any advice and hugs would be lovely, please!

[RNRNRN12345]

This post might be long, so please stay with me. I also want to keep it as anonymous as possible so I will be a bit vague in some areas.

I am a new RN grad and after I graduated, I got hired on to a unit that I had my final practicum on. Usually, new hires get in classroom/theory orientation before floor orientation.

When i did my on floor orientation, i was always buddied with another nurse. I had a different nurse each time for my orientation. Each shift, no one had told me that i was doing terrible or gave me "bad" feedback (ex. I don't think you're giving safe care, you don't take feedback well, you don't know this and this etc) and I did let each of my nurses know that I would appreciate feedback after a shift. So I thought I was doing fine.

After my buddy shifts were done, I was working on my own as a RN. After a couples month or so in of being on my own, my manager had a talk with me and told me that I was not up to par. The manager told me that they already maxed out the the on-floor orientation/buddy shifts for me and told me to make a goal to work towards, and gave me the deadline of until the end of my probationary period to make improvements. S I was told we'd work on these goals/improvements together, but when i gave her a list of the goal(s) I made and how i would work on these, she just looked at it and said it was "good", and that was it. I ended up resigning.

As a new nurse, i made a lot of mistakes (but i did learn from them). I also come off as incompetent when i get flustered, stressed, nervous, or anxious.

Anyways, I just don't have the critical thinking skills and prioritization down enough to be a good critical care nurse currently. I am FULLY aware of this. My first nursing job ust made me feel so crushed, and that I cant do anything, or that i'll screw up again. I was just struggling ...

Are there any recommendations of other fields of nursing I could try to improve and work on my nursing skills (time management, prioritization etc)? I want to improve these skills without compromising the safety and care of my patients.

I have an interest in public health, and I have applied. I have considered other floor nursing jobs as well, but I am afraid of doing any other kind of floor nursing because i think i wont be able to do it...

Anyways, any advice would be lovely. Thank you.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Well, you realize that you weren't well supported in that environment,

and I agree. Then you turn around and say that you've lost all

confidence in yourself, worried about screwing up, "think you

won't be able to do" any more floor nursing....

You may screw up, mess up, but in a good supportive

environment, you would work with nurses and managers

that understand that sometimes making mistakes and

learning from them is just a natural part of being a

new nurse.

Try to find another job, in a hospital if that is what

you want... and hopefully you will have found that

supportive environment. If not, and you find

yourself in yet another place that is not so

supportive, with managers and preceptors who

offer criticism but no solutions... well, you can

come here and vent to us. :) You can strive to

find that one person in your workplace who WILL

help you; a veteran nurse who loves to teach..

Or just hold your head high, know that you are

a good nurse, and muddle through the best

you can.

Good luck!!! (((hug)))

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

Here's a hug {{{hug}}}. Shame on them for not giving you classroom education first.

I recently changed from acute care to hospice, I have made some mistakes myself even with classroom training and field orientation. Not once has my manager told me I wasn't up to par. She has, however, supported me, told me what my strengths are and what my weaknesses are. and has been available whenever I have questions.

Please don't let one bad experience ruin your nursing career. Time management comes with experience. A new grad should not be held at the same clinical level as an experienced nurse.

Good luck to you, I hope you find a position where you are comfortable and can thrive.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

Awww, (((hugs))).

Don't lose that confidence. Easier said than done, I know. But not providing you classroom experience first and throwing you on the floor isn't cool (with different nurses, a poor preceptor, etc). They could have waited for the next group of orientees, had your start date with them.

Their error, not yours.

Find a supportive environment ... in a specialty you think you enjoy. Even if it's still in critical care.

[ILUVERNSG, MSN, RN]

Oh my- I remember my first year as a new grad and it was NOT pretty! I totally understand how you're feeling right now.

It sounds like that unit was not a good fit at all, period.

I know you're feeling down and scared but you've gotta pick yourself up and get right back in the saddle!

My advice to you is to apply to a general med-surg unit where you can gain confidence and build some solid skills.

When you interview, ask about their orientation process- no need to go into a lot of details about your bad experience.

Ask to take a tour of the unit and make some mental notes.

Does the staff seem friendly, helpful, frazzled, or totally stressed out? What is your general impression of the unit and the manager?

That being said it takes time to really become a part of the group. As a newbie, everyone is watching you and frankly judging you, it's not easy but you can get through it.

Some final tips:

- Always remember safety first, take your time especially with meds. Don't skip steps because you feel pressured to hurry.

- Find a nurse that you look up to and emulate her. Build relationships with the great nurses and go to them for help.

- During your shift always ask yourself, what is my priority right NOW? It will be constantly changing.

- Learn to delegate to support staff so that you can do more of what you need to get done.

- if you get nervous, stop and take a few seconds to just BREATHE.

Nursing is a very demanding but rewarding career.

The first year or so of reality shock can be intense, to say the least.

There will be times that you cry and want to give up but don't do it!

In time things will just click, you will get that feeling of confidence and accomplishment.

Look forward to that day when you say to yourself, "I've got this!". It will happen my dear.

Now go brush up on some interview questions and get out there! (((((((((HUG)))))))))))

[guest52816]

You've gotten very good advice from several posters. Very good advice.

Now, I was in your exact shoes last year. I mean, the SAME shoe. But I made the decision to quit the job while still in orientation. I then went to work at a for-profit psychiatric facility that helped me gain confidence in myself again (that part is very important). While psychiatric nursing didn't give me the opportunity to practice skills such as IV insertions or Foley cath insertions, it did provide me an opportunity to hone time management skills and fire hose skills.

The psychiatric facility wasn't a safe environment for patients or staff, so I left after eight months and took a job at a small, rural hospital in med-surg. My NM is supportive. Very supportive. And so are the night shift nurses that I work with.

Yes, pick yourself back up, and look for another arrangement. I shadowed at the rural hospital before accepting a position. I made sure to watch shift change, and shadowed on the shift I would be working.

As another poster stated: How do the nurses interact with one another? Do they appear stressed? Is there noticeable cooperation? What is the patient population like?

Like you, when I get flustered or feeling rushed, I can appear incompetent. Believe me, I am far from incompetent. And I am pretty sure that you aren't incompetent either.

I put my previous job on my resume. I simply explain that the situation wasn't a good fit, but that I did learn a lot from being in it.

Best wishes, and know that you can do this!

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

You've gotten very good advice from several posters. Very good advice.

Now, I was in your exact shoes last year. I mean, the SAME shoe. But I made the decision to quit the job while still in orientation. I then went to work at a for-profit psychiatric facility that helped me gain confidence in myself again (that part is very important). While psychiatric nursing didn't give me the opportunity to practice skills such as IV insertions or Foley cath insertions, it did provide me an opportunity to hone time management skills and fire hose skills.

The psychiatric facility wasn't a safe environment for patients or staff, so I left after eight months and took a job at a small, rural hospital in med-surg. My NM is supportive. Very supportive. And so are the night shift nurses that I work with.

Yes, pick yourself back up, and look for another arrangement. I shadowed at the rural hospital before accepting a position. I made sure to watch shift change, and shadowed on the shift I would be working.

As another poster stated: How do the nurses interact with one another? Do they appear stressed? Is there noticeable cooperation? What is the patient population like?

Like you, when I get flustered or feeling rushed, I can appear incompetent. Believe me, I am far from incompetent. And I am pretty sure that you aren't incompetent either.

I put my previous job on my resume. I simply explain that the situation wasn't a good fit, but that I did learn a lot from being in it.

Best wishes, and know that you can do this!

Fire hose skills? I bet there is a story there!

[RNRNRN12345]

Thank you to everyone that replied and took the time to read my post. I will definitely take all of your advice and work with it. I really appreciate all of the encouragement!

My first job was not a good fit for me at all, and i'm hoping my next job will be something i love and can excel at!

[ChryssyD]

Fire-hose skills=stamping out fires, crazy acute problems--you know: we've all come on shift to discover there's a fire that needs extinguishing PDQ!

Anyway, RNRNRN (yay, you did it!), there are bad preceptors and bad managers out there, for sure. I think you've met some.

Don't be discouraged. ICU isn't for everyone. We all have a proper place, you just haven't found yours yet. I have to say, med-surg in a busy hospital isn't always the best place for a new nurse who is easily flustered--have you thought about a smaller facility? Maybe hospice, or pediatrics--somewhere the staffing is a bit better.

I don't want you to worry so much. But it's OK, though, some anxiety is normal, you are a newbie, you're still learning. You will get this, you just need the right environment and a little bit of time. Hang in there, baby! :)