2 months on my own, 4 months orientation, havent killed anyone, have made STUPID MISTAKES, EVERYTIME I HEAR THE AMBULANCE ALERT BELL, I PRAY that the charge nurse doesnt put the patient on my team, because I am afraid of what may come in..................When does it get better......Once I get the patient, Im Ok, but the fear...................When will I feel comfortable?????????????? I always ask questions, when Im not sure.....But Im just not that comfortable yet.............Some of the nurses dont even seem to care about which type of patient they get............but Im fearful.............when will it get better? Some of the older nurses are so confident, I hate that I can honestlly say that Im not....OH boy, i say this but remember I TRULY LOVE ED.................BUT WHEN WILL IT GET BETTER...................
There is a whole forum on here dedicated to the first year of nursing. Whether you are in the ED or on a Med/Surg unit, the first year is fraught with difficulty. I've been a nurse for nearly three years, but in the ED for only five months. My confidence is growing day by day, and I am no longer "afraid" of medic units or babies. But, I am still nervous when the traumas and codes roll in. Fortunately, they don't give me those patients yet, so I go into the room and help out, to get experience and to increase my comfort level.
You are so right! I remember when first entered a critical care floor. Things seemed so calm and I thought, "I can handle this". Ever since then, it's been busy, busy, busy!
Two months on your own is not nearly long enough for you to be comfortable. Give it a year and talk with all of us again. At the end of 2 years, you will be fighting off the other staff for the most challenging patients because you need that adrenalin rush. You never stop learning, your skills get better and better and soon, someone will make a comment about the "top notch" ER nurse that you have become. Ask for help/advice when unsure and file those tidbits of information in your brain because someday, you will need that information. Keep up the good work and before you know it, the confidence will be there.
I just finished my fifth week in the ED. (I graduated in December 2008.) Someone wisely posted on this forum that every mistake is a learning opportunity. To whoever posted that, thank you. I tell myself that every day. (I seem to find plenty of opportunities!)
I've asked several veteran nurses how long it took them to feel comfortable in the ED. They told me they'd let me know. :)
I've been working in the same ED for five years as of yesterday (yay!), but I've only been a nurse there since July 2008. Even with all that ED experience and knowing the people/processes, it's just a whole new level of responsibility as an RN, and it was at least a year before I didn't have a little bit of panic before work! LOL.
I started as a new nurse directly in an Emergency Department, and although I LOVE the critical patients/high acuity, I have come to realize that the other elements of Emergency nursing really don't mesh with my personality.
Those other "elements" are the near-constant noise, patient and staff anxiety levels regularly escalating, angry/aggressive patients, and a constant, nagging fear about what might roll in. I also feel anxious in response to patients complaining about wait times, parents stating that I am hurting their child, etc. I am internalizing it.
I used to think it was because I was new. However, now I'm almost 3 years in. I've started to see that perhaps I'd be more suited for something like tele, step down, or ICU-- places where I can get exposure to acuity, but in a more controlled setting.
Are you having these sorts of feelings? It all depends on your individual personality, likes/dislikes, and ability to tolerate stress.
For me, I'm on the search for a job that will allow me to use my brain (meaning sick, acute, complex patients), be independent, but that will still allow me to have great patient relationships and less anxiety overall.
Either way, hang in there and see how you feel! You never know what changes are coming your way :)
Specializes in ER, ICU, PACU, Corrections, cardiac.
I understand what you're saying. I have almost 30 years of experience as an adult Critical care nurse but the ER is something totally different. I told them when I transferred to the department that they had to "untrain" me before I could be trained. I was used to having 12 hours to take care of a patient and now have 12 minutes. Ok, an exaggeration but not much of one! Three patients, three different doctors all wanting their orders done stat and heaven forbid that urine speciman not get sent to lab in the first 5 minutes!! Even my dog can't pee on command! And kids terrify me! I am so afraid I'll make a med error. Raising my own wasn't as scary! I've been out of orientation since mid November. I can take care of patients. Just not in record time!
wooh, BSN, RN
1 Article; 4,383 Posts
About a year for the fear to be gone. 2 years for you to feel somewhat at ease. 5 to feel confident.