Am I Weird? I Am Nervous.......about

[Furoffire]

:trout: hello my support team. i am shaking in my white kitty boots. i've started a critical care area and my last few days most of the patients are crashing left and right and all the drugs are new, i feel like a nursing student although i am an old nurse and the more exposure i get the more frightened i become. i need to study so much. is this normal or am i out of my element? how will i know i need to hang out with all the confused stable 7 to 8 patients that are homeless? seems like i traded restraints for what!!! meow, kitty is a scarry kat

[TazziRN, RN]

Normal. :kiss You're not a student but you are in a new element. give yourself some time, at least 6 months, to feel comfortable.

[lovemyjob]

When I first started in NICU after a year of level II all I could think was "what did I get myself into...I should have stayed where I was." I feared going to work!! But, after 11months, I feel SO much better!! I LOVE it!!

Give yourself a chance to learn and give yourself a break. Critical Care is a whole nother world!!!

Best of Luck!!!

[burn out]

It took me a good year to feel comfortable in ICU..hang in there. Maybe talk with your charge nurse or nurse manger to see if maybe you could take the more stable patients until you get used to being there no one should get down on you because you know what your limitaions are. It is your responsibility to speak up if you feel you can not handle a situation and your peers will respect you for it in the long run.