Am I ever going to get this?

franko98 · Jul 21, 2011

The first 6 months of nursing I was petrfied i was going to harm or worse, kill someone due an error of some sort. I had great support from my coworkers and they answered every question I had and demonstrated everything I read about but didn't know how to do. I was harder on myself than anyone was, and I still am. I am a pretty good nurse now because of it. You are heading down the same road.

Give yourself a chance to get used to things. 3 months is not enough time to be "comfortable and bumble free". Never be afraid to ask questions or guidance because ultimately your butt is on the line and you want to give your patients the best care you can.

Good luck to you. You will improve.

erisme · Jul 21, 2011

Hello,
I am about three months into my first job post grad, and it seems I can't do anything right. Am I ever going to get this? I just feel like throwing in the towel, but I've worked so hard to get here. I guess I am just very discouraged today. I just feel so slow, I still have so many questions and the paperwork is....ye gods and little fishes.
Not sure what else to say.

just wanted to ask you a couple of questions before you even begin to go in that direction... "have you ever been in the medical field at all, a job that is related in hands on experience with patients"? and second question-- "what is your age range"? I ask that because working in the medical field takes a lot of common sense, wisdom, patience, multitasking, good-judgment calls. Along with that is such a huge responsiblity in many areas, and that comes with experience and experience comes with time and age. One of the most important responsibilities along with good -judgment calls is being able to know and set priorities based on the assessment of the patient, feedback of the patient, and the most important and basic tool is remembering your A, B, C's..... Airway, Breathing and Circulation.

So in short, if you haven't experienced in life the trials of learning from your mistakes, living life and finding that age comes with wisdom, or wisdom with age. If you have not had much experience medically, then please give yourself a break, and don't be so hard on yourself, or give up before you even started. Your obviously very bright to have come this far and you have what it takes.

I'm saying that with age, you find wisdom, experience, and respect for people and life. Ha! :bow: you will be just fine, you will get the hang of it, don't be hard on yourself, stay focused and positive, positive! I wish you success!

RNChristy · Jul 21, 2011

I remember when I was a new grad on Telemetry about three months into it and on my own with 6 patients and had another day that I too was soo frustrated with everything. Eight hours into a 12 hour shift and had not even take a bathroom break much less a lunch break. I felt what you were feeling too about throwing in the towel and leaving that job or at least that floor. My charge nurse at the time saw my frustration and made me report off for a break and walk with him outside around the whole hospital. From then on, he was a great resource and friend who helped me with organizing myself and taught me many, many things. I eventually ended being a charge nurse then clinical coordinator on that very floor, so there is hope. Find a good resource person/persons and learn all that you can. Try to find a routine that works for you to get your assessments, meds, etc. done. This helps tremendously even though there will be always days when the routine gets out of whack (patient codes, rapid response, patients going to radiology/surgery). I learned when things did go awry for the day, I just needed to take that little break and let things get back to normal (if that's ever possible). Give it some more time and you may find that you exceed your own expectations.

Christy, RN

DanielleToronto · Jul 21, 2011

You will get better everyday. It takes time to train in at any new job let alone your first one!

Ask lots of questions. Take care of yourself so you are in the right state of mind to learn.

jlynn2303 · Jul 22, 2011

Thanks everyone! the encouragement helps. Today was just as stressful- admission 15 minutes before I was supposed to be off. Took forever. Thanks again.

irishgirl11 · Aug 9, 2011

It is really helpful to read posts by others who are feeling the stress of their first job. I am now about 5 months into my first job (a critical care rotation program) and am currently in the pediatric ICU. I absolutely love the children and have a sincere desire to do well. I am also lucky to have really good preceptors and great people to work with. I have pipe dreams of them asking me to stay on full time. But then the stress, sadness, and desire to quit hit me.

I had been doing well and improving and then hit a brick wall last month. It was one of the worst months of my life. I was having panic attacks the night before a shift and the night after a shift. My poor husband had to listen to me tearfully relate every detail of my day, how stressed I was, how certain I was that I was going to be sued for something I hadn't remembered to do etc. I began to regress and not be able to do the simple things I had been doing before. I wanted to quit every single day. I talked to my preceptor at the end of the month and just apologized for doing so badly and told her I was trying to figure out what on earth was happening with me. She was really great and told me not to be so hard on myself, that new nurses can't know everything, and that I'll get it. It helped me a lot and I am really grateful that (unlike others) I have her as my preceptor.

Things have gotten a bit better, but it is hard for me to believe that every new nurse feels as unprepared, scared, and stressed as I do. I can't help but fear that I will hurt or kill one of these sweet children I have to care for. I know that I lack a lot of knowledge, experience, etc and don't want the parents to feel that their child is in unsafe hands. I honestly don't feel like a SAFE nurse and have a dreadful fear that I will be sued for something down the road.

I have always been one to work hard, study hard, and try my best. I am not lazy and don't try to cut corners. I have always excelled at what I put my mind and work towards and felt like I could really do this nursing thing. I am so disappointed in myself. I make so many little mistakes and feel that some of the very basic things I should be able to do (like assessments) are the things I am sucking at the most. I need to read all of these posts daily to show me that others feel the same way and that you all say it gets better and that you can still grow into being a good nurse despite feeling so awful in the beginning. I can only pray it is true for me too!

Thanks to all of you who post about your troubles so I know I am not alone.....and thanks a million times to those of you who post in response to tell us it is okay! You may be the only ones who save my sanity and desire to keep trying to be a nurse.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2011

You already are a nurse :heartbeat:heartbeat :)

vwde · Aug 12, 2011

I am soooooo glad other people feel this way too. I know we all say it, but it just also seems like no one else could possibly feel this anxious and nervous as a new nurse. I'm almost a year old (still a babe as well), but about 3 mos into my second job. I cried the whole way home the other night for my first time. I think I'm going to need to go to the dentist to get a bite guard. My jaw is constantly hurting and I, too, have permanent frown lines. I also have grown more grey hairs in the past 2 mos then in the first 31 years. I feel like quitting, because at this point it's hard to find anything redeeming in a job w/ such a demanding pace and huge responsibility. But, when I look at my patients and think, they're going through what my Mom went through, and my situation couldn't possibly be worse, I double check the IV meds I've just hung, and take a few minutes to talk w/ them. At that point, I don't care so much about being behind. I guess there is a redeeming quality about being a nurse, when my patients hug me at the end of my shift and thank me for... I don't really know what... but they thank me anyway.

I'm glad to hear other people feel the same way, and thank the Gods of Nursing for this site.