help! culture shocked

Published

I am a newly registered nurse and am currently having my training at this hospital.my exposure this week is in the ICU. I dunno,it's as if i got culture shocked because it's my first time to be exposed i.i feeln this area.I was never exposed here during my student days. I feel troubled because suddenly i want to back out.i feel like an idiot not knowing what to do or act in the area. any advices?help please.i feel so hopeless,i wanna quit. :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do not despair! When I started working in ICU I felt the same, and here I am after 30 years still in ICU and I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. I had sleepless nights for three years before I stopped wondering what I did wrong, what I forgot and if I will ever fit in. Do the ICU course as soon as possible, it is a most gratifying experience. I wish you the best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Culture shock is a temporary thing in nursing.

You would probably feel the same way in all the other departments, so don't be in a hurry to quit unless you are being pushed into unsafe practices or are so miserable you cannot function.

Take care of yourself and live one day at a time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR,ICU,DR,Cancer,Pedia.

Don't quit. You've been there for just quite a while. When I was still a student, I'm quite afraid to move around the ICU in my first week. But after that, I just accepted the fact that I am at the ICU and I have a job to do. And I got thru that week. It was a bit hard to tell you the truth XD Not the department that I wanna work in but I had fun.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in being a Credible Source.

FYI, that culture shock that you describe is not limited to nursing.

I've had a number of professional jobs (6), each of which was in a different industry and specialized area of my overall field. Each time, that culture shock hit me. After a few months, it begins to wane.

Chill -- it'll come with time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

it does get better with time. But I also believe it is better to transfer to another unit rather than quit nursing altogether.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, peds, PALS, ICU, camp, school.

Are you in ICU by choice? It sounds like you're just there temporarily? Are you in the US?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Are you in ICU by choice? It sounds like you're just there temporarily? Are you in the US?

well,i'll be here for just two weeks as training. and i'm counting the days til i move to the next area :crying2:. thanks for the advice guys,i really appreciate them.i feel much better. i'm taking one day at a time :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion