Confidence in practice

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Hello, I've been a RN for 4 years on a trauma unit. I love my unit, love the complex patients I take care of. Here is my problem: I lack confidence in my practice. I know that I am more than competent. I know that I provide excellent pt care and develop great relationships with my pts. But while involved in a code this weekend I realized that nurses far less experienced than me were WAY more confident. I second guess every move I make. And it makes me feel like a sub-par nurse. Any thoughts? Anyone else experience this?

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It doesn't make you sub-par, it makes (or indicates) you're still comparatively cautious. Give it time. One day you will be driving home from work and realize it's fallen into place that you feel like the passage from novice to expert has finally happened for you, maybe not that day but at some indefinable time,and you have discovered the right to feel confident in yourself. It's sort of like the moment when you first felt like an actual adult-- do you remember that moment? Like that. It will come. You can't force it, just let time pass ... .

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As GrnTea said, it will fall into place. I've been a nurse for 6 years and am just now starting to feel confident. It just sort of happened one day. You'll see!

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I was never the really confident sort either.

What really counts? Look at your patients. Are they being taken care of? You said it yourself: you do take care of the patient and build great relationships with them.

Feeling confidence comes with experiences both good and bad.

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Thanks, GrnTea, it's hard to be patient and wait for that moment, but thanks for the encouragement.

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Your confidence will happen when it is the right time! ;)

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