need advise

Merced · Oct 5, 2011

Nursing is stressful work under perfect conditions, but my guess is that you are one on the 99.5% of nurses who work while understaffed & underresourced, maybe on an off-shift when doctors may not be easily available, etc.

Another issue is, when/if we take a break, too often there isn't another nurse to talk to with some privacy, about emotionally charged subjects.

(I often envy police, who have another very stressful job - when they are in the car alone with their partner, & can have some real talks).

I would advise looking for a counselor, as you are probably particularly sensitive to stress, or maybe super-conscientious.:flwrhrts:

Makes me wonder, are there any ex-nurses doing counseling? That is probably a great niche to be filled.

deann52 · Oct 5, 2011

This is normal. We all do it when we are new. Relax and breathe :) You won't lose your job if you made a mistake. You would have heard about anything serious by now anyway. Small charting errors are common and easily fixed. The fear fades with time and comfort level. Just be methodical when you are at work and do the job. If you do that things fall in line.

Good luck hun!

RNttu · Oct 5, 2011

So should I ask my manager to review the pt's file to see if I did make that error. Or should I just let it ago?

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Oct 5, 2011

If you're going to worry and lose sleep over the potential mistake, ask your supervisor to check it for you.

Rodoon, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2011

Let it go. The voice in your head is stress speaking.

To turn off the voice do this: When you leave your area of work imagine taking off your work clothes, stethescope, etc and when you get in your car you're dressed in fun casual clothes. On the drive out do not allow "the worry script" to play in your head. Zap it mentally or say no outloud. When you leave your job, you leave any stress accumulated on that shift on the hospital's property. On the drive home visualize smiling and loving on your family. You must make your car and home stress free. Also while driving home don't make any calls if you can. Focus on breathing and looking out at the world instead of tunneling in on worries.

When you lay your head on a pillow, and the voice in your head questions if you did this or that cut if off by by visualizing scissors cutting the tape. A cardiologist taught me this and it works. It's an out of whack feedback loop that will only get louder if you don't reduce it. Read up on guided imagery if you think I'm joking. It works if practiced.

Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN · Oct 6, 2011

I'm still amazed that you can stare at your brain, LOL! Just Joshin!!! Yes, it is a difficult job and we want what's best for our patient, so we do not want to make a mistake. I have experienced this, and still do. I often wonder if I have forgotten something. Do you carry a notebook with you and keep notes, maybe a checklist? What you feel really is normal. Talk to a close nurse friend (preferably one that does not work with you). I wish you much luck!

merlee · Oct 6, 2011

Let it go. LET IT GO!!!! And don't keep reviewing things over and over, you will make yourself crazy.

Call the EAP at your facility and talk to someone.

And be very careful about taking any paper items with HIPAA - type info on it home from the hospital.

Best wishes!

beckster_01, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2011

I give myself 20 minutes when I get home to think about my day and try to remember things that I may have missed/not reported. If I think of anything important, I will call my unit back just to make sure. If not, I forget everything about my day and relax until it is time to go to bed. If I can't think of anything in those first 15-20 minutes home, then it must not have been important enough to hand off (that may or may not make sense...). Anyhow I am so adamant about not bringing my work home with me that when my friends ask for "cool nursing stories" I can't think of any because I just don't want to think about work when I am at home.