Depressed

I hear that this may be the usual first year RN trepidation. What about the day makes you anxious?? Given meds, remembering which paper work to fill out, CNAs not doing their work??

I would say the paperwork, documenting correctly, sometimes not knowing what to do. Like how long does it take for me to make my own decision not second guess myself?

Sometimes maybe when a situation comes up I get nervous... Also if we send out a resident to the hospital it requires a ton of paperwork especially when they comeback..maybe it's the new grad feeling... How do I overcome these fears, second guessing myself, trusting my own judgment?

Are you getting enough sleep? With 3-11 shifts at least you can be in bed by midnight/ 1 am and wake up around 9 or 10 am and be well rested without feeling all wonky like a full night shift would. Are you taking breaks on weekends to do stuff you like like hiking in nature? Are you eating healthy foods and getting enough exercise?

Yes I go to the gym, I eat healthy about 75% of the week. Except pizza Fridays lol

I hear it's normal for the 1st yr. Aside from the fact that I'm a new nurse too, I struggle with major depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, I ended up quitting my 1st RN job (also LTC) for numerous reasons.

I personally think that nursing homes are depressing in and of themselves. If you can stick it out, then do so. If not, then look for another job like your life depends on it. Just stay away from LTCs

Idk about the first year thing. I feel the same way going to my job as well but I correlate it to the cut throatness *is that a word* of the floor I work on. When I go to work I know I am going to be scrutinized for everything that I do and at this point in my life being a new wife and new mother, I cant take that anymore smh.

Thank you for the encouragement, I am at at LTC, I got my BSN and it's hard getting into a hospital or anything. I accepted that position bc I would rather gain experience than none. But I know that LTC is not for me. What's worse is that the nurses their expect me to know everything just bc I got my BSN. I'll ask a question and it will annoy them....But I never had any medical experience. I don't care what degree anyone has, it takes time to grow

YES! It seemed like the nurses with a ASN would try to cut down the new BSN graduates and quiz us on *stuff we would obviously not know and then say that whatever school we went to didn't prepare us for nursing and blah blah. Honestly its getting old and quick. Obviously I wont know what they do since they have been nursing for more than 15 years and me less than a year regardless of degree earned.

5

I agree with you both serenity and philliesfinest. I took the LTC position because I wanted to just be a nurse after working so hard to become one.

- I get the "what's the difference between a BSN and ASN anyway?" pretty much everyday.

- I was warned not to have an "RN attitude" which I still have no idea what it means.

And I def don't think LTC is for me which is unfortunate because I wanted to be a nurse so bad... I am just a med tech. It actually says medication nurse on the residents white boards

You can be a nurse. You can be anything you want don't be discouraged

YES! It seemed like the nurses with a ASN would try to cut down the new BSN graduates and quiz us on *stuff we would obviously not know and then say that whatever school we went to didn't prepare us for nursing and blah blah. Honestly its getting old and quick. Obviously I wont know what they do since they have been nursing for more than 15 years and me less than a year regardless of degree earned.

5

There is too much jealousy, resentment, and just a competitive spirit in nursing if you ask me. Tell someone you're a nurse and they say 'wow, that's great.' Tell a nurse you're a nurse and they either get quiet or tell you how they are (the one and only) nurse of the year, that their experience is above and beyond bar none, or that their unit is 'THE one to be on'. Yeah, it gets old real quick.

I am a recent ADN grad and realize that you need to 'play the game' as far as picking your major and degree with regards to advancement opportunities with your employers. I will be going back for my BSN soon.

I have had LPNs try and show me how smart they are by demonstrating how much faster and more adept they are at the paper work (they've been doing for years, lol). And I even had one new grad LPN (my age) tell me that 'yeah, all I need is 18 more months of school and I'll be a RN too' in her insecurity-ridden way. Why do they feel the need to tear others down just to feel okay? I say- if you envy someone's degree or whatever else, work towards doing the same for yourself!