Does it get easier?

KeechieSan · Oct 22, 2008

Yes, it does get easier! Too many people give up too soon, or even quit before they start because it seems so overwhelming. And despite popular belief, lawsuits are not that common! You learn to manage multiple patients, you learn to prioritize care. I remember being a student and being so overwhelmed by the thought of having more than 1-2 patients, but trust me, you get used to having many. Always, always take a longer orientation if you can, but if not don't worry. You will become more competent as time goes by. And yes, you can expect to cry and be stressed your first year, but it goes away. Yes, you will make mistakes, but you'll make less and less as time goes on. Don't give up! :heartbeat

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2008

I hated let me say that again, HATED my last semester of nursing school. Maybe in my mind I was just tired of school, but nursing clinicals are hard, your in a new env, new people (some who are NOT that helpful towards students) you have care plans to write, meds to look up, intructors questioning you, tests to study for, papers to write.....the list is endless.

ONce you accept a job, you will be part of a team. You will soon settle into a balance and routine, the 1st year is hard but the rewards are great. I did not find myself crying the 1st year, but more than once I found my self in the linnen room looking up algorythems in my ACLS book cause I had a patient that was going down hill fast. You will learn more in your 1st 6 months of nursing than you learned in 4 years of school. All the parts and peices of school that never seemed to make complete sence like ABGs and lab values will start to click.

You will find that RT is there to help you, your charge nurse is there to help you, your partner nurses are there to help you, and before you know it in a blink of an eye you will be there to help someone too.

I dont know if "easier" is the word, but it does get better.

Best of luck!!

JB2007, ASN, RN · Oct 22, 2008

The first year is very stressful. You will have a lot to learn once you are out of nursing school. Some days it feels like you are craming for the biggest test you ever took in one day. There is just that much to learn. Over time you will feel this less and you become quicker at doing the routine things (passing meds, assessments). I cried a lot on my way home in my first year and that will become less often over time too.

I think most nurses cry about work from time to time. Whether it is from sadness, frustration, or just plain physical pain. This is a very demanding job both physically and mentally, so I think it is good to cry, rant, vent, or find someone that you can talk to that understands what you are going through.

Find a good orientation program, a good preceptor, and keep in touch with at least one good friend from nursing school. The friend from nursing school will know how you are feeling and you can help each other deal with the first year.

That is my two cents.

meadow85 · Oct 22, 2008

Yes it does get easier with time and experience. You learn to balance your patient load by prioritizing or delegating. You will have some critical and non-critical patients and the critical ones take priority. Yes it can be scary at times and you have the fear of lawsuits, but so long as you do your best and dont do something intentionally. Once you start orientation they start you off with a few patients and then eventually bump you up. You can always ask or a longer orientation. Although orientation is different from being on your own, you no longer have that security blanket of someone double checking for you. Will you cry or make mistakes? You might cry it depends on you. I cried once or twice because of the high patient load and nasty colleagues. I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them. Everyone makes mistakes no matter how seasoned you are. But every experience will make you stronger and tougher.