Does the anxiety ever get better??

[kambra]

I have been a nurse for 14 months now. I worked at one facility for about 5 months, 2 of which I was not licensed. To make a really loooong story short, it was a horrible experience and I ended up quitting. After I was told "you ask too many question", and " You will sign off on the narcs for the unlicensed nurses". I felt very defeated, and wasnt sure what happened as far as me asking too many question, I mean I was a BRAND new nurse. At the end of me working there I was so anxious, so worried about doing everything the right way and such. I finally quit.

Anyhow, I applied to some places and got a job the next week. I have been there going on a year. It is by far a way better environment, lots of help when needed. However, I am still anxious. After I have not been there a couple days I get all worked up when the phone rings, I am worried I screwed something up and they are waiting to bombard me with it. I am always worried I am going to miss something. I am a people pleaser and find myself taking blame for things I didnt do just to avoid conflict.

Does the anxiety ever get any better? Is it a matter of feeling confident or does nursing just do this?

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

I think in general it does get easier with time. You may find as well that maybe that particular area of nursing is not the right fit for you. Where do you work? A Med/Surg floor? Specialty? There are a lot of different areas to work in and maybe, who knows, you would have a greater comfort level somewhere else. Some nurses don't ever feel comfortable in a higher accuity level of care, and thats okay. Its not for everyone. Depending on what kind of interests you have maybe you could think about trying something else and see how you feel.........but give it time as with anything new you will have some level of anxiety but maybe it will be less and/or pass quickly.......you need to decide if you really a determined to be in the area you are in now or now. If you are stick with it and see how you feel in another 6 months. If you are open check out other opportunites.

Part of that feeling like you have forgotten things or asking so many questions may come from your level of organization. I found I had to write down everything and stay very organized. I used an assignment worksheet I made myself and this was my bible and I found that this helped a lot in my remembering things and staying focused and organized.

Good luck to you !

[Scraggles]

:yeah:Yes, the anxiety will get better. I'm so sorry you had such a horrid first experience in nursing you did the right thing leaving that position. I've been a RN for 23 years, 10 of them working CCU/Stepdown at Duke Med Ctr, and now 5 years in medical sales, which I LOVE. The really good aspect of Nursing is the variety of career choices out there as long as you keep an open flexible attitude. After a few years of Pt care and you are burned out, get out and look at other avenues to leverage your Nursing experience.

Don't be one of those nasty burned out nurses, that we all have worked with, GET out before that happens and you jeoparadize a Pt's care and the morale of your unit colleagues.