Extreme New Nurse Anxiety

bargainhound, RN · Jan 13, 2007

It sometimes helps to talk to a nursing friend from your old state.

It can also help to talk to someone in your family, or another friend.

Main thing is to just find a friendly ear of someone you trust to just

listen and not be judgemental. Just getting it out helps you cope

during your transition times. Also, if your friend was in management

or has more experience, they can sometimes give you friendly advice

that will hlep nudge you in the right direction, or let you know if

you might be expecting too much in the new role/location.

I hope this helps.

bargainhound, RN · Jan 13, 2007

One thing that I learned in traveling is that there are different work

ethics in different states. There are also some attitudes one state

toward another. It was hard for me to cope with both of these.

I guess the main thing is to know that they are there and try to

be able to adjust somehow to retain your sanity.

oktravelnurse · Jan 13, 2007

:) I don't know how much orientation you received. It sounds like your preceptor is giving you the business. That really stinks. It is so important that you have a good experience while learning from your orientation. I would let your manager know about these feelings of anxiety your are experiencing from those assigned to train you. Every new grad has a lot to learn. While in school it seems you know nothing and are expected to know alot. Once you graduate some expect you to know everything. It doesn't work that way. No matter what field you choose or how long you've been working in that area you will still be learning. That is what is so great about nursing.....It's a constant learning experience. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. I would definitely talk to your manager tell her how you feel and maybe they would assign you someone else or extend your orientation. Some nurses have a pattern of eating their young. Don't get discouraged, you completed school, past your boards and the world needs nurses. I doubt with the shortage they will not want to work with you. Good luck

frances56 · Jan 13, 2007

First thing is to calm down and tell yourself that you are an qualified nurse and that shows you can do the job well. Everyone is nervous in a new area. Stay with her as your preceptor for a few days till you get use to each other. You may find she is an excellent preceptor and a good teacher. Have you considered you could be her first experience of being a preceptor and she is nervous as well?. Or maybe her teaching and your learning methods are different. So give it a while and if she continues to intimidate you or you feel you really dont 'mesh' you need to ask for someone else, its your right.:welcome:

gdsgrl · Jul 19, 2010

I too am a new grad in a new job. I get so nervous before I have to go I feel like I could simply run the other way. I've had several preceptors and I find this confusing because they all do things differently, what one says is correct the next says is wrong. How frustrating for someone trying to learn. So I try to pick out from each preceptor what is "policy or protocol" and take something good from each one of them. I think I am seeing that we new grads just have to find "our way" the way that works best for us. I'm always afraid something is going to happen and I won't know what to do or I will freeze and not be able to function. That is so scary for me. I work on a very busy Cardiac Telemtry floor, post cath pts and whatever else they may send us. I have 3 more weeks of my 6 week orientation, I don't know how I will learn everything in the next 3 weeks and be ready to be on my own with 6 to 8 patients. I am working nights which I think is really good for me, it's busy and the nights go by quickly, but there aren't as many people around, social workers, case workers, doctors, managers etc, so I think that is a good thing for me starting out. I'm sorry about your nervousness, I hope it helps to know you are not alone.

oktravelnurse · Jul 20, 2010

I'm sorry you are having trouble with anxiety. It will pass, I promise you that. I now have 9 years of experience and believe me it's never the same each night. I want you to also remember you were found competent by your state to practice nursing.....you passed your boards. You won't learn everything in the next 2 weeks because nursing is a constant learning process. Your preceptors should be more patient after all you are a newbie. If after your orientation you still aren't comfortable, talk to your charge nurse or unit manager. Good luck!

gdsgrl · Jul 21, 2010

Thanks so much for your encouragement, I really appreciate you kind words. I just got home from a shift was my toughest one yet. Wow I feel defeated, it was nearly impossible to keep up, and still so much I don't know. But I'm not giving up.

Thanks again.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2010

Stepping outside our comfort zone and graduate, or move to a new sitaution is difficult. Your feelings echo the feelings of new grads everywhere.

I felt just like that and daily thought "why did I ever become a nurse", "there's so much to learn I'll never be good enough". Now, 19 years later, I'm relatively calm, cool, and collected and precept others. Still there are days when I don't get it all done, am late passing meds, come across stuff I'm not familiar with........but it definitely is easier now and it's definitely is what I want to do.

Just walk through it on a daily basis, be gentle with yourself, and hang in there.