fear of nursing

Mulan · Mar 30, 2005

I would just jump back in and give it a try. As far as IV's, it comes with practice, and some days you get it and some days you don't. Just try and if you can't get it, have someone else try. Same with the NG tube, those things are skills and come with doing.

Good luck.

LPNer · Mar 30, 2005

Hi...I am an RN that has been away from nursing for a year and a half after initially practicing for a short 2 years (hospital, med-surg/ortho). I am worried about getting back into it - concerned I will be in over my head, concerned that I can't start an IV, insert an NG tube, etc...yet I don't think I need (or can afford a refresher course). Also, I hear so much about nurse burn-out. Any suggestions, words of wisdom, would be much appreciated.

I had been out of hospital nursing for quite a while and when I returned I had to get the "new" IV certification for LPNs. Well, it was a bit insulting because I had been "doing" IVs for years. But law is law... I was a bit aprehensive about actually sticking pts, it is an art. All the theory in the world will not stick somebody and hit a wriggly, collapsable tube if you haven't got a little "art." All my apprhension was for nought, I started nearly a dozen before I came upon a pt that broke my spirit and I had to stick him twice. :scrying:

Point is, it's only been 1 1/2 years! That's not long at all! I'd been putting in NGs and G-tubes in home nursing so things like that were not a problem for me, but many things in the hospital are so different or totally "not done" in home care that I was apprehensive, and so many changes since I last worked acute care. But I did it and it didn't take long at all for me to regain my confidence.

It's only been 1 1/2 years, you couldn't have forgotten that much and skills can be regained, the art is in your soul or you woulen't be returning! I know you can do it because I did it and I'm just an ordinary soul, nothing special about me (other than my uncanny ability to irritate some nurses on these boards now and again, but it's not purposefully!)

Good luck! I know you can do it, we need good nurses like you! Come on back!

mandykal, ADN, RN · Mar 30, 2005

The books tell half the story, the rest is all hands on....so, don't be afraid to open the books.

KAL