Chaos and stupidity

Nurses New Nurse

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It seems like throughout my whole day I'm always on the brink of falling apart. One family problem or patient emergency and my delicate schedule collapses, and I'm scrambling till the end of the shift. :uhoh3:

I have been on my own for 3 days so far on a busy telemetry unit. Five patients each is the norm. It feels like there's no time to think. Yesterday one of my patients was showing the classic signs of diabetes (high morning lab blood sugars, poor wound healing, skin changes, etc.) but I didn't catch it till the night nurse pointed it out. Another one of my patients had an IV infiltrate and I didn't notice till the later part of the day. :eek: Now I'm constantly in a panic, fearing that I'm going to miss something super serious and one of my patients will suffer the consequences for the rest of his or her life! I can tell that my coworkers and manager feel nervous about me and watch me constantly (for which I am very thankful in a way).

Didn't I go to nursing school? Yet I feel like I know nothing. Identifying lists of symptoms on a test seems like a whole different animal than recognizing them in real life.

I feel so...stupid. When does it all begin to come together?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You're still in the 'details' phase . . . focusing on each detail/task as it comes along and trying to fit everything in. Remember when you first learned to drive? How you had to concentrate on everything so you didn't forget ot put on your turn signal or look in the mirror before you changed lanes? By now, it is pretty much automatic behavior -right?

Nursing competency is the same way. As time goes on, you will become more focused on the "patterns" that emerge as you go through your day. You'll still perform all the necessary tasks, but your nurse-brain will pick up on anything that is out-of-whack. You'll notice the patient's change in respirations while you're hanging a new IV. You'll notice that the IV site is oozing a bit too much and checking anticoag status will automatically become a priority. Eventually, your nurse-radar will become so much a part of you that you'll have to deliberately try to shut it off in social situations.

I promise.

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I'm also a new grad, and find myself feeling that way a lot. I'm embarrassed to ask questions because I'm afraid I'll sound stupid, etc. Find a nurse who you feel comfortable with and doesn't mind helping out a new grad. I would rather ask a stupid question, than make a mistake.

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Orthopediacs.
I'm also a new grad, and find myself feeling that way a lot. I'm embarrassed to ask questions because I'm afraid I'll sound stupid, etc. Find a nurse who you feel comfortable with and doesn't mind helping out a new grad. I would rather ask a stupid question, than make a mistake.

I ask questions my philosophy rather ask something I do not know than look stupid by doing something wrong when I should have asked for help and did not.

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It seems like throughout my whole day I'm always on the brink of falling apart. One family problem or patient emergency and my delicate schedule collapses, and I'm scrambling till the end of the shift. :uhoh3:

I have been on my own for 3 days so far on a busy telemetry unit. Five patients each is the norm. It feels like there's no time to think. Yesterday one of my patients was showing the classic signs of diabetes (high morning lab blood sugars, poor wound healing, skin changes, etc.) but I didn't catch it till the night nurse pointed it out. Another one of my patients had an IV infiltrate and I didn't notice till the later part of the day. :eek: Now I'm constantly in a panic, fearing that I'm going to miss something super serious and one of my patients will suffer the consequences for the rest of his or her life! I can tell that my coworkers and manager feel nervous about me and watch me constantly (for which I am very thankful in a way).

Didn't I go to nursing school? Yet I feel like I know nothing. Identifying lists of symptoms on a test seems like a whole different animal than recognizing them in real life.

I feel so...stupid. When does it all begin to come together?

I'm with you. I oriented on an ICU unit for 6 weeks as a new grad, and had to ask for two more. I had my first night solo a few nights ago...I think it went okay, but like you, am constantly worried about missing something. I had a pt who was admitted with hyperkalemia...I was giving insulin and D50 and I asked, shouldn't we be worried about giving this insulin? Then I figured, well, we're giving lots of D50 as well, and this is the normal treatment...long story short, this pt's mental status was touch and go all night, so in the morning when she wasn't oriented, I called the doc and then day shift dealt with it (since it was at change of shift when I called the doc...). Turns out her blood sugar was 47. I felt so stupid for not checking and giving her more D50. It's tough though when you're running around like crazy trying to get all your charting done, and get everyone their meds, and make sure everyone is turned, and clean, and on and on...

I figure at some point it really will start coming together...I hope and pray nothing too serious happens between now and then.

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My goodness, does this remind me of when I was a new graduate!!! It does take time to acclimate yourself to a new job, and in this case a busy unit. I understand your anxiety. Do you have a nurse preceptor in your unit? Speak with your charge nurse or other staff when you need help. Every nurse has had to be the "newcomer" and a new nurse at one time. Other nurses are a great resource for you. There are resources for you to find to give you hints on prioritizing you shift.

First and foremost do not beat yourself up!!!!! :nurse:

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OP I feel exactly the same way. I am literally counting down shifts hoping and praying it comes together sooner rather than later. In the meantime I am hoping nothing bad happens to anyone. I feel like I have been thrown to the wolves, not a supportive floor for new grads.

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I said it in a recent post...."only the names change." I am still in orientation but I can easily imagine feeling what you have described once I am on my own. Hang in there!!!!!!

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