[help] Nursing just too scary for me? Your advice/wisdom please

gt4everpn, BSN, RN · May 3, 2007

hi, i'm a new grad as well who has yet to start working( in a about a month or so) i to get scared and overwhelmed by the stories, even at the hosp i will be working in. what i had to realize is that everyone has different experiences and ways of handling things. i got so anxious and nervous that i forgot all the strengths that i had and all the things i was very capable of doing. remember their experiences are theirs, yours, will be yours and yours alone. you may be a better nurse, better organized, more versatile....etc... . not many things we do in our lives are definite yes or no's, so if you feel ify about nursing just understand that nothing ever comes clearly or smoothly even the things we want and love. if you really feel that nursing isn't your forte, try something else, but be sure of your decision! good luck to you, whatever you do!:wink2:

BNThere · May 4, 2007

where are the mentors when we need them??? your anxieties/fears are quite the norm..seasoned professionals even experience them; it's how you handle them that lets you move forward. is there someone on staff that you can speak with? can you do more orientation? is your supervisor approachable? how about some relaxation techniques/positive reinforcers (i used to carry an index card in my pocket with an uplifting message on it) ...don't give up on all that hard work just yet..grab some of that perserverence that got you through four years of school..get over this first hurdle, then move on. YOU CAN DO IT!!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 4, 2007

You might take a look at this thread. Lots of helpful ideas and information:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f224/tips-nurses-their-first-year-nursing-109924.html

llg, PhD, RN · May 4, 2007

You also might want to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of nursing and threads that talk about lawsuits and mistakes, etc. Anyone who spends time focusing on the problems can easily get caught up in the anxiety of worry.

Get good insurance and make a reasonable plan for the "what if" and then you will be able to rest assured that you are prepared to handle whatever comes. Then turn off the computer and avoid those discussions that feed your anxiety.

azzurra29 · May 4, 2007

I appreciate all the input and comments. I still struggle with my choice for nursing but again, maybe I'm just letting my anxiety control me. Nevertheless, sometimes it's hard to know if your gut feelings are talking to you or circumstantial stress is talking to you. I guess each one of us has to decide and consider all these things to make the right decisions for each one of us.

rose61 · May 12, 2007

When I first graduated I worked in acute orthopaedics. It was extremely stressful and I was so frightened, to the point that I quit. I spent a week at home pondering my decision and just knew I had to go back and face my fears. Luckily they let me back. I think most of my fears were due to inexperience and feeling alone. I really wasn't experienced enough three months out from graduation to realise the many ways I could harm someone. I'm guessing that you're feeling about the same. Lack of experience conjurs up all sorts of what if's. The longer you hang in there, the more confident you'll become and the less afraid you'll be...but NEVER become so confident that you end up making a major mistake. When in doubt ask someone. Cover yourself no matter how silly you feel. Give yourself a few more months and still see if you feel the same way :-) Good luck in whatever you decide.

azzurra29 · May 16, 2007

I really appreciate all the comments/advice so far.

rose61, I think you described a lot of what I'm feeling so far. I am indeed frightened and I think my biggest fear is not catching something when a patient starts deteriorating on me, especially with unexpected bleeding. I get nightmares over such stuff and then I really wonder if I'm cut out to be a nurse at all. I mean, that's what health/illness is all about right? Facing all kinds of situations and seeing the good, bad and ugly. However, it never really hit me until I started working in the "real world" and I sometimes wonder how I could possibly not understand that before. I tend to be hard on myself but I don't see any other way when you're a new grad, inexperienced and when liability is greater these days. My, oh my. Maybe I'm dwelling too much on the negative but I guess I'm also being realistic. I just have to believe that with all my hard work and effort I will grow more confident and really be a great nurse.

jjjoy, LPN · May 16, 2007

I know the feeling, too. I want to be able to slowly work my way up to more difficult situations and greater responsibility, as opposed to starting out having to juggle everything that's so new and all so very important. I enjoyed a short stint as I had in a private AIDS inpatient facility. Great low ratios! Patients generally stayed for at least a month so the nurses could get to know them. The other nurses had time to answer questions and give tips about different patients and conditions. The nurses didn't have to spend all their time rushing to try to pass meds to a zillion patients and chart in the zillion different charts (like most LTC). The docs were friendly and easy to get hold of - no getting barked at for checking on something worrisome. But such positions seem few and far between. I couldn't get hired on there, just temp work over the holiday season. Everywhere else, it seems that it's a hectic, chaotic race every day... except for the few odds jobs where nothing much happens and they have just one nurse, such that when something happened, I'd be afraid I wouldn't know how to deal with it.

I don't have answers but I can assure you that you're not alone in your feelings and concerns. To continue or not is personal decision. I personally got out but I do still wonder. I imagine that if things were different, my decision might be different. But I have to make my choices in the confines of what is and for me personally, the reality wasn't what I wanted to deal with day in and day out. Others have chosen to stick it out, become comfortable and are glad they made it through the fire. And thank goodness! I do admire and appreciate them. My contribution will be elsewhere. But for you, it's your choice.

Maybe give yourself a time table to reconsider. That way it's doesn't feel like by choosing to stay for now that it's forever... it's just 4 more weeks. And then maybe another 4 weeks, til you either decide to try something else or you come to find that you don't dread work anymore and have stopped counting. Maybe you can visit other units in your facility and see if one looks like it might be a better fit. Maybe take some time off and make arrangements to interview, shadow, etc other nurses and even PTs and OTs and see if it inspires you. At least when you fantasize about how much better it would've been had you chosen PT, you'll know what is you'd actually be doing and not just what you imagine it would be. When you start worrying, give yourself a related task to complete and then tell yourself you'll worry about again after you do that. That way you curb the worrying AND you get more information so that you can address what it is that is worrying you (as opposed to just stuffing it and or obsessing over the same worries without progress).

Good luck! I hope you find some peace of mind!!!!