Am I gonna lose my first nursing job?

angtxrn · Jul 28, 2005

incontinent! yeah! whole new meaning of it being a new nurse! me too! i have been on the floor for 6 wks! i have never felt so just dumb as a rock! and even better! i get this stupid deer in headlights look when i am just plum frazzled. so....i just put a smile on, and say: ok! sorry, that didn't stick! lol! if there is one thing i have learned...a smile can just turn a moment around! i am new on nights...have only worked 3 shifts with my charge nurse, last night, if i was walking toward her with, eh-hum, that smile, she smiled back and was like what cha need?.... see.... even i know it seems silly....but i honestly don't know! was on the phone with a doctor :rolleyes: she was giving me orders for K+ for a critical 2.7. yeah me! i am reading back my order (good nurse, huh) yep ask did you want 40mg???? she giggles, no mEq. yep! that's the only way it comes!!! what is it about being around new people who are ALL way smarter about this and doctors that can make ya put on a 10ft high dunce hat! lol!!!! jeez! but i giggled back, after i hung up, charge was like it only comes in mEq! i said: just kidding! we laughed! i was just testing the doctor and charge to see if they "knew their stuff" lol. charge was like yeah right! i could tell you so much more about my duncinsm! but i will spare you pain! you will get there! so will i hopefully! i think we as new nurses hold ourselves up to the other nurses who may have anywhere from1-45 yrs experience. there is just no way we can hold up to that. i don't think anyone expects us to, except us! i always remind myself: i was a hairstylist before a nurse. and there was a time, when i had to THINK about how to hold, scissors, hair, and comb in two, sometimes one, hand. if you think about it, it just doesn't seem possible. but 13 yrs later, i could twirl the scissors, and gab! yeah Queen of it! so i take nursing the same. there will come a day when we don't have to THINK constantly about everything! we will get it!!!! i am sure! we survived nursing school after all!! good luck girl! let us know if it gets better!!! ang

mye614 · Jul 28, 2005

We ALL felt like this when we first became nurses. In fact, I'm sure most of us would be that way again if we went into a new area...like from floor nursing to OR. Unfortunately, it's just what you have to go through before you become independent in your job. When I first became a nurse, I just worked Friday and Saturday nights. I, like you, felt like an incompetent boob. But then I said to myself, "Well, I'm only an incompetent boob two days a week". So, for the majority of my week (even if it was off duty), I lived a productive and competent life. The moral of the story, don't let your anxiety spill over into your personal life or you will spend the better part of your time off worrying about your next shift. You've only been on the floor for 3 days, for goodness sake! It's also hard when you are under a preceptor because you are having to subscribe to her organizational rituals...which may not work for you. When you are on your own, you can manage your time in a way that suits you. Be patient with yourself. You can do it!!!

Hi, Guys!

I just want to give you a little update on how I'm doing at work. Today I worked the AM shift and I felt a little confident. Why????? I guess its all because my preceptor..no not my night preceptor...my day preceptor... I've had her before. She's so calm and actually made me take care of 3 out of our 5 patients. I did everything for all these 3 patients ( I even hanged PRBC's...wich I've never done before). What I like about this preceptos is that she makes me feel confident and she does not freak me out even when she's looking over my shoulder when I prepare my medications. I guess having a preceptor that you can actually connect with makes a big difference. I also talked to my Nursing Director and I asked that I be placed on AM shift. She offered me a position for days, 2 days a week (part time) which I think it'll work best for me for now. My body is just rejecting nights and I'd like to listen to what my body tells me..if my body says "I Can't" then I will not force it, after all I too have to take care of myself. I just hope that they put me in days soon so that I can continue to work with this day preceptor that I had. My day was busy but I felt more confident. I'll keep you guys updated of my journey. :)

annfLA · Jul 28, 2005

I think I was one of the most horrible nurses when I had my first nursing job but 26 years later I have learned so musch and I do love nursing. I find that what you learn in school doesn't even come close to prepare you when you start work.I started on medsurg and I was slow..but when I moved to er I loved it. You will do fine do not judge yourself too harshly.