Are You Hard On Yourself?

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I've been working on a med-surg floor for about six months and don't like it. I feel so inadequate. Thank God nothing much has gone really wrong, but I've made mistakes and feel soooo bad about it. I can do 10 things perfect, but will let one mistake eat at me. I'm getting less confident when I should be gaining confidence. One educator said if you don't make mistakes it's because you're not doing enough. She's not meaning big mistakes, but is probably right in saying that mistakes will happen. It hurts when people speak to me if I do something wrong. They try to be nice, but any disappointment hurts me greatly. My husband who isn't usually supported told me to stop being too hard on myself as I am so new. I'm so overworked as is everyone else. It seems most mistakes are made when I'm being overworked with a new admit or when all the doctors call me all at once. Isn't it amazing how that happens!!? I know I need to hang in there for a year as that's what so many employers want from you at the least, but I'm wanting to quit almost every day. Any suggestions? Thanks.

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Specializes in GI, OR, Oncology.

I don't really have any suggestions since I'm also a new RN. I can, however, totally relate! I am working in the OR and most days I feel really good, but then on some days, one little thing can happen and suddenly I feel like crying. I'm just so emotional these days :crying2: My co-workers tell me I'm doing a great job and to stop being so hard on myself. Everyone says it takes a long time to feel really comfortable.

Best of luck to you :)

I've been working on a med-surg floor for about six months and don't like it. I feel so inadequate. Thank God nothing much has gone really wrong, but I've made mistakes and feel soooo bad about it. I can do 10 things perfect, but will let one mistake eat at me. I'm getting less confident when I should be gaining confidence. One educator said if you don't make mistakes it's because you're not doing enough. She's not meaning big mistakes, but is probably right in saying that mistakes will happen. It hurts when people speak to me if I do something wrong. They try to be nice, but any disappointment hurts me greatly. My husband who isn't usually supported told me to stop being too hard on myself as I am so new. I'm so overworked as is everyone else. It seems most mistakes are made when I'm being overworked with a new admit or when all the doctors call me all at once. Isn't it amazing how that happens!!? I know I need to hang in there for a year as that's what so many employers want from you at the least, but I'm wanting to quit almost every day. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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I, too, am right there with you. I've been working in the CVICU as an RN since February and BASICALLY have a comfort level now, but if I know I've made a mistake or forgotton to do something as little as put date stickers on the new IV lines, I'm a mess. I take it home with me and my stomach is in knots and I worry that the next time work calls is to tell me to not bother returning. :chuckle

I know my over-the-top reaction is partly normal for a newbie, but I also have a history from being in an emotionally abusive relationship (see "my most amazing story" on the success stories thread). I was trained to expect any small error on my part, no matter how insignificant, was worthy of severe punishment. This really sucks as a new nurse who is SUPPOSED to expect to make errors here and there during the learning process.

Add to that need for perfection the type A personality that most nurses have and I'm a perpetual bundle of nerves when I leave. Like you, everyone says I'm doing really great. Yesterday I was assigned two of the sickest patients in the unit (our patients are generally considered the sickest in the hospital)...so there is obviously a level of trust there from the charge nurse. I ran my tail off yesterday, one with an IABP and no pressure without pressor support and my other guy who needed albumin, PRBC's and fluids with obvious kidney failure approaching and pressures bottoming out. But I forgot the darn stickers!!!! :rotfl:

so, see, we all do it...different reasons, but we do. I've been taught by my coworkers to be nervous about new nurses who DON'T stress.

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Specializes in LDRP.

oh yeah. i think i suck all the time.

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I have been hard on myself for quite sometime. I am trying to change my ways.

wish me luck

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Specializes in med/surg & a tad of onco..

