New nurse blues

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 13, 2005

You are in a transitional point in your life and career. Anything is hard and overwhelming when you do it for the first time. No matter who gets mad you keep asking questions. I am sure that with practice and experience you will be great at it. I wish you the best of luck :)

grinnurse, RN · Jul 13, 2005

I am nearing the end of my "orientation" program in my first RN job. The first two weeks were spent observing various departments and then we went to the floors to orient. A month later and all the preceptors are tired of having new grads ask questions. "Didn't you people learn ANYTHING in nursing school?" Sure we did, we spent a gazillion hours on care plans, which are not used much here. Right now I am absolutely hating this hospital job. After a six week orientation we are supposed to be full-fledged RN's, ready to do anything! My feeling right now is that I am on a sinking ship. Never in my life have I felt or been made to feel incompetent, but I sure do now. I know I should say **I CAN do this** and so every day I say that mantra over and over on my way to work. But when I get there, and try to do everything for 4-5 patients as well as new admits and computer charting on a very user-unfriendly system, I am not sure if I really will be able to do this. Is being nervous and having a constant feeling of cold fear and dread normal for a new RN or have I made a wrong turn in life by going to nursing school?

I feel your pain and fear!! I am almost at the end of my orientation too (six weeks) and I feel totally incompetent most of the time. I have tried to use the orientation period to view different styles from the nurses that I have been put with so I can "hodge-podge" my own style once on my own. I am still extremely slow at times, still asking tons of questions, still learning where everything is supposed to be so I don't spend half an hour looking, etc. I expected the first year to be hard, and I know I chose the right field, but, I still get so frustrated w/ myself. I know it will be tough until we totally get the swing of things and there are going to be times when we still don't know what the heck is going on. I just hope to remember the blood, sweat, and tears of nursing school and just keep on keepin on. At least we are lucky enough to have each other here on Allnurses to vent to and all. I think when we have something that we accomplished we should pat ourselves on the back to reinforce the fact that we can and will be able to do this!!

Lot of us are in the same boat here so I wish everyone success with our new careers and we will get through this first year. Good luck to all!!

babynursewannab · Jul 13, 2005

Hon,

Relax on the need for full competency. My orientation was about 6 MONTHS and I still feel queasy at times (see my "crudmonkies" post). 6 weeks IS a little short for preceptors to be so expectant. Yes, there are things you should be able to do by then, but the most important skill you need under your belt is ALWAYS ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT!!!!!!!! I can NOT emphasize that enough. It will save your sanity and, possibly, your patients' lives.

What you are feeling is normal. Try to be patient with yourself even when others aren't. It's difficult but doable.

Good luck, sounds like you are doing a great job.

-Alyssa

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2005

Keep saying that mantra and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Sure your orientation is ending. But no one expects, and even you shouldn't expect of yourself to be full-functioning RNs. Use your resources, use the chain of command, use your peers. Avoid the trolls telling you "didn't you learn anything in nursing school", (they really should be reported to management or the educator as they should be removed from the precepting role).

I understand that feeling of incompetence, but you're stronger and more knowledgable than you know. You function very well in fact, don't let the things that come up destroy your self-confidence. Things are going to come up every day that you don't know and you can't handle, but that doesn't take away the fact you've made it this far and wouldn't have made it this far if you weren't a competent person.

Good luck!

TypicalFish · Jul 13, 2005

I am starting my orientation on Monday; I am already anxious, and feel like I forgot everything I learned in nursing school-reading all these posts makes me more nervous, but at least I know that I won't be alone when I feel awful.

