Having confidence issues

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Im a new LPN, and boy am I having confidence issues. I feel like there's so much I dont know. I feel like Im always asking questions, which I know is good, but still. I just want to be safe, and do things right and take care of my residents. Sometimes I feel like I know what Im doing, but I still ask if its right, just to have someone else tell me Im doing the right thing. I hope that my self doubt will lessen over time and with experience.

Thanks

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

It takes most people about a year to really feel confident in any new position, new grad or not. Eventually you will ask far fewer questions, and soon you will be the one that others come to for answers!

Keep asking all the questions you need to - - that is how we learn!

Best wishes!

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Confidence issues are a recurring issue for me. After the first year or so, things do get better and confidence is earned.

Confidence can be shaken some shifts, and lost for a while too.

It is better to feel like you don't know everything and ask questions than to never feel doubt and hurt many patients in the process.

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I am not exactly in your shoes, but understand what you're going through. I am a nursing student having confidence issues. I'm taking A & P online and although I'm doing well grade wise, I'm not retaining any info. I'll need to retain this info for the proctored tests or else I will fail these tests! It's frustrating..... I'm sure a nurse learns a lot on the job, through experience, how much of this A&P is one expected to retain? Any idea? I'm afraid I won't know my stuff and fail as a nurse.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
I am not exactly in your shoes, but understand what you're going through. I am a nursing student having confidence issues. I'm taking A & P online and although I'm doing well grade wise, I'm not retaining any info. I'll need to retain this info for the proctored tests or else I will fail these tests! It's frustrating..... I'm sure a nurse learns a lot on the job, through experience, how much of this A&P is one expected to retain? Any idea? I'm afraid I won't know my stuff and fail as a nurse.

A & P is very important and you must try to make an effort to retain as much as possible. I would recommend that you find a study partner, although, I understand that this is a challenging concept with online courses.

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Specializes in M/S, Tele, Sub (stepdown), Hospice.
A & P is very important and you must try to make an effort to retain as much as possible. I would recommend that you find a study partner, although, I understand that this is a challenging concept with online courses.

I think it's impossible to retain everything. Once you're in the nursing program, things will be reiterated again & again. You'll do care plans with which you'll have to recall pathophysiology. Then you'll be caring for patients & have to recall that same information. After all that, you finally start to actually retain stuff. I'm in my 4th semester & I still have trouble retaining everything.....but as time passes, certain diseases, meds, etc. start becoming just second nature.

That was my biggest issue while going through nursing school........I'm not keeping anything in my brain!!!!! You just study & study & soon it just sticks!!

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Specializes in A and E, Medicine, Surgery.

I would MUCH prefer to have someone feeling unconfident than someone new on the floor feeling they have grasped it all. Over 20years in I still learn every day and the more you learn the more you realise there is to learn. Trust me I would much prefer to have under confident than overconfident on my shift.

Don't set your self expectations too high and if there is anything at all you feel unsure of then ask. Any senior nurse worth there wage will always welcome questions.

The anxiety will get less over time BUT that fear stops us making mistakes so it is no bad thing. You sound like a reflective conscientous professional so give yourself a break :)

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
, how much of this A&P is one expected to retain?

The short answer: ALL of it. If you're not retaining, then you need to be putting in more time with the material. A & P is hard for everybody. WHen I went through nursing school my roommate would drill me every night with flash cards that I made--and she was an education major; she could barely pronounce the words! I kept my flash cards with me all the time and used them at stop signs, in doctors offices, waiting for class to start, in the school cafeteria, everywhere. I drew diagrams of the body and body parts. And I showed up for every single lab study session, even giving up some great concerts and football games to do it. In short, you're going to have to find what works because you NEED this information. I"m not trying to be hard on you, but if you don't understand basic A&P you are not going to have an easy time of it in nursing school.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Please note...POODLES...that my post stating "retain as much as possible" was noted with the comment that it is "impossible to retain everything". So you are REALLY expecting a lot!!

LOL...just an "experienced" nurse nudging and grinning with another...

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