Feeling Overwhelmed!

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2003

Don't be so hard on yourself! You have only been working there 4 weeks?? Heavens I always tell my new grads it takes one year to feel comfortable and knowledgeable on a unit if your new to it.

Give yourself a long time. Your age has nothing to do with it. We all go through it.

renerian:

2banurse · Oct 4, 2003

Of course you feel overwhelmed...it is new for you, but before you know it, you will be precepting a new nurse and you'll be sharing your experiences. And like you said, the doctor was a jerk...unfortunately some still believe that they are next to God, the only thing they are next to is a smarter nurse.

Kris

fergus51 · Oct 4, 2003

I think it was at least a year before I could sleep the night before my shift and not feel like I was going to barf all day while I was there. You shouldn't worry about knowing everything after 4 weeks. In fact, I would be concerned if you weren't feeling nervous and overwhelmed. take a breath and make the most of your time away from work, cause we all know how stressful it can be!

ainz · Oct 4, 2003

Ditto to what everyone has said. My first job was on a busy busy telemetry floor. I had just finished nursing school and completed a 6 week telemetry and EKG course. All of a sudden I had monitor techs asking ME to interpret rhythms and decide what should be done. Then I finished ACLS and was expected to start the codes before the doctor got their. It was quite overwhelming, but, in about 12 short months I was helping orient "new" nurses and felt very comfortable with my job and skills. It will come, lighten up on yourself.

And it does not matter about your age. Also, no matter how long you have been nursing, the doctors are still arrogant jerks.

Brownms46 · Oct 4, 2003

I would have pulled the jerk aside, and reminded him, that he wasn't so hot when he first started either! I know how they are when their residents, as the first hospital I worked in was teaching hospital. And I have seen them struggling, and hemming, and hawing when their faculty would put them on the spot! I have also worked side by side with them,while they were learning in Family practice.

So the jerk needs to remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and he didn't pop out of med school and spontaneously become an all knowning OB/GYN!

And no one should expect you to know a job, that will take you at least a year or more to get comfortable! And believe me, even experience nurses, who come into the OR, and aren't familiar with a certain doctor's way of doing things, run into the same thing you did. That is until they set that Surg straight!

Congrats on your graduating, and for having the guts to jump into a very demanding, and difficult field! And thank God you got a better preceptor than I did! Mine made my life a living nitemare! So count your blessings, and keep on trucking! You will be just fine:D

BETSRN · Oct 4, 2003

I am surprised that at your stage of the game, they are throeing so much at you at once. Could you speak to your preceptor about this? You cannot possible become comfortable with all of this if you are doing so much.

When our techs were trained to scrub, they had 5 weeks of 40 hours weekly of training. That was just to scrub!

You should NOT be learning about inductions if you know little or nothing about fetal monitoring.

When we orient a new nurse 9without experience) we start with post-partum, add nursery and THEN do labor after the other areas are mastered.

At one of the big hospitals near here, a new nurse for L&D gets 12 weeks of just labor befiore she does anything else.

I know you'll be fine but baptism by fire is NOT going to help you.

If possible, I would try and request ONE area of expertise before adding another.

Your preceptor may be very nice but I'm not too sure the program they have you following is to your benefit.

fourbirds4me · Oct 4, 2003

Ang,

What you described could just as easily been me! I soooo understand how you feel! I started about 2 months ago and my preceptor is very nice and supportive..... she is just not a great teacher. I too, never really thought about the surgical aspect of this job.... having to learn to scrub, circulate and assist a section has been challenging.... this is stuff we never even touched in school. I have the same problem with docs..... they think we should know everything from the time we walk through the doors!

We have about 6-8 docs that do most of our deliveries and everyone of them WANTS different things and will let patients do different things although there is only one set of routine orders. Which I think is rediculous. Some want total bedrest if on pit, others if they are ruptured, couple of others allow ambulation and BRP even with internals. Some want the bed broken down, everything to be draped sterilely and the nurse to scrub in. Others just sit down on the side of the bed to deliver. It's just nuts to me...

Anyway, I didn't mean for this to turn into a a whine session for me too..... I just wanted to say that i totally understand, the same thing is happening to me but it is getting a little better because my knowledge is increasing. Hang in there! I sincerely hope that it's like everyone says and a year from now we will be looking back at this and wondering what the big deal was.....

Here's to us!

Faery · Oct 4, 2003

i too just started on an ldrp unit in sept. i am starting out learning labor. sometimes i leave work feeling like i am getting the hang of it, and then the next day- an emergency happens, and i just move out of the way so the more experienced nurses can take over. i feel like there is so much to learn as well, but i have come to accept that in time, i will get the hang of it. where i work, just the paperwork alone is overwhelming. to try and fill out all the papers right and at the same time be aware of whats going on with my pt. makes me feel crazy. i guess that it takes me 4 times longer to complete and addmission or chart, then everyone else. i just keep going to work every day with a positive attitude, do what i feel comfortable doing by myself, and ask my preceptor for help when i don't know something or feel comfortable. also- i don't pretend to know something if i don't. i ask alot of questions to the nurses, doctors, surg. techs, or anyone who will answer. if they get annoyed or look at me like i'm stupid, i apologize and say "i'm sorry, but i'm new here and i'm trying to learn all i can". then they are usually more willing to show me things step by step. i hope you are doing well, and don't worry- you're not the only on going through orientation-one day we'll look back on these days and laugh.

Ang00 · Oct 4, 2003

I thank you all very much for the encouraging words. It makes me feel alot better. It's good to know that there are some where I'm at right now and some that have been there in the past. I'm so glad I found this site so I can have other L&D nurses input and knowledge. You all are a big blessing. Thank You!!!

Dave ARNP · Oct 6, 2003

Just try to remain calm. It will most certainly get better.

While I never had the joy of going onto the floor, I did get the joy hitting things once I became a NP. Not only was I expected to be a seasoned RN, I had to be a top notch NP.

Basically, I didn't know the difference between Tylenol and Advil... nor did I know what patient should get which. In a few weeks though, I mastered it.

Fire by baptisim DOES work. Just make sure you DID learn how to treat burns :-D

David Adams, ARNP

ACNP/FNP

acuteobrn · Oct 6, 2003

I too am on the new L/D RN boat, and boy do I feel for ya!!!! I have had days when I am just plain ready to walk away from nursing (and the thousands of dollars I put into it!) and take a job at the local Jewel as a cashier!!!! But then I would have good days, nice experiences w/ patients and it just makes it all worth it. I have had my share of posts ranting and raving about preceptors, orientation, docs, but I just want you to know:

IT DOES GET BETTER!!!!!

So try as hard as you might and hang in there, go with your gut insticts, don't let anyone force you into doing something you are not comfortable with alone and observe, observe, observe. Remember, your fumblings and mistakes will pay off in the end because you will learn from them, and in the end you will be and are an AWESOME RN!!!

And for the Docs who give you a hard time..screw em'

No honestly just let them know that you are still new to this and ask for their expertise, ask them about the surgery and the layers they are on, most are really into teaching or at least hearing their own voice. Learning to scrub takes time, but before you know it it will be second hand. If you get a chance check out Williams obstetrics, it has the whole procedure word for word and will help you know what you need to pass at what point and what it is for.

So congrats to you for graduating in such a noble profession!!!

(Yes I am being quite positive, but I had a good week, nursing has its ups and downs, and just like good varibles, you go up really fast, bottom out and go up ...goofy I know, but it made sense when I thought of it...hope you get the analogy)

HANG IN THERE GIRL!!!!!!!!