anxiety level off the charts sometimes

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I have been a nurse for almost a year and a half. My first nursing job pales in comparison to the new job I have as far as patient acuity, and complexity of care, but I love it. I work on a tele-unit and I have learned more in the last 4 months at my new job than I ever could have anticipated. Staff is great, its just wonderful compared to my previous job. The problem is when I get a pt or several patients that are say confused or say one goes bad and I also have the remainder of my assignment to still care for, I experience such anxiety that I become this anal (as my NM just described me) basket case. I have no confidence in myself when I am pressured. I can imagine what my co-workers think about me sometimes. When I have a decent assignment I am perfectly fine. I just wonder if meds would help. I just dont know what to do about this problem. Has anyone else experienced this. Please let me know, because I am wondering if I need to find a new area to work. But I love all the education I am getting on this unit. I finally feel like I am a real nurse. Please help.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, ER.

HI. I feel like that a lot. I work in a very busy ER, and sometimes have anxiety issues, but I work better under pressure. When my anxiety level hits a high, I usually stop, close my eyes, and take a few slow, deep breaths until I can clear my head, and then I go back to work, feeling less anxious, and more confident.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Oh yes, I have been there. Be patient with yourself and do not ever be afraid to admit when you need a hand to catch up. Also to handle any general anxiety, you might want to be sure you get plenty of exercise, at least 30 min/day and eat a very healthy, balanced diet. Plenty of rest, too! Quality diet/sleep are essential. Don't forget your off-duty life; find a hobby to enjoy and spend your free time doing things that make you feel at ease and happy. Like said above, take controlled, deep breaths if you feel overwhelmed. Take a minute to compose yourself when you feel like you are on the edge.

If you ever feel the anxiety gets control of your life (for whatever reason, work, home life, whatever) be sure to seek help from your family doctor/health care provider.

Take care of yourself and I hope things get better for you, soon!

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Sometimes I try to stop and take a deep breath and regroup, even pray but there have been nights when it is just non-stop chaos and i feel like I could burst into tears out of frustration.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Yep,, stop, think about what you are doing and regroup. Remember to take ONE step at a time. You arent supernurse so you CANNOT do everything at once. You will get more comfortable with these situations and it will come with experience but you have to remember to take one thing at a time and prioritize. Everything else will wait,, its not going anyplace. Then when it still just isnt working,, enlist some help with some smaller details from your coworkers. After all we have to work as a team or nothing works.

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we are all anxious,even when we appear calm,who wants a nurse caring for them that is all chilled out ? you want someone who's hypervigilant to be your advocate...not someone who is indifferent...how else can you catch the little signs that can and do make the difference between life and death,or a safe situation and an unsafe one...being anxious isn't always a negative...its what kept our ancestors alive in the wild...and it's often what keeps our patients alive in the chaos that is the hospital

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