Anxiety Prob/3 months into job

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi everyone!

I graduated in December from nursing school and got a job at a small community hospital in January. I am finishing up my orientation and I am starting to freak out. I get butterflies in my stomach and I feel like I can't catch my breath. These feelings I experienced before I went into work and now I experience it on my days off. I can't get rid off the feelings. I am fine once I get going on my shift and I figured it was just nervous energy, but now it is bothering me on my days off. It is starting to affect my life. Does anyone else feel this way? I am going to call a counselor because I can't live like this so now I am starting to wonder if nursing is for me? Did i choose the right career? I get so anxious when I think about: Am i doing everything I should be doing? Do I ask too many questions? Am I stupid for asking all these questions? What should I do? Does anyone else feel this way? Please help.

Thank you all for sharing your problem with anxiety. I have had it the past year (my first year as an LVN) and working through my prereqs for the RN program. I literally have panic attacks every morning when I go in and have 12 patients and 5 of them need insulin at 8:00 a.m. and doctors must be called and I never get caught up. I am also 49 and in menopause so I think that is making it worse. Not sure if any of you are my age, but I ask myself what was I thinking, nursing school, new LVN, now RN program, am I crazy or just trying to kill myself. My Ob doctor wants to put me on medication but I have been afraid it will affect my memory and I will not be able to focus on my micro class or pass anatomy next time (just dropped it). I'm not sure what the answer is. I thought by one year I would be less stressed, but for me it has gotten worse.

Thank God for the forum! I have four subjects to go before I graduate and I can't sleep before I go on placement. I suffer from anxiety that stops me from eating, however I look at it this way. I feel that there is a common denominator between all of us who suffer this overwhelming anxiety and the fact that we are just simply very dedicated and wanting to do our very best as nursing professionals. I felt it would pass when I learned all I needed to, however I gave myself a reality check and realised that nursing is on going learning. It never ends and we can never know everything and be confident in that. Therefore, my best strategy is to keep telling myself, I am where I belong and I care enough to actually end up with anxiety! I hope that helps. Cheers

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Thank you all for sharing your problem with anxiety. I have had it the past year (my first year as an LVN) and working through my prereqs for the RN program. I literally have panic attacks every morning when I go in and have 12 patients and 5 of them need insulin at 8:00 a.m. and doctors must be called and I never get caught up. I am also 49 and in menopause so I think that is making it worse. Not sure if any of you are my age, but I ask myself what was I thinking, nursing school, new LVN, now RN program, am I crazy or just trying to kill myself. My Ob doctor wants to put me on medication but I have been afraid it will affect my memory and I will not be able to focus on my micro class or pass anatomy next time (just dropped it). I'm not sure what the answer is. I thought by one year I would be less stressed, but for me it has gotten worse.

Thank God for the forum! I have four subjects to go before I graduate and I can't sleep before I go on placement. I suffer from anxiety that stops me from eating, however I look at it this way. I feel that there is a common denominator between all of us who suffer this overwhelming anxiety and the fact that we are just simply very dedicated and wanting to do our very best as nursing professionals. I felt it would pass when I learned all I needed to, however I gave myself a reality check and realised that nursing is on going learning. It never ends and we can never know everything and be confident in that. Therefore, my best strategy is to keep telling myself, I am where I belong and I care enough to actually end up with anxiety! I hope that helps. Cheers

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