another freaked out newbie

Hoozdo, ADN · Mar 15, 2007

I need to vent. I dont feel like I have anyone to talk to. Im feeling sorry for myself. I am working on a med surg floor where ive been a cna for two yrs.
Im in week four. THis is very difficult. Im petrified to make a mistake. Some night s I lose sleep. I used to teach, but classroom discipline probs drove me nuts. Now Im getting drug addicted patients and mentally ill pts that hang from the ceiling and want to tug at me at the nurses station. I am a psych nurse, a babysitter, a pee on , a drug supplier, a secretary, among others. I love being busy, love helping pts, but being tugged in forty different directions is hard. I know alot o f people feel like this, so this is the place to chat about it. I thought I would like to be an ER nurse. But if it is like this, maybe not.
I have a great preceptor who is very attentive to me, and I like the small hospital atmosphere. I also like the money, and I feel like Im learning. Im wicked sressed though. I do feel that if I can master this, I can do anything
anyway, any replies would be great, keep up the good work everyone, I admire you all very much.
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

It sounds as if things are going well for you.....except for that wicked stress! You need to learn to let go of some thoughts when you leave work. It helped me to try to mentally "debrief" on the drive home from work. Congratulate yourself for the things you did well that shift. Think of things that did not go so well and a strategy that would work better next time. Then TRY to leave those thoughts alone while you are at home. Let your drive home be your worry time and strategy time.

Let us know how it's going

cardiac.cure03 · Mar 18, 2007

If this is "week 4" as you put it, that means your a new grad starting out in psych? Wow, much kudos to you girlie!

And yes, you're right... If you can master this, you'll be fantastic anywhere else.

Good luck to ya :)

incublissRN, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2007

At first I was like you too. I couldn't stop thinking about work after I left. It's been 9 months and I still worry about what I forgot to chart, etc. but I've improved. I'm not thinking about what happened at work 24/7 on my days off. I'm better at separating my work life from my personal life. As you get more comfortable I'm sure that will improve for you too.

However, I did switch from a tele unit to critical care 6 months after I graduated and that helped my stress too. I was also depressed and utilized our employee assistance program. I wasn't enjoying my patient population anymore. I felt like I was taking care of critically ill patients on the floor so I might as well transfer to critical care! I also switched from medical to surgical patients which helped. Maybe this unit isn't a good fit for you? Give it some time to see if it gets better and if it doesn't then perhaps you could try something else.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 18, 2007

I think everybody's first job is stressful, you earn a pat on the back for recognizing that it is the stress and not the preceptor, etc.

I think part of our stress is an intense desire to do well. I second the poster who said (and so nicely and gently!) that you need to let go of some stuff. Fill that "emtpy space" with some self-praise. When your interactions with patients are anything but negative, you have helped.

Hang in there.

willdgate · Mar 18, 2007

If this is "week 4" as you put it, that means your a new grad starting out in psych? Good luck to ya :)

No, she works on a med-surg floor.

BeccaznRN, RN · Mar 26, 2007

I thought I would like to be an ER nurse. But if it is like this, maybe not.

She works in ER.

gt4everpn, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2007

I need to vent. I dont feel like I have anyone to talk to. Im feeling sorry for myself. I am working on a med surg floor where ive been a cna for two yrs.
Im in week four. THis is very difficult. Im petrified to make a mistake. Some night s I lose sleep. I used to teach, but classroom discipline probs drove me nuts. Now Im getting drug addicted patients and mentally ill pts that hang from the ceiling and want to tug at me at the nurses station. I am a psych nurse, a babysitter, a pee on , a drug supplier, a secretary, among others. I love being busy, love helping pts, but being tugged in forty different directions is hard. I know alot o f people feel like this, so this is the place to chat about it. I thought I would like to be an ER nurse. But if it is like this, maybe not.
I have a great preceptor who is very attentive to me, and I like the small hospital atmosphere. I also like the money, and I feel like Im learning. Im wicked sressed though. I do feel that if I can master this, I can do anything
anyway, any replies would be great, keep up the good work everyone, I admire you all very much.
Lisa

Well, think about what u just said u have a great preceptor, small hosp, good pay, u actually feel like your learning, u r confident that u can do anything, u admire us nurses, and your one of us, meaning u admire yourself ! u realize that its tough, u care enough about doing your job right, u love helping people, u like staying busy, and u r multitasking preeety goood, see all the good things written here it kinda balances out the bad. U know your meant for a job when it gives u rough times but u still want to stay anyway. Nothing comes easy, not even the things or people we love, for instance I loooooooove nuuuuurrrrrssssing! but I was searchin for a job for months! I questioned if I was meant 2 b a nurse I was so scared, job offers came and left just as fast, on top of that I had 2 deal with school, and other issues in my life I felt soooo badddd! but everything happens for a reason the fact that your still goin means u r coping maybe not like u think u should but your gettin thru it just have faith!