Feel like I don't know anything

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I didn't see a specific new grad forum, so I'm posting this here.

I start my first job in two weeks, and I'm absolutely terrified. My first month of orientation is going to be on the same floor I worked on as a CNA, and I'm scared they're all going to think I'm a terrible nurse. I'm scared I'm not going to know what to do. I'm scared I'm going to somehow kill someone or not recognize something vital.

I've been in school for two years, and I feel like I don't know a damn thing. I'm pretty sure you could ask me a nursing related question, right now, and I'd tell you I don't know. Two years of school that I managed to graduate from, managed to pass the NCLEX exam, and I feel like my brain is full of nothing but 90s song lyrics and every line in Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

Should I keep studying while I'm waiting to start? Go through my Saunders book? I keep envisioning showing up to my first day of on the floor training and winding up fired or my preceptor hates me because I don't know something I should know.

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.

You've spent all this money learning, stayed up nights and weekends studying your heart out, knowing that you are doing something meaningful, but questioning whether or not you've got what it takes..?

What you are feeling is normal. Just take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Do it again.

If you can get yourself organized before you leave "report", it will be a tremendous help. How do you do that?

Have a brain sheet prepared with your notes. I use to use this format, but you will find what works best for you:

Name, age, diagnosis, code status

Pain control: Next Pain med due at___hrs.

CMS

Alert? Oriented?

Temp ___ Pulse___ Resp___ Sat_____% O2 @___Liters Lung sounds:

C02 retainer?

Foley?

Incision? Drainage? Dressing need changing?

IV's: Solution is ______ @mls/hr Next bag change due at___.

Activity:

Ambulation

Meds Times: _____ ______ _______ _______

After report, check orders to make sure that nothing has changed while you were in report.

Check Labs if needed and alert your charge or the doc if needed. Get the meds passed.

These are just some notes, that's all, to help you get started. I don't know what kind of floor you will be on, but this helped me in Med/Surg.

Don't beat yourself up. Seasoned nurses would much rather have you ask what you think is a stupid question, than not. And if you need to look up something, do it!!

I am always impressed by new grads who know that they aren't sure and take the time to look up something. I was always looking up things. Sometimes I still look up some things.

You are valued believe me! We're in your corner. Now pump up those neurons, polish that cranium and go get 'em!!

0 Votes
It's not always easy, especially if you're sensitive about how others perceive you. I still struggle with it occasionally, myself, but it gets easier with time and practice. But knowing where your emotional weak spots are is half the battle. It hits you a lot harder when you're blindsided. Part of the psychiatric crisis teaching we do at my facility is aimed at that, specifically asking people to examine what their own emotional triggers are so they know when they might need to walk away from a situation and take a deep breath before responding.

That's true. At least, I'm aware that I have a tendency to let things like that get to me. If I have to walk away to cry in a supply closet, I will! I definitely know I'm not the only one who has. Thank you for the advice!

0 Votes
You've spent all this money learning, stayed up nights and weekends studying your heart out, knowing that you are doing something meaningful, but questioning whether or not you've got what it takes..?

What you are feeling is normal. Just take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Do it again.

If you can get yourself organized before you leave "report", it will be a tremendous help. How do you do that?

Have a brain sheet prepared with your notes. I use to use this format, but you will find what works best for you:

Name, age, diagnosis, code status

Pain control: Next Pain med due at___hrs.

CMS

Alert? Oriented?

Temp ___ Pulse___ Resp___ Sat_____% O2 @___Liters Lung sounds:

C02 retainer?

Foley?

Incision? Drainage? Dressing need changing?

IV's: Solution is ______ @mls/hr Next bag change due at___.

Activity:

Ambulation

Meds Times: _____ ______ _______ _______

After report, check orders to make sure that nothing has changed while you were in report.

Check Labs if needed and alert your charge or the doc if needed. Get the meds passed.

These are just some notes, that's all, to help you get started. I don't know what kind of floor you will be on, but this helped me in Med/Surg.

Don't beat yourself up. Seasoned nurses would much rather have you ask what you think is a stupid question, than not. And if you need to look up something, do it!!

I am always impressed by new grads who know that they aren't sure and take the time to look up something. I was always looking up things. Sometimes I still look up some things.

You are valued believe me! We're in your corner. Now pump up those neurons, polish that cranium and go get 'em!!

Thank you!! I've been trying to find nurse brains that I'd like to use on pinterest, but I haven't been successful. I'll have to see what the nurses at work use and see if I like any of them, but I know a couple nurses have just flat out made their own. I don't know if I'm that skilled, but I'll have to wait and see. I'll definitely be sure to look things up that I don't know. I'm struggling to give myself a break and not read through my books again before I start.

Thank you for all the tips!!

0 Votes

I'm a little late to the party. @brownbook , I apologize for making bad assumptions on this forum. That is the trouble with the internet, JKL33. I don't necessarily think my response that you find so unflattering, which I believe I had rectified by explaining why I responded the way I did, warrants you calling me "tachy," even if you think my username is cute. Remarks such as this are unnecessary entirely, and even a little bit bully-ish, which is the reason this conversation is occurring in the first place (because I wrongly assumed brownbook was being a little witchy to the OP. My mistake.)

To each their own ;)

0 Votes

Shame on me, indeed. I misinterpreted the message and thought brownbook was calling the OP dumb for asking such questions, and was attempting to stick up for OP. Shame on you for shaming me and shame on me for shaming you! No worries, here.

0 Votes
Wait...what? I didn't think brownbook was hateful at all. I thought brownbook was cool.

I did misunderstand! Looking for trouble where none exists :p No worries!

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment