Feeling discouraged :'(

perioddrama · Apr 17, 2012

Don't be discouraged! They don't call it "experience" for nothing. Think of all the things you've learned so far. And it's awesome that you have the passion to want to be an excellent nurse. That's the most vital skill. Keep your head up, you are doing fabulous!

RockinChick66 · Apr 17, 2012

It takes years to get totally confident and comfortable. Keep your chin up and embrace learning because the learning never ends. r

tokmom, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

Hey, you have only been a nurse for a year. Cut yourself some slack. :) One day it will all be routine.

As for a rapid response just make sure you have an airway, oxygen and a working IV. By the time the RRT team arrives, they will take over. Once you get more exposure to urgent situations, you will know what needs to be done next. It just takes time!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

I can rapid response/code like a finely tuned machine:). I'm calm. Cool. In charge. Directing like a cop at a traffic stop.

As long as the patient is not mine.

When it's my pt, I've taken care of them, and I'm responsible, I simply crumble.

Eventually you'll discover your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Then make peace with them. I think that takes a while and goes along with developing self confidence in general.

Don't beat yourself up because you're new.

By the way. The whole traffic cop thing is a little exaggeration.

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Apr 17, 2012

You sound like me. I have been where I am now- cardiac- for a year and just had my evaluation and was pleasantly surprised to find that I'm doing just great. BUT, I'm telling you, when I first started I was just a blithering mess. It was a year before I actually got my first nursing job, I graduated in May of 2010 and right away found out I was pregnant and there was a nursing strike and...you get the idea. So I have only been working as an RN for a year, despite having the license.

What I'm getting around to is that I had such high hopes when I started, and immediately I was awakened to reality. I was disorganized, slow, overwhelmed...and like you I felt like each day I was treading water and just barely getting by and half the time had no idea what was going on. I can't honestly say what changed...repetition I guess. Keep doing the same thing, each shift and you pick up your routine. I started getting to work about a half hour to twenty minutes before shift so that I could collect my thoughts and my patient info and get report. I realized it was ok to as for help, to ask questions. Why not? I came to the conclusion that the one time I don't ask, will be the time I do major damage. I just kept at it, and fell into my routine. Everybody does things differently. It sounds like you made an abrupt switch only a couple of months in, going from neuro to med/surg. I'm sure you had your reasons but you never got your flow with ortho/neuro...it was interrupted. I was told you shouldn't switch your setting any sooner than 6-8 months in (unless your job is really at the threshold of heck and your co-workers are truly the spawn of evil).

Are you in a supportive setting? Do you feel comfortable voicing your concerns to you manager or a preceptor, or even just a seasoned co-worker? Just tell them- you want to make this work, what is their input? Oftentimes I found that as bad as I thought I was doing, my co-workers didn't perceive it as all that major. I freaked out about a mistake I made (it wasn't major, no harm done) and I told my charge and she threw back her head and laughed and said she didn't know one nurse who hadn't made that mistake, and if that was the worst mistake I made then I should be happy.

It could be that the floor you are on really is not for you (not yet anyway). Some floors are busier-the floor I work on is insane, the turn over and the acuity is nuts. We have people going to ICU at the same time we have people being discharged at the same time we have someone en-route from ER. My nurse manager told me today that working for a year on our floor is equivalent to two years experience. Your floor might be one of those.

You haven't been doing this for even a year yet. I had another seasoned charge tell me that it wasn't until after 5 years that she felt like she was REALLY experienced. I mean you don't go from crawling to riding a two-wheeler overnight.

I ramble. Just keep asking questions and asking for input from your co-workers on their advice. You might not be doing as badly as you think you are.

rntj · Apr 17, 2012

I feel for ya, I really do. So many nurses also have anxiety, you are not alone. I've been a nurse for 10 years and my chest still feels tight and I get really anxious before going in to work on my first day of the week. The most important thing for a nurse is to actually give a rip about your patients. Surprisingly, there are those out there that just don't care, or maybe they never did. Please take me at my word that, with time, IT WILL GET BETTER. Seriously, I was a total anxiety ridden mess who wanted to cry every 5 min when I first started as a nurse. You will get through this, don't give up, and best of luck to you.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

Nursing is HARD. I have been a nurse for 30 years... and recognized for excellence somewhere along the way.

I remember CLEARLY when a patient was coding.. and not being able to spit out the diagnoses when the code team responded.

It's called STRESS. Everybody in that room.. had been there and done that. You weren't judged.

You have the smarts and the desire to succeed.

However, emotionally ...you may want assistance to handle the demands and stress of the profession.(check out the Employee Assistance Program if you facility offers it)

This is NOT a sign of weakness.. you have a good start towards gaining the necessary insight to deal with it.

Good luck, pm me anytime

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

i'm sorry you're going through this, however, every single nurse goes through these uncertain feelings of self-doubt in their first year no matter how great they did in school. trust me when i say we all went through it and survived which i have no doubt that you'll do the same. having said that, above all trust your own feelings when addressing some difficult situations, observe the other seasoned nurses on how they handle tough situations and try to emulate them, also it's a good idea to have a mentor if you can get one. needless to say, the best advise i can offer to anyone is to stick with it for at least 6mo. or so, it takes time and with it comes experience...wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors...aloha~

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

:hug:.....School does not prepare you for what nursing really is. It can take AT LEAST to just get down basic organizational skills and not feel like a blithering idiot, let alone knowing what to do in an emergency. I understand the need for perfection but don't be so hard on yourself. It will all come....in time. Lots of time. The biggest thing about knowing what to do is recognizing that there is problem and knowing who to go to for help....the rest you will learn. Personally I loved nights. I loved mentoring the newer nurses and there was time on nights. Nights is a good place, there are less interruptions to distract you.

:hug: Strive for excellence but don't beat yourself up so much. It has gotten better so far right? Well then it will get better from here.

titi05 · Apr 17, 2012

omg. i feel the same way. soo discourage at times that is nt funny. everytime i need to go to work am stressed about it. cant wait to feel better some day

trulyblessed2 · Apr 17, 2012

I feel the same way. I feel nursing school has not prepared me the way I wanted.