Am I overthinking this? Am I a bad nurse?

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For reference, I have had a history of anxiety and depression before.

I've been a nurse for 3 years now. I switch from med-surg and went to ICU about a year ago. And the entire time, I've felt like I'm drowning. I feel like I can't be the nurse thar I want to be. I feel so stupid all of the time and that I'm a bad nurse. I'm so worried that I'm a bad nurse and no one has said anything. This has affected me to the point of me wanting tol to leave bedside completely. I don't really have any one else to talk to about this. I just need to know if anyone else has been in the same boat as me before.

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If you were a bad nurse, you would be spending some time in the managers office hearing about it. If you have not been fired or told to quit, you are probably doing okay.

There is always room to improve our practice, and as a nurse I learn something new every time I work. Bad nurses tend to be unreflexive about their performance and unlikely to improve. And nothing is ever their fault.

Bad nurses knowingly do wrong. There are a few nurse serial killers, and those that abuse and neglect.

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Thank you! I haven't been pulled into the office or anything, I just have this feeling of anxiety.

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I have met some bad nurses, but most don't even know, or care, to ask the question. So chances are, you are not a bad nurse.

One year as an ICU nurse, and you probably should feel a bit over your head. Find an experienced co-worker, and try to get some informal feedback and mentoring. Chances are great that you can improve your nursing skill- we all can.

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I usually tell new icu orientees that it takes about a year and a half to 2 years to feel comfortable and competent in the setting, and longer still to feel like you're good at the job.

The ones who worry me aren't the orientees who are still anxious and at times overwhelmed after a year - it's the ones who think they've got it all down after 6 months.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

What all these posters replied to you is true. If you were a bad nurse your administrators would let you know. Since you know that you struggle with anxiety and depression you should know that it's most likely rearing it's ugly head. If you have therapist you can talk to make an appointment if you can't afford one look into EAP through your employer. You are not the first nurse to feel this way. You can do this.

Hppy

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