The employee health nurse told me today (whilst doing PPD), how wonderful nursing is, and to give my self six months to get acclimated to just being a nurse and learning stuff, and then another six months after that until I have some level of comfort/confidence. wow. at least she warned me! :uhoh21:

lady_jezebel · Jul 13, 2005

Your feelings are normal & universal. The transition from school to work is difficult for all new grads. Just stick with it & this too shall pass!

martymoose, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2005

pleaides- i feel your pain too and i am thinking of quitting and realizing I made a terrible mistake and wasted 2 yrs(or more) on school. It really stinks when you got 6 mos, and are told you are one of the senior nurses!!!Ithe last thing i want to do is put anyone in danger, but this situation is just setting me up for it, and ill end up losing my license anyway, so I might as well quit before i get sued. should have gone to rad tech in the first place - at least it's only one pt at a time, and chances are they aint going to die on you at that pt. Sorry, i guess i'm the negative one today. good luck with your decision.- jr

martymoose, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2005

pleaides- at least all you got was " didnt you guys learn anything in school" all we get is one of the docs who has made 3 new grads cry, and he says "I dont want any of you new nurses taking care of MY patients."now i know why all the senior nurses have quit. (sorry if it went OT)- jr

Nansanurse · Jul 14, 2005

Hi Pleaides,

I would feel the same way. You didn't mention what unit you are working but some are harder than others to start out in and believe me the right preceptor is so important. You may have already done this but, I am just wondering if it would be appropriate for you to share your feelings with your preceptor or just any nurse who shows some signs of pity on a novice nurse.

Hospitals spend a lot of money orienting nurses and your coworkers should welcome you and be patient ; you will be an asset to them. After all, you are there as support for them too and if they teach, train and treat you well, you in turn will be an asset to them. Everyone has a first day, month, and year; I suppose some people forget that they were new once also. Hang in there. I pray each day for all of us out there. Nan

I am nearing the end of my "orientation" program in my first RN job. The first two weeks were spent observing various departments and then we went to the floors to orient. A month later and all the preceptors are tired of having new grads ask questions. "Didn't you people learn ANYTHING in nursing school?" Sure we did, we spent a gazillion hours on care plans, which are not used much here. Right now I am absolutely hating this hospital job. After a six week orientation we are supposed to be full-fledged RN's, ready to do anything! My feeling right now is that I am on a sinking ship. Never in my life have I felt or been made to feel incompetent, but I sure do now. I know I should say **I CAN do this** and so every day I say that mantra over and over on my way to work. But when I get there, and try to do everything for 4-5 patients as well as new admits and computer charting on a very user-unfriendly system, I am not sure if I really will be able to do this. Is being nervous and having a constant feeling of cold fear and dread normal for a new RN or have I made a wrong turn in life by going to nursing school?

BandEmom · Jul 14, 2005

i've got the blues too. I'm almost off orientation also, and I'm working nights. It sucks. i actually liked my job before I started working grave. I start out my night feeling ok, like i'm on top of things, and then the end of the shift just falls apart, and i go home crying. In fact, i go home crying more often than not. i did well in nursing school. Sometimes i just feel like my good grades must have been a mistake because i can not do this very well. I'll be thinking of you, and i wish you luck.

jkaee · Jul 15, 2005

I remember those days when I first started nursing. Back then, there were NO Nursing Jobs to be found, and I was working LTC. Imagine right out of school with 30 patients. I went home crying, hating my job, hating my life because I was the sole support for my family (my husband was in school).

But, it does and WILL get better.

I have been a nurse for 10 years now, and I just started in a new field of nursing. And yes, I still ask lots of questions. Yes, there are still things I don't know. There are days that I still feel overwhelmed. And, I found out that I made a mistake last weekend (nothing serious, thank goodness). But, as I got older and had more experience, I have learned not to beat myself up and not to get myself all worked up. When I learned I had made a mistake, I just asked what the protocol was and reminded myself as to what to do next time. I realize that I don't know everything, and I have no problem asking for help. I also work in a place where the nurses are all helpful and ready to pitch in and answer questions. I strongly suggest that if your current place of employment isn't conductive to teaching and supporting new nurses that you try to find somewhere that does. It truly makes all the difference.

This will get easier with time. Ask questions, and stand up for yourself when you meet resistance or nasty attitudes. I don't really have any advice on how to get rid of the new nurse blues.....but know that you can always come here when you need to vent or need advice!

I agree with Tweety, I sure wish I had allnurses when I first started out!

Hugs to all!

Jennifer :)