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Discussion

feeling insecure

Hi All,

I have been off of orientation now for 8 months. I work on an ortho/neuro floor. I received one month of orientation (3 weeks on the floor) and one week of a brief introduction of the paperwork I would be dealing with, etc. I graduated in May 2008 and worked for 5 months passing meds for a LTC before I was fortunate enough to land the hospital job.

Is it normal to still feel insecure about being an RN? I feel like I don't know enough and am afraid I am going to miss something in my assessments. I question if I am hearing lung sounds and heart rate correctly. I ask a lot of questions of my fellow nurses. I recently got IV certified and I bring another nurse in the room with me if I have to start a new IV for moral support.

I am constantly getting out late as I can never find the time to sit down and chart. Often times I punch out and finish my charting so as I do not get too much overtime and I really don't want to get my nurse manager in hot water with her boss because of OT.

On a positive note I have a great bedside manner and I have had patient's request me as their nurse for the next day. I am just afraid I am going to miss something and the patient will have to suffer due to my inexperience.

The charge nurses I work with tell me I am doing fine and my nurse manager tells me the unit is lucky to have me and that I am a safe and thorough nurse. I have a hard time believing this when I feel incompetent a lot of the time.

Other nurses tell me that it will get better. I try to improve upon things and research at home diseases and things I do not understand.

Please tell me my feelings are normal?

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    • Featured Replies

    I too did the LTC type work for my first many months as an RN and then entered acute care in a hospital. VERY different work, very different pace. I felt like I was "reset" and needed to learn how to plan my day and hustle all over again, but after almost a year now it's come together nice and speed has come now that safe practice/habbits are in place.

    The greatest thing about knowing what your weaknesses are is knowing what your weaknesses are.. since you are able to identify them you can ask for help with individual issues... it's those that think they know everything after a short period of time that are the ones to watch out for!

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    Sista, every single one of your feelings are valid, real and normal. It will get a little better every day. :) Hugs to you, Ivanna

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    It will be at least one year before you are comfortable in your own skin. Meanwhile, you seem to be doing all the right things. I hope you subscribe to nursing journals. There is probably at least one pertaining to your speciality. It will all come together one of these days. If patients are asking for you then you MUST be doing something right!

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    Your feelings are very normal.

    Insecurity has its purpose. You know that you don't know everything and are aware of just how wrong things can go.

    There is no quick fix for insecurity. Confidence is earned bit by bit through experience. Every shift you go through, you gain more.

    I would rather deal with insecurity than dangerous overconfidence.

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    Seems normal to me. Although I would caution you about punching out and charting. This is illegal. Both you and your employer can get into serious trouble for this. I've heard that working in ltc (as I do) really doesn't count towards hospital experience. Time management takes time to acquire. Sounds like your right on track really.

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    I've been a nurse for 13 years, 10+ hospital floor nurse/telemetry/critical care; and the last 3 as a hospice nurse. Even after 13 years, i still have days where I feel insecure. Especially as hospice i am out there on my own troubleshooting. I call my co-nurses for advice if something boggles my mind.

    linda

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    I'm sure you're doing just fine. Sounds like your managers, and even the patients are happy with you (that's no small feat!). I'm sure things will seem more normal with each extra day of experience you gain. Hang in there, and keep up the good work!

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