Back to nursing, have low confidence

[MommyandRN]

I was home taking care of my baby for two years. I recently started back to the working world in a brand new job. I am an experienced nurse though, I have worked in critical care for a long time so I know what I am doing. I feel like I am under a microscope though. Being judged by other nurses for what I know and don't know, what types of patients I have seen, etc. And if I don't know something specific I feel that they think I am dumb or inexperienced. I have heard whispering and know it was about me. Then I get really down on myself and feel like I don't know anything. My confidence has gotten so low that I am thinking that I am not cut out for nursing, there is so much I don't know, and that I should get into another field altogether. At one time I was really into nursing and felt confident, that I knew exactly how to take care of any patient that came my way. Now I find myself doubting my abilities and doubting if I should actually have this responsibility. What if I make a huge error? Maybe I am a horrible nurse, and I should get out of this situation before I hurt a patient.

Also, I have always been the type to endorse asking questions and asking for help. But lately I feel like I am the new person asking too much questions... and that this one nurse is fed up with my questions and treats me like I am stupid for asking such things. So I am basically trying to work on my own as much as possible to not appear dumb.

Anyway, I don't know if this is all temporary. Am I normal and just getting back into the swing of things, or if these feelings are a red flag that I should leave nursing?

[greatshakes]

If you knew what you were doing in critical care then you know that you were very able. On another floor, another different set of rules applies, maybe it's just the time management or routine they follow and probably a bigger patient load. You are just getting back into it and it is normal. Some nurses forget what it is like to be away for a while, others are in cliques. Some of them will try you out and some will just be a bit nasty. Is there anyone specifically you can go to on the floor and just discuss your problem with. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of moving out.

[imanedrn]

I'm amazed at how some nurses are so unwilling to support each other... which ultimately leads to our own disintegrating self worth.

I'm a new nurse, so I don't have any worthy advice to offer, but I do wish you the best -- as I'm hoping for the same myself.

Good luck!:wshgrt:

[sunny261]

Remember you have something special to bring your patients. Nurses especially in specialty areas can be very critical of the new nurse that comes along. Similar idea to nurses eating their young. Although you are experienced you probably have to earn their trust. What a shame that we are like that to each other instead of encouraging and supporting each other. You are special!!:icon_hug:

[RN BSN 2009]

It has to be the culture of your unit, if you can handle critical patients and that was only 2 years ago you still have the knowledge set to deal with all types of patients.

[Medic2005]

Keep your head up, All the other nurses were in your shoes @ one time or another,you know why your are there is to help promote life,Some people just get a over sized EGO like super nurse.Don't let it get to you.

[BearyPrivate]

Listen, if you knew it 2 yrs ago, you know it now. Hopefully, the other nurses you work with will come round, if not it's their loss, not yours. Remember management hired you, they wouldn't have if they thought you couldn't do this.

[queen777]

Hang in there. I have experienced the same thing. I found that when I treated those the way they treated me, somehow they became my best friend. For some reason I gave off this imagine of being a nurse just for "mad money". I never could understand that. So after taking care of some smart remarks, they came around or left! You just need to take up for yourself. I promise they will like you for it.

[crb613, BSN, RN]

Bless your heart & shame on the nurses you work with! I think it is so sad that we as nurses would dare to treat some one this way. I don't know why but it seems if anyone appears weak......it can be a feeding frenzy! I see you are an experienced nurse...just out of the loop for a while. You had it then & it will with a little time come back to you. Keep your head up....ask the questions you need the answers to....and do not let a few self righteous people get you down. You said it yourself.....you know what you are doing! Keep that thought in mind....no one knows it all & I bet sooner or later they may need some help from you.....

Hopefully you will find one good one in the bunch that will be willing to help you along in this rough time. Have you ever thought you may be doing a great job & there may be a little jealousy? Good Luck & hang in there!

[queen777]

As another RN once told me, maybe its just the way you look. I always dressed in white with my lab coat, wore makeup and fixed my hair nicely while the other two head nurses, that were always on my back about nonsense, wore scrubs, no makeup and were fat (I'm not). I do believe there is a lot of jealousy in nursing. They used to make the comment that I was in nursing to make "mad money"! How ridulous! If I wanted to make "mad money" I surely would not have chosen nursing to go into.

Like I said before, sometimes you have to give back what is given to you. You don't have to be nasty to do it. Ask them what their problem is. Maybe show them your kind ways and offer your help if they need it. Most other nurses had me pegged all wrong. Actions speak louder than words.

Its sad that other nurses act this way. I never could figure it out. Every day I went to work it was like going to battle taking up for myself. But most of my problems came from the CNAs, not nurses, well there were problems with nurses, but that was in the hospital setting. And there it was only the head nurses.

Maybe go to another floor or facility.

Good luck and God bless.