Am I really cut out for this?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jul 25, 2009

Yep....here's a few ideas for you.

The first thing to remember is: No situation was ever made better by panicking! This means don't freak out and start thinking self-destructive thoughts before you even have a chance to get your feet wet in this profession. You are brand-new, and it will take at least a couple of YEARS to feel confident in your practice as a nurse. Don't be so hard on yourself! You can't possibly be an idiot---you got through nursing school and passed a very hard test to get that license, didn't you?

Second thing is, this first year will be chock-full of moments when the ideals you learned in school clash with the day-to-day realities of working as a nurse, and it won't be pretty. You will be disappointed many, many times when what you learned isn't the way it's done on the floor. You may even be shocked when you see nurses cutting corners and leaving things to the aides that you were taught 'should' be done only by nurses.

There's no getting around it, though: you cannot be all things to all people. You will be responsible for all of the nursing care given on your unit, and yet so much of your time will be occupied with paperwork, catering to patients, families and administration, dealing with doctors, tracking labs and doing other non-nursing tasks, that you will HAVE to delegate some of the work to your staff. That's what they're there for......

Another thing: You may feel as though you 'can't ask questions', but you'll have to force yourself to get past that fear because the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. I've been a nurse for over a dozen years and I STILL ask questions, even if I feel stupid for a moment or two. Better to look dumb for a minute than make a foolish mistake that costs someone their health (or their LIFE).

Finally: YES, it does get better. The first year is tough sledding; about halfway through it the bloom comes off the rose and the realization that nursing is a hard, hard job sets in. Once you accept that, however, it's usually easier, and before you know it, you'll step onto your unit and someone will say, "Oh, good, MSanders is here.....we're going to have a good night".:wink2:

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 27, 2009

op: the above post is good for any new grad enviroment. all of what is posted i have found holds true in my work enviroment withoin the hopsital setting!!

there's no getting around it, though: you cannot be all things to all people. you will be responsible for all of the nursing care given on your unit, and yet so much of your time will be occupied with paperwork, catering to patients, families and administration, dealing with doctors, tracking labs and doing other non-nursing tasks, that you will have to delegate some of the work to your staff. that's what they're there for......

i especially like this part. the other day i made an aid who usually takes 1-2 hour lunches (we are allowed only 30 minutes) and misses some of her expected responsibilities to get off of her lunch!! i was elbow deep in poo, i was behind in other areas, plus i had not had a lunch myself! she got angry with me and is still angry with me. i repeated these words that "i cannot be all things to all people" even before reading this post because it is the advice given to me by other nurses too and it holds very very true!

besides, i had heard that night that at a meeting the aids threw me under a bus. i spent my entire time as a new grad trying to tip-toe around making them angry and trying my best to be superwoman. on a few occasions, i asked for help and yet i was thrown under a bus!!! they thought they had a reason to dislike me before? just wait, when i am on shift, they are going to have to work for a change!!! trust me when i say the sooner you get over delegating tasks you think you should do yourself, the better!!! if you get too far behind it will be your butt and not theirs!

btw, if you have a hard time getting them to do something because you are a new grad, check up on them and bug them constantly.... if they still do not do it... have an attitude... walk by them doing what you asked them to do and see how much they run the next time! the lazy aids try to spread rumors that they work really hard even though they are lazy. when it is obvious (through actions and not words) that they are being proven to be lazy, they tend to try to save face. odd but true, so this is why i have resorted to verbally re-asking aids to do something and checking on them constantly especially in front of charge nurses. my favorite tactic ... call the charge nurse and ask them to find your aid for you because you are having trouble ... if you are working ltc it would be the adon or don. :up:

finally: yes, it does get better. the first year is tough sledding; about halfway through it the bloom comes off the rose and the realization that nursing is a hard, hard job sets in. once you accept that, however, it's usually easier, and before you know it, you'll step onto your unit and someone will say, "oh, good, msanders is here.....we're going to have a good night".:wink2:

i cannot wait! i am going on 8 months now... my rep and ability to take care of all of my responsibilities is getting better but it is not good enough! :nurse:

shinyblackcar · Jul 28, 2009

I feel as a new grad I cannot ask questions and I feel like I am only in the way

THIS is your problem. You *must* ask questions; it is the only way to learn. And YOU are the nurse now. You are not in the way! You will eventually be on your own and you need to be able to safely and effectively care for your patients. The only way to get there is to ask questions and do things. You'll make mistakes and that's okay--just try not to make any life-threatening ones! :)

jensmomrn11 · Jul 29, 2009

I know exactly how you feel. I graduated in February of this year and started my first nursing position at a LTC facility in May. When I first started, I felt like I was totally in the way and that all the seasoned nurses hated me. I would go home after a shift and would swear that they would be calling the next day because I made some silly mistake in the paperwork and would fire me. I still have a lot to learn and I still ask a lot of questions, but I am starting to get a little bit more comfortable. I have been lucky so far and have had no major disasters, but I know that day is coming and I hope that I can handle it. If not, there are always other nurses around that know exactly what to do and will lend a hand. I have become familiar with many of the residents and can now tell when something is not quite right. Even the CNA's have made comments to me about being a "helpful" nurse and lending a hand when they need it. But isn't that what we are suppose to do? I still have bad nights and I go home and doubt my choice of profession, but I also have good nights when a kind word from a resident goes a long way. Even some of the seasoned nurses, that know I am still a new nurse, are glad to see me when it is shift change and I am there to relieve them. A good day is when you go home, all your residents are safe and sound, and have everything that they need. I just do my best to see that happen and learn something new everyday.