decided to tough it out. Well 14 years later..... I can't imagine working in any other area. I think, for me, it was gaining confidence and that takes time!

I think for new nurses in general it takes 1-1.5 years to get into a groove... and I think for ICU new grads it is more like 2-3 years before they really built that confidence. Hang in there.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 7
from GucciRN22
Old Aug 31, 2009, 11:58 PM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
OMG, thank you for posting this!!!! I worked on the floor for 13(ish) months before coming to the ICU, but I still have those sick feelings most days and I've been there almost a year. It's usually never as bad as I think it will be and most of the time I feel like I'm waiting for someone to call me out and tell me to stop pretending to be a critical care nurse. In fact, most days I don't even want to go to work because just thinking about it drains me. However, most of the people I work with are great/very helpful and that helps a lot.

I'm just glad I'm not the only one taking a long time to adjust!
Top
 
No. 8
from allnb324
Old Sep 03, 2009, 03:19 AM

Default Re: Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.
Oh honey, I feel your pain. I am too, a recent graduate who has gone into Neuro ICU. I felt very confident when I first started but as times goes on, I am losing all self confidence that I ever had. ICU is a very tough and demanding place. You have to be able to think quickly on your feet........and thats fine when you know EXACTLY what you are doing and know your meds and protocols. But for us new grads who are learning the ropes, its a nightmare. I have been told..........just stay calm and keep doing what you are doing. It is going to take you a year to a year and a half to feel confident. I just don't see it. Maybe they know something that I dont know. I am taking it on my own to go out and buy different kinds of drug books with drip factors and dosage calculations and such in it to help prepare me for work. Every piece of infomation that I get from CCN class or another nurse will go into my book for quick reference. If I don't get the help that I need from my preceptor , then by God I will get it on my own!! And no sweetie, you are not the only one taking time to adjust. Everyone that I talk to is struggling. Just to know we are not alone is a blessing in itself.
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
71 members
1,134 guests
1,205

8

Doctors-in-short-supply-responsibilities-for-nurses-may-expa...

7

Less regular sleep for ICU nurses may lead to errors

14

Nurse sends unused medical supplies to needy nations

23

Premature Births Are Fueling Higher Rates of Infant...

6

MRSA Strain Linked to High Death Rates

22

RI hospital fined $150,000 in 5th wrong-site surgery since...

63

Nursing: One of the 6 Thriving Jobs that are Here to Stay???

89

Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support

12

A nurse can dream...about awesome nursing

16

California Nursing Situation - CINHC's plan to help New...



7

Why am I doing this, anyway?

0

Nurse Heal Thyself

7

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

15

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

13

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

29

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

16

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

17

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

23

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower

6

Searching for the Purpose





Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: