Extreme anxiety no longer want to be a nurse

[Katiejef]

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice or guidance. I’m a new nurse, graduated about a year ago but have only been working since October and only working on my own since December (I waited for the unit I wanted). I work on a neurology unit and I have EXTREME anxiety and dread about going to work every day to the point where I can’t even function the day before because I’m just so worried. I do have social anxiety and feel uncomfortable around people so that is a major contributor. But my lack of confidence and anxiety is making me not want to do this job anymore. I get no enjoyment out of it other than helping patients but I’m at the point I would do anything just to not have to go to work anymore. I can’t sleep at night because of the anxiety and even when I come hole from work and work the next day I can’t relax because I’m constantly going over the day and reviewing things I did and what I should have done different. Has anyone else gone through this so bad? I can’t express how bad it is, I really want to quit. What do I do?

[leilo0, BSN, RN]

The only cure for me was leaving the bedside. At 8 years in, I still dread going in to work, still sleepless before a shift, still felt like a sinking ship going in. I thought the problem was me until I switched to outpatient. I still get paid almost the same except loosing the shift differential but my quality of life is so much better. My only dread is having to do patient lectures for 45 minutes three times a week but I'd take that over coming on the floor and not knowing what disaster could be waiting for me. Outpatient is busy in a different way but I'd take it any day. Hope you'll find something

[maggie0, BSN, RN]

Social anxiety is treatable--if not curable, pretty close to curable. I speak as someone who had it bad most of my life. After therapy, meds, and practice, it's not an issue anymore. I don't know whether you should stay in nursing or not, but I encourage you to keep working on your anxiety. It's not a fixed, unchangeable thing.

[Subee2, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

Are you in treatment? You may be bringing the disorder to work as opposed to work bringing the disorder to you. I wouldn't throw your position away until you have had treatment to find out which situation you are in and have a diagnosis.

[SquishNurse, BSN]

On 7/24/2020 at 5:22 PM, herring_RN said:

BSN is a science degree.

I have never even thought to consider nursing as a STEM discipline. I assume that the general public doesn't think of it as such either, but I could be wrong.