Frustrated

[setlo]

So I have been a nurse for 3 years now. I still feel like just a baby in the nursing field. I have moved to a different state and have been working in an urgent care facility for the past 4 months. I had 5 days of training at this job and from then on have been working regularly as the supervisor and only RN. I feel like I learned so much from this job, but I also am made to feel stupid when I don't know "the right answer" or ask a "stupid question". Recently I have made a few dumb mistakes and am feeling incompetent. I feel like I should be able to shake off these mistakes because I face them head on and deal with them in the appropriate manner, but I just can't let them go and I get so upset. I am told by others that these mistakes are minor, but they feel so major to me. I feel as though I have literally just been thrown to the sharks with every nursing job I have had and have just had to learn to swim and deal with getting yelled at and making mistakes. Because I have been thrown into jobs without much aide or training, I don't have any mentors to turn to. I believe myself to be a good nurse, but I have never been this down on myself as a nurse. I have been questioning myself and my career choice. I think I really just need a peer or a mentor to vent to. I don't know if it is just this job or what, but I feel unsupported by my manager and am sick of my nursing peers as they keep playing the blame game or are holier than though bull. I'm just frustrated. Any advice?

[goalienrse]

I don't have any advice really but to say your not alone! I could have written this topic myself word for word (including the other holier than thou nurses), except for working different areas.

Nursing is a daunting job. Such responsibility can be very overwhelming and slightly over a year in nrsg I feel it too. I get so anxious my chest hurts even thinking about nursing sometimes.

I will say this though, working in a clinic SEEMS like it would be ten times better than my ltc facility and hospital nursing I worked in. But I wouldn't know that for sure never having done it.

Personally I am thinking about case management nursing after I get my BSN.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Maybe you could find a mentor from a more experienced nurse here at AN. Couldn't hurt to try..........

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

I would also suggest finding a nurse mentor who can help you transition into your new role. Nursing can be very stressful and I still think that after 32 years working full time plus in the profession. At times it seems if it is not one thing it's another. There is a lot to learn so remember that you need to keep adding to your knowledge base and as you do your clinical judgment will improve and thus your decisions. Do not waste to much time feeling bad about any mistkes you have made..learn from them and move on so they do not cripple you. You can always come here to get some advice and perspective. There are many many wise nurses here.

I must say that I do despise the patient satisfaction trend and find basing reimbursement on those scores ludicrous.