Almost a year in and more scared than before

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 2, 2011

all i can say is ignorance is bliss. it seems that the more i learn, the more scared i get. i have been working as an rn for 10 months now and i'm no less scared now than when i first began.
has this happened to anyone else? ..... i love my job and have no intentions of quitting anytime soon.
i just want to know i'm not alone, even this far into the game.

yep, this is why i remained on this forum. after 1 year of work experience i felt worse, not better because i knew more and i realized how i could have harmed someone that entire year due to my lack of knowledge. in any case, it does get better. i just completed two years of working as a nurse and i feel safer then before even though i have a lot more to learn in my specialty.

btw, is this your first career? if not, have you noticed that most other fields do not take two years just to feel safe and competent? what normal person wants to spend two years of working just to feel competent? i wonder if it is just as bad for physicians and other health care professionals? maybe it is just as bad for cops and figher fighters too?

we are definitely a different breed of people for not wanting to quit. we spend so much time with activities like studying, training, working out, venting, etc. on days off just to feel "ok" two years later, that it is insane.

noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 3, 2011

yep, this is why i remained on this forum. after 1 year of work experience i felt worse, not better because i knew more and i realized how i could have harmed someone that entire year due to my lack of knowledge. in any case, it does get better. i just completed two years of working as a nurse and i feel safer then before even though i have a lot more to learn in my specialty.
btw, is this your first career? if not, have you noticed that most other fields do not take two years just to feel safe and competent? what normal person wants to spend two years of working just to feel competent? i wonder if it is just as bad for physicians and other health care professionals? maybe it is just as bad for cops and figher fighters too?
we are definitely a different breed of people for not wanting to quit. we spend so much time with activities like studying, training, working out, venting, etc. on days off just to feel "ok" two years later, that it is insane.

mbarnbsn, can you stay on the first year after nursing licensure forum for another two years? i find your advice very helpful.

OleMissRN · Mar 3, 2011

It gets better, but look out if you transfer to a different level of care or a different type of unit (say, to the ER or to an adult floor or ICU). Some of that will start to creep back, but you will get through it.

When you think about how much you "don't know," try to remember how much you have learned since you started school and how much you do know...it will surprise you.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 4, 2011

mbarnbsn, can you stay on the first year after nursing licensure forum for another two years? i find your advice very helpful.

probably, i will be starting another job at a higher level er! i am sure my new environment will make me feel like a new grad all over again! :lol2: by the way, thank you for writing that you appreciate my advice/vents!

noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 4, 2011

probably, i will be starting another job at a higher level er! i am sure my new environment will make me feel like a new grad all over again! by the way, thank you for writing that you appreciate my advice/vents!

good! :) sounds like the er is going to be a really good fit for you so hopefully it'll be a smooth transition.

you're welcome, just speaking the truth.

dlrrn2010 · Mar 4, 2011

congrats on that job...that's incredible, i'd love to have that opportunity...i went on in school to be an Rn and my first job is at a nursing home.. I LOVE my residents and am blessed to have the job but i dream of working with the tiny miracles....you do what you can and any amount of help will be beneficial...

biblepoet · Mar 5, 2011

I know the feeling I am scared to death to start my new job in the hospital. Spent a yr. in corrections and change from there to the hospital is daunting at best. I am afraid that I will not be able to cut it. Worked so hard to get the job and now it is a reality yikes.

TeleMeMore · Mar 5, 2011

Im almost 2 years in and I'm still scared, and personally I don't think any nurse should be totally comfortable unless they have been working 5+ years or more. Honestly, there is SO much to learn still and when you realize that you are actually caring for people and their LIVES, it is scary; and when you realize that everyone is an individual and can have their own individual way of getting better or deteriorating, of course you are nervous/scared.

I always think that a healthy dose of fear makes you a great new nurse and makes you more aware of the 50 million potential mistakes you can make, and you are that much better at avoiding them!

I personally find it scary when some nurses (new and old) are so lax and laid back with their care at times.

Every opportunity is a learning opportunity, especially when you are new. A patient's life is SERIOUS and we must treat it that way.

Once you make a mistake, or realize a potential mistake, you will definitely be on your toes and you won't let your guard down for a long while, as it should be!

You sound like you have a great job and I think it is perfectly normal acceptable and expected for you to feel the way you do. :)

MouseMichelle · Mar 5, 2011

First I admire you for workign with babies, something I could NOT do as a nurse. Secondly it too me about three years of being a nurse to feel more assured and competent in what I did. Hang in there you'll get through it. I'm sure you have nurses who work with you on your shift to back you up so any questions you have or need help with dont' hesitate to ask.

Keep it up you'll be fine.

Also I work in LTC and I would say it took me about five years to be completely assured I was okay and not doing things wrong etc. Five years makes you an expert in the field you are practicing. Right now you are at novice stage.

surferbettycrocker · Mar 7, 2011

i am 4.5 years in and i still feel scared and i dont think i ever will NOT feel scared. maybe its just me, maybe its good to have that healthy dose of fear following you during working hours.

i have even heard RN's who have decades of exp say they still have that dose of fear.

what jangles my nerves is when you feel like your the only one nervous (although never let em see you sweat) and the other RNs on your unit are cool as cucumbers.

i feel like a real fool most days for that.

funny i think being more scared must correlate with increasing competency. i have yet to see an ICU RN who is totally laid back and that makes me feel a little better:D

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 8, 2011

surferbettycrocker, you may see them as "cool as a cucumber" but I promise you that on the inside they're on the verge of panic. Their endogenous catecholamines are flooding and they're shaking but they've schooled themselves to conceal that so well that no one sees it. They pay a price for that. On the other hand, my coworkers all come running when they hear me raise my voice. I don't even have to actually call for help, I just have to say something loudly, such as, "This kid's bradying." Last time that happened I had five people there in less than a heartbeat.

There's a little aphorism about "events" - check your own pulse first. If you're panicking you're not going to be much use. But taking a deep breath, feeling your own heart beating and doing something will make a difference.