I am a new nurse and have accomplished 160 hours of training. I have had problems with my preceptor which made the learning process quite difficult since guidance and support were not there (in a toxic work environment). Because everything happens so fast and you have to think of multiple things at once, making simple mistakes are easy! It's only when I get home and reflect on the events of the day I find myself saying, "Why did I do/why didn't I do that?". Sigh. I am going to talk with my general nursing unit manager regarding my preceptor as I have written a letter of complaint. If they decide to assign me on a different floor with a different preceptor I have to start training all over again. There's hope. Prayers to you and moi! :kiss

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I've been working on a med-surg floor for about six months and don't like it. I feel so inadequate. Thank God nothing much has gone really wrong, but I've made mistakes and feel soooo bad about it. I can do 10 things perfect, but will let one mistake eat at me. I'm getting less confident when I should be gaining confidence. One educator said if you don't make mistakes it's because you're not doing enough. She's not meaning big mistakes, but is probably right in saying that mistakes will happen. It hurts when people speak to me if I do something wrong. They try to be nice, but any disappointment hurts me greatly. My husband who isn't usually supported told me to stop being too hard on myself as I am so new. I'm so overworked as is everyone else. It seems most mistakes are made when I'm being overworked with a new admit or when all the doctors call me all at once. Isn't it amazing how that happens!!? I know I need to hang in there for a year as that's what so many employers want from you at the least, but I'm wanting to quit almost every day. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi lisa41rn,

I know exactly what you are talking about...I just graduated this year and woking in a busy ED for 5 months. I have my good days and my bad days, and the bad days are getting better because I'm learning to be "ok" with the bad days. It sucks that it is the mistakes that we make that wear us down, but think of it this way....learn from your mistakes and you won't make the mistake again because of all the time you had to make you feel guilty!!! I think as new grads we feel so awful when we make mistakes because we feel that we let ourselves and others down, but i'm slowly trying to come to terms with the fact that mistakes are going to happen, you're only human. LEARN FROM THEM....I have felt so bad when I made a mistake and I talk to other nurses about it, and they all tell me "that if your first of many." Try not to be so hard on yourself, I know it is easier said then done!!!! Good Luck to you...Let's try to enjoy our first year of nursing!!! One day we will look back and LAUGH!!!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surge.
I, too, am right there with you. I've been working in the CVICU as an RN since February and BASICALLY have a comfort level now, but if I know I've made a mistake or forgotton to do something as little as put date stickers on the new IV lines, I'm a mess. I take it home with me and my stomach is in knots and I worry that the next time work calls is to tell me to not bother returning. :chuckle

:chuckle :chuckle I am with all of ya'll!! Especially the above!! LOL. Funny how great minds think a like isn't it!! This struck me as exceptionally humurous this evening for some reason. Guess I am having those thoughts right now!!

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.
I've been working on a med-surg floor for about six months and don't like it. I feel so inadequate. Thank God nothing much has gone really wrong, but I've made mistakes and feel soooo bad about it. I can do 10 things perfect, but will let one mistake eat at me. I'm getting less confident when I should be gaining confidence. One educator said if you don't make mistakes it's because you're not doing enough. She's not meaning big mistakes, but is probably right in saying that mistakes will happen. It hurts when people speak to me if I do something wrong. They try to be nice, but any disappointment hurts me greatly. My husband who isn't usually supported told me to stop being too hard on myself as I am so new. I'm so overworked as is everyone else. It seems most mistakes are made when I'm being overworked with a new admit or when all the doctors call me all at once. Isn't it amazing how that happens!!? I know I need to hang in there for a year as that's what so many employers want from you at the least, but I'm wanting to quit almost every day. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Oh my gosh Lisa, I'm the exact same way! I am always feeling bad about something. Like today for example, I felt so bad for my patients that I spent FOREVER talking & listening to them-which is good until you stand there for a veryyyyy looooong time & then end up late doing everything else! Then I felt bad that I was running late cuz I spent so much time listening to my pts. Then I felt bad cuz at the end of my shift (11 PM) I saw one of the other nurses done with report so he left to go home...& I'm still finishing up writing things & checking things & didn't even start giving report yet! I seem to be going home 15 min late every night for the past few nights...not too late I know, but I still feel bad that I'm slow...& I know I need to cut pts. off when they start to tell me their life story but then I feel rude cutting them off! I feel good about most things...just really need to work on my speed & cutting pts. off when they talk my ear off! :)

-Christine

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