Been working as a new RN for 3 months and I need tips and encouragement before I quit! :(

[Martinez,RN]

I graduated in 2015 and got my first job in late October at an LTACH. I've got the routine down for the most part but still learning to manage my time. However, I struggle to learn about my patients despite arriving almost 40 mins early every day! I get around 6-7 patients & I have trouble remembering Dx and Hx when each patient has a bible so when I give report I feel like I know nothing. Is there anything I can do to help me give a better report and learn about my patients? Or does this come with time and experience? I already write my own notes but still struggling. Plus my facility is all paper charting! I really enjoy being a nurse but I wish I could feel comfortable going to work instead of feeling nauseous. I literally come home and cry because I feel like I'm horrible nurse Please, I need tips or encouragement because at the moment I want to quit this career.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

It does take about a year to feel comfortable and competent as a nurse. Do you utilize a brain sheet for your shift? If you search for them here on AN, you will find many examples.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

3 months is really not a long time and it is normal to feel anxious. What I have seen in LTC, when I went there to do consults or visits for hospice, is that a lot of nurses do not know their patient's history and all problems right away because of the volume of work they have to do and they rely on documentation.

I have seen some that have elaborate grids they made up for themselves and fill in the details they need to know, you can ask if somebody is using one and perhaps copy or sit down at the computer and develop your own! In that grid you could fill in the name, age, basic diagnosis, and tasks with check off lists to keep you on track.

When it comes to memorizing some people just have a harder time than others and use some little tricks. For example associate a patient's face with a diagnosis. But I think most nurses utilize a "cheat sheet" .