Frustrated because I don't know as much as the older nurses.

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I work in a peds office. Parents are constantly asking me questions all day long about their kids. I don't always have the answers (in fact, many times I don't!) and I end up asking one of the other nurses who has been there longer the questions.

I feel like the obvious answer is that I will learn more with time. But I'm frustrated! Where can I learn all these tricks and secrets? I try to learn from them, but it just makes me feel stupid that I didn't know that myself. Even though I learned a lot in school, it seems like there is still so much that I don't know. I want to be an asset to my practice and not have to go running to someone else all the time.

For instance, today a parent asked me why their child was arching their back a lot. The only time I had heard of a child doing this a lot was in cases of meningitis, which I didn't suspect the child had, but wanted to make sure it was nothing serious. I asked another nurse and come to find out that it's common with GERD. I wish I had known that in the first place but I've never heard of that, even though it's fairly common. Is this a normal feeling with new nurses?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Home Health, Camp, Travel, L&D.

Lots of reading can help, but, unfortunately, there's no substitute for time and experience. I'm sorry.

Many times, even things you read don't hit the "ah-ha" button until you've seen it in a patient care situation.

Take a breath and give yourself the time, because that's something you have no control over. What you can do, besides that, is note the things you see or hear & have questions about and go read more about it. As a new RN working ICU, I had a big 3 ring binder at home with info I gathered just this way, as well as a pocket ICU handbook in my locker. It was *years* before I gave this up, and, in fact, still have a specialty specific handbook in my locker.

HTH

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes it's common, and not just with new nurses. Even those who have years and years of experience learn new things all the time. The answers and pearls will come don't worry. You can't rush experience and wisdom so sit back, enjoy the ride and make like a sponge.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ITA with the other posts. I am a fairly new nurse myself (1.5 years ER) and just had my first stoke pt EVER last week. You should have seen me asking all the doctors and nurses question after question. In fact, stroke pts are not very common in our Level I Trauma ER, so alot of doctors and other nurses were all helping out.

I then came home and read upon strokes, interventions, and medications used. I pulled out my ACLS book and really poured over that section.

Just keep asking questions. Nursing is a career where you continue to learn and grow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, all I've been doing is going home to read up on things AFTER the fact. I guess it's good for next time, but it feels like too little too late. I have no problem with continued learning, I just don't want my peers to look down on me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry.

Peers who will look down on you are no friend or mentor to you. Instead, seek out those who are ready and willing to provide vital information and immediate feedback as you will most definitely gain experience this way. And don't be so hard on yourself! Since when were we supposed to know everything and even the most seasoned nurse continues to learn new things each day. When you look back on this day years from now, you will be able to pat yourself on the back for a job well done and it will then be your turn to provide guidance and support to a new and unsure nurse. You will then be a part of their foundation for success.

Continue to seek out knowledge and the talent and expertise are sure to follow!

Good luck to you! ^_^

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

i agree with nursethis21!!! nurses (new and experienced) do not know everything! the only time this becomes a problem is when you find your self working in a non-supportive environment, where other nurses put you down to your co-workers, your patients, and/or to your face. :uhoh3: otherwise, asking questions and having to look things up on a regular basis is the normal way to nurse patients safely.

do not put your self down. remind yourself everyday that you are a good nurse and that one day you will know more then you do now. in fact, as you do more, you will learn more. however, if this environment is toxic (no matter how hard you try and how much you learn and progress your co-workers continue to treat you like you are the dumb nurse), try to stick it out as long as you can until you have enough experience to work in a better place. gl!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for this post I am a NEW LPN 1yr. at a LTC. most everyday I leave work I feel like I am not very good at my profession. I try very hard every night to get my meds passed, charts done and any procedures 3rd shift has to do. I try to answer pt.questions, and do anything they ask me to do for them. Most every morning I am running over into the next shift trying to finish my work. I get so flustered trying so hard and seeming to be an idiot compared to the other nurses. Most all of them are helpful and understanding,there are some that really make me doubt myself and abilities. It is good to know I am not the only one

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, all I've been doing is going home to read up on things AFTER the fact. I guess it's good for next time, but it feels like too little too late. I have no problem with continued learning, I just don't want my peers to look down on me.

You can't worry about your peers "looking down on you". If they do that, you are not in a very good supportive environment.

It's good to look things up and read up on things for the next time you may encounter such a situation. You should be asking questions and asking for help for things you are not comfortable with or just do not know. It's better to have your co-workers look down on you (if that is happening) than to kill a pt.

Give yourself time. Don't be too hard on yourself. Find yourself a mentor and try to model yourself after her/him. It will get better, I promise!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in AL,LTC,HOSP-ER,HHA,ALZ.

Hey u are doing great keep asking questions..I have been in the field for 17 years and learn something new every day..nursing is fluid it changes all the time just look at something as simple as the CPR guidelines for the laymen it seems to change every year..the recent alert over DCN due to the effect on the heart who would have known.. I have gave this med to patients for years and I have taken it for back pain myself.. I knew the side effects but not to the extent they claim prompting us to pull all our patients off it.. just seems to be something new everyday..Keep up the good work..and keep asking questions..

TL

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the supportive words! Honestly, it is not a bad environment at all. All the other nurses are really nice and always happy to help me out, but I don't want them secretly doubting me as a competent peer. I guess it's just a paranoia. I know it will take time, it's just some days feel worse than others and you need to vent. You are all so nice to pick me back up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

I am a new grad but I feel like you're not doing it right if you don't learn something new every day!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment