Do we all lack confidence and feel freaked out when we are new nurses?

allnurses Guide · Mar 16, 2005

You're not alone. I felt scared as heck about being a new nurse when I was FRESH out of school, so I can imagine that someone would be scared being a new nurse, after having been out of school for two years! :icon_hug:

ShawnetteRN05 · Mar 16, 2005

I am praying the answer is yes! Background....I was pregnant at LPN graduation, so I have been an LPN for 2 years but haven't worked as one yet. I am going to go back to school to become an RN, and am thinking about working as an LPN part-time to gain some confidence, experience and work on skills.
Before I graduated (before I was pregnant) I felt fairly confident about graduating and getting a job. Right now it is just plain scary. I feel like I have mush brain from being 2 years out of school and never having worked. I was an A student, so I pray that I know more than I think and that it will all come back to me. And I pray that once I go on for the RN schooling, through school and clinicals, my confidence will be built back up.
I think I just need to know I am not alone feeling this way.

I graduate in may, and I am absolutely petrified of working. This semester as part of my curriculum, I had to participate in a preceptorship (I logged 230+ hours) it had helped me alot and I gained alot of confidence and experience; now I am looking foward to utilizing all of the skills that I have learned during the last four years!!

mandyjolpn · Mar 16, 2005

I just graduated in December and my first day of working as a nurse, by myself, no preceptor is tomarrow. I am scared to death. My biggest fear is that I'm going to get overwhelmed and be so busy that I won't be able to catch something that is wrong with my patient. On top of that I am working on a float team so I have no idea what unit I will be on until I get to work. :uhoh21:

I am praying the answer is yes! Background....I was pregnant at LPN graduation, so I have been an LPN for 2 years but haven't worked as one yet. I am going to go back to school to become an RN, and am thinking about working as an LPN part-time to gain some confidence, experience and work on skills.
Before I graduated (before I was pregnant) I felt fairly confident about graduating and getting a job. Right now it is just plain scary. I feel like I have mush brain from being 2 years out of school and never having worked. I was an A student, so I pray that I know more than I think and that it will all come back to me. And I pray that once I go on for the RN schooling, through school and clinicals, my confidence will be built back up.
I think I just need to know I am not alone feeling this way.

*PICURN* · Mar 16, 2005

I just graduated in December and my first day of working as a nurse, by myself, no preceptor is tomarrow. I am scared to death. My biggest fear is that I'm going to get overwhelmed and be so busy that I won't be able to catch something that is wrong with my patient. On top of that I am working on a float team so I have no idea what unit I will be on until I get to work. :uhoh21:

YIKES....I know I wouldn't be able to handle float team nursing straight out of school (well and the hospital I work at doesn't allow it soooo......) but good for you wow for having that kind of confidence!

I know I STILL feel totally retarded (luckily I have 3 months of orientation!) so NO you are not alone w/that feeling!

medicrnohio, RN · Mar 16, 2005

I feel like that everyday at work. But yet when I look at the big picture I realize that I am making so much progress and learning so many things. It just takes time. I talked to one of the nurses on my floor that graduated last June and she said there is still many things she doesn't know or hasn't done.

Fiona59 · Mar 16, 2005

The first six months seem like the longest six months of your life. I started out in the float/casual pool. It keeps your skills current.

The big thing is remember to ask questions if you are unsure. Your coworkers would rather help you out with an unfamiliar skill or medication route rather than try and fix something that has gone wrong because you didn't ask and then muddled through.

Just a quick question, how can you bridge to RN without work experience? The bridge programmes I've looked into in Canada require one year full time work experience and letters of reference from your employers...

ldkrn · Mar 16, 2005

Have you considered a refresher course before going back into the work world? might shore up both your skills and your confidence.

michou · Mar 16, 2005

I started working in an acute renal unit post graduation. The first months have been very hard. Learning dialysis, how to work out the machines, looking after unstable patients, drugs, IVs etc. I have left work after my shifts with blinding headaches and I would wake up during the night and panic :bluecry1: It is only recently that I have started gaining confidence and I am more at ease with my patients and my work. I have been lucky to land on a ward staffed with great nurses who are all giving me support. It is a stressful time because the learning curve is big but you will get there. Good luck, we will all laugh about this in few years :rotfl:

rnmi2004 · Mar 16, 2005

New nurse here...lacking confidence & feeling very freaked out. I have loose stools every morning before going in, & I feel like puking. But I am very, very good at acting confident in front of my patients--I have had many tell me that I am one of the best nurses they've had, even though they know I'm new.

Fortunately, my hospital has a 4-5 month orientation for new grads. And once I am "on my own" I will have the charge nurse I can go to for help (he/she doesn't take a patient load, is basically a resource person for that shift). I really do love what I'm doing, despite the nervousness. It actually feels less stressful than nursing school. Of course, the paycheck helps too.

So you are not alone! We'll get through this somehow!

ocb_dave_ocb, LPN · Mar 16, 2005

Personally im nervous too, but Im so excited about graduation ... June 24th.... I really cannot wait to be out in the field...