Dreading work

Yes, this is pretty normal. Even though someone else will say it is not, I feel like it is because you tell me you feel fine when you actually start working. I felt the same way for a while. Ask for help from your previous preceptor or charge nurse when you are getting overwhelmed.

I just graduated in May from nursing school. I would first like to say, that I loved school, I loved learning, and I loved clinical. I have my first job on days on a medsurg floor. I am now done with orientation (only got 6 weeks of the promised 12 weeks). I absolutely hate my job. I don't mind the 12 hour shifts, I don't mind working days, and I love the people I work with. I don't know why I dread going to work so much. I sit at home the night before my shift and get myself so worked up. Worked up to the point that I am crying & sick to my stomach. I can't explain why I don't like it. Once I'm at work, most days I am perfectly fine, but the thought of it makes me so anxious. Is it normal to feel this way? I had a melt down at work last week because so many orders came in at once for one patient and I didn't know how in the world I was going to be able to do all of it, plus care for 6 other patients. We usually have anywhere from 6-8 patients. I just need some advice. I don't know if I am feeling this way because I am a new grad or what. I just don't want to feel miserable about going to work.

I think that's pretty normal when you care and have more tasks to complete than are humanly possible. I got really good at clustering care and figuring out which corners were the least harmful to cut. I would also take 10 minutes to sit down and make a quick plan, even when the sky was falling. It gave me some clarity of thought and put me back on a path instead of ping-ponging around like a maniac.

I will just say that some things that help me when I'm overwhelmed with tasks/orders/too much stuff are to 1) make a check list of things I need to do (checking them off when done feels so good), 2) remembering that you don't eat the elephant all at once; you eat it one bite at a time (think of large imposing tasks in small incremental chunks...it's less daunting), 3) remember that you don't have to be perfect and that you don't have to be Florence Nightengale nurse right now. You just have to give basic patient care and carry out your orders. Survival mode. The fluff will come once you get that good muscle memory and can do some things on sort of auto pilot, then you can give that good Florence type care and all that.

I used to feel like a failure when I was a new nurse because all I could do was just survive the shift and get the most basic things done, no extra. Now I know that that's just how it is when you're learning. Be gracious and gentle with yourself and don't judge yourself harshly. It will come in time.

Yep. Totally normal. Hang in there.

I agree with everyone else. Totally normal. Keep up the hard work, you'll get it!!