Are you your own worst critic?

[Nurse Joey]

I just started a new job on a Med-Surg floor, I have worked previously in pysch and SNFs for about 2 1/2 years, 2 as LVN and rest as a RN. I keep feeling like I suck as a nurse, can't get IVs, sometimes push medications too fast, report isn't as detailed as the veteran nurses. But the funny part is people tell me I am a good nurse; the patients like me, I'm knowledgable, I intervene quickly to keep them stable, I'm calm under pressure... so on and so forth. Do others also feel like they could be a lot better? I feel like by acknowledging my limitations and realizing I have room to improve, makes me a better nurse.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Yes I am very critical of myself and my practice. As a charge nurse *I* feel as though I should know everything. Every policy, every med, every technical skill without a doubt. People say I'm a really good CN, but how can I be if I don't know it all?

So cut yourself some slack and know that your self doubts will keep you humble and make you a better nurse, because you will strive for self improvement.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Absolutely. I'm very harsh on myself, but after mistakes I make, I 'debrief' myself and try to take something away from it. I feel like a lot of mistakes that are made in nursing are the kind that you only have to make once.