Feeling like an idiot!!!!!!

AddieRN · Sep 3, 2008

Well, the good news is....you're not the only person who feels that way. I also started out on a telemetry floor. I've been there a month and a half. I like the floor, all the nurses are great and helpful. I get along with everyone. I to feel sometimes that I don't know anything. I have that "winging it" feeling. I made pretty good grades in school, and have pretty good common sense, passed the NCLEX first time. I really feel overwhelmed while I'm at work. I'm also having a hard time with my time management skills. I to just dread going to work, but once I get there I'm fine. You've been on a tele floor for 7 1/2 months, does it get any better? What do you mean by NOCs?

Heart4RN · Sep 3, 2008

NOC's means night shift. As for if it gets any better...I really don't know.. Some nights are better than others and others are just horrific but I make it through and my patients are still alive at the end of my shift. That's a blessing I guess?!?!?! And I'm told by everyone that it does get better. After a year your not so frightened and stumbling over your own feet, is what I have been told. And also that you just start building that foundaion and continue to work from there. I personally don't know...but I sure wish it would get here because I hate the constant roller coaster ride that I feel like I'm on. lol

Evalina · Sep 4, 2008

I'm with you. The dread, the scary and overwhelmed, all of it. I guess we just keep going. I pray on my way to work, and listen to loud music on my way home. And from now on, I'll be hanging out in this forum more often, the support is fantastic! Best wishes to you, and all my empathy.

al7139, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2008

Hey all,

I feel your pain!

I graduated in May '07, and have been working on a telemetry unit ever since... The funny thing is that when I was in school I did not want anything to do with heart patients until my final semester, when I did my clinical and preceptorship on the unit I work on now.

I understand where you are coming from! When I started out at work I got a very rude awakening... I realized how little school had prepared me for the real world of nursing, and that although I graduated nursing school I still didn't know jack s*#t! That was where my preceptors and coworkers came in! They knew that I was a newbie, and that even after my orientation period when I was "on my own" that they needed to look out for me. In addition, I learned that I could always ask for help without feeling "stupid."

Although this unit deals primarily with non-critical patients, we do still get those whose status changes in seconds. The typical pt in our unit is a chest pain, COPD exacerbation, or has had an MI and been cathed with or without an intervention. We also get CVA's, and the occasional med-surg pt. These pts are stable for the most part, but they can go south very quickly, and my forst real emergency, I froze, and if not for the help of my other staff would have been overwhelmed!

I work the 3pm-11pm shift, and will occasionally fill in overnights. I think it's harder on the night shift staff because they don't have the opportunity to develop the relationships with the MD's that I have, so it is scarier to call a doc at 3am for them. also, I have found that a pt can get really critical really fast "after hours".

I used to dread going to work but now look forward to it. I have been an RN for 16 months now, and in that time, have developed an organizational system that works for me, and seen lots of emergencies, so I can say to myself "I've seen this before, I know what to do." I am still learning, but I do not feel so intimidated anymore. It really does get better.

Amy

abundantjoy07, RN · Sep 6, 2008

I wish I could give you some advice...

But unfortunately, I'm just like you. I absolutely hate going to work. Getting up, getting dressed, driving, and then thinking..."I have 12 hours ahead of me. And really 13 hours before I can be back at home in my driveway or in my bed." I always think, it's nice and dark when I'm going in and when I come back out the sun will be shining:crying2:...that's a long time to be working.

That feeling stays with me until I've finished recieving report and have met all of my patients and have done my chart checks.

It's tough I know...but just know you aren't the only person out there who struggles with going to work. It's not fun at all. I hope you find an answer to your unhappiness.

Best of luck to you:flwrhrts:

HURN, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2008

I've been an RN for 6mo. now (technically working as one for 8) and I know all to well what you're saying. The first few months were really rough...I cried just about everyday and felt like I had no idea what I was doing. On top of that I work 12 hour shifts and communte 35 mins to and from work each day. Top that off with arriving to work 30 mins prior and leaving an hour or two after report....I thought I'd never make it:bluecry1: Surprisingly I'm making it:nurse:I've been making it out work 15-30 min out of report and don't dread going in as much. I'm on a general/orthopedic/vascular surgical unit (pre/post op) which is extremely busy...but I'm managing to stay afloat:D What's gotten me through: gaining confidence, asking for help, modeling from the exp. nurses, being pt. w/myself, self-evaluation (recognizing my strengths/wkness). Hang in there, it does get better:rolleyes: