Down and out

[Db2000]

I have been a nurse for about 15 months and im at a loss. I have panic attacks just thinking about going in and I work nights and feel i miss so much family time with my kids. On top of that at times I feel I am annoying my co workers with my questions, there is no good mentors and they talk about you behind your back. I am very compassionate and truely care about my patients and take things personal which adds more stress on me. I just want to feel confident like the other new nurses at my job and learn to seperate my work from my home life

[YoutubeTheNP]

Tell us more about your job. What causes you to have panic attacks? What area are you in? What do you feel incompetent about? Working nights is hard, I've been there and takes a lot of social life away. Maybe consider switching to days.

[Db2000]

I work in an acute care rehab we get stroke, cardiac, respiratory, ortho patients and more. I dont know I guess just not knowing what patients i will be getting or what might happen. I think some of the staff there also makes me feel a little incompetent.

[YoutubeTheNP]

I work in an acute care rehab we get stroke, cardiac, respiratory, ortho patients and more. I dont know I guess just not knowing what patients i will be getting or what might happen. I think some of the staff there also makes me feel a little incompetent.

Im in the ER, part of the job that excites me is not knowing what will walk through that door next!! I have strengths and weaknesses (peds). So one thing I do is when I have some down time to read up on some common ped stuff, so I'm more prepared.

You're not expected to know it all, so it's ok if you get anxious about certain things, your knowledge base will grow. However, if there is something you are really struggling with, whether it's time mgmt, medications, IVs, I would go to your educator if you have one for advice. Your skills will improve with time.

[middleagednurse]

Does your employer offer EAP? If they do, I would look into it.