feeling INCOMPETENT!

[michiganrnathome]

I will try to keep this as short as possible! I have only been a nurse for 2 1/2 years and have never worked full time. I have 3 kids under 5 and no family in the area to help me, so basically I only work every other weekend while my husband is home with the kids. I basically feel that working so little, I am not able to develop into the nurse that I am capable of becoming. I work on a crazy busy floor ( aren't they all?) and just feel like my skills are that of a new grad from working so little, I feel like I just can't live up to my potential right now and I simply don't want to put my kids in day care, my son is only 12 weeks old. I have thought about going into LTC, thinking and I hope no one is offended b/c that is certainly not my intent, but thinking perhaps even though I only work every other weekend I would know the patients as for the most part they would be the same, also I wonder if it would offer more consistency? I have thought about going back to waiting tables (did that for 10 years through nursing school) because I know that like the back of my hand, although I HATE this idea because I'm afraid I'll be too intimidated to get back to nursing when the kids get older. Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated. The only thing I really want to avoid is midnights, I can not stay awake, I did that until last March and felt sick constantly.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Boy I feel for you. I don't have words about working LTC cause I never have. I just want to offer my support and tell you that we ALL feel this way from time to time. Even after over 7 years, I have "incompetent" moments where I feel totally inadequate. Your plate is full and you are trying to please and care for a lot of people. Hang in there, and I hope those who work LTC can give you words of encouragement and advice! As you know LTC is NOT easy work-----but it may be something to look into!