How to build up confidence?

Gold_SJ · Jun 1, 2012

It's always difficult I think in your first year out as the brand new RN. I certainly found it a struggle, there'd be days I'd come home crying, days I'd come home fuming. I'd fall flat on my face and have to pick myself up and keep trying.

I think some of the most important things to help you when starting out is:

Time management. You won't be great at it, so don't expect yourself to be waltzing out the door twenty minutes early or sitting around chatting. You'll find it hard to imagine 'how' the other nurses manage to find all this time. Learning to delegate is really important when you start out. My error was trying to do everything myself, it does not save time I learnt that the hard way.

Try to remember there is a million different personalities in a workforce and if a person is snappy/grouchy/critical do your best to take it with a grain of salt. Their mood is 'their' problem. Don't take it as an attack on yourself (easier said then done). As generally it's just their persona, a crappy day, personal life issues and often has no real focus on you at all. Although it can certainly seem that way. When I started I took everything personally XD now I realise I put myself through agony that was very much uneeded.

Remember to ask for help when you're confused. Check policy, do what you can then ask someone. Don't be embarrasssed, you're a grad you certainly don't know everything, so no need to act like you do and nurses are wary of grads that act like they know it all.

Working out how to approach problems or an issue with a Dr can be confronting for a new grad, so taking on the approach of PACE. Probing (are you aware..), Alerting (Mrs X has this problem is there something you'd like to do for this...), Confront (Mrs X's issue is a real concern can we do X/can you review to resolve this as soon as possible.) Esculate (I'm sorry but this problem needs to be rectified immediately, if you're not happy to do this I'll have to alert superior/specialist etc.) This was a help for me because I once was intimidated to approach superiors and medical officers when problems had to be corrected so when applying PACE it made it much simpler and I felt more confident in my approach to the superior/Dr as a grad.

Otherwise I think just with experience and trial and error you'll get there. :) Just don't give up! Remember it gets easier, a year from now I'm certain you'll be much happier and more confident then you feel right now. The hardest year to get through is your grad just keep fighting your skills/experience/knowledge will grow fast in this time.

I wish you all the best! Hope this was some help.

I'm sure you'll make a great nurse.

:)

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2012

Heck - nursing school was far easier than that first year of actually working as a nurse. You start off that first job and think "despite all those A's and B's in class, maybe I didn't learn a darn thing".

Simply the best way to gain confidence is TIME and experience.

NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2012

I personally think it's kind of a good thing that you aren't feeling confident. You'll be more likely to check twice. You'll be more likely to ask for help. Hopefully you won't come across as the "I know it all" new grad which everyone hates. :)

Confidence will come on its own with experience (I know, no one likes that answer), but in the meantime you need to find something that helps you cope until you get there. Any other new grads to commisserate with? A mentor you can follow around for a while?

If there's a skill you need practice on, just put the word out to the other nurses. I'm sure they'll pass on the blood draws, foley cath-ing, or PCA setups to you and your orientor or mentor so you can get that experience and feel more confident.

Most of all, Find That Coping Mechanism! :hug:

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2012

I graduated Magna Cum Laude.. I am a smart woman.. I couldn't nurse my way out of a wet paper bag for the first 2 years.

I found keeping my mouth shut and my ears (and eyes) open helped immensely. If a family, doc, lab, respiratory was getting excited...

I better listen and learn.

Focus on meds and Iv's and ANY change in your patient.Those are the MAJOR things that could draw a red flag to your performance.

For example... I (almost ) got written up for not knowing the size of the IV catheter in report. I was lucky it wasn't infiltrated and the correct solution was hanging.

Seek out the nurse that you trust the most that is on shift with you... do NOT hesitate for their feedback and advice.

It will come.

pm me if you would like more support.

bebot_19 · Jun 1, 2012

Thank you for the advice. I think the PACE approach may come in handy. Sometimes it's hard to ask for help. Because some nurses pretend they are teaching you things when other nurses are around. Then act differently when those nurses are not around. And it makes me look incompetent.

Again thank you for taking the time out to share your wisdom. :)

bebot_19 · Jun 1, 2012

Thank you Gold_SJ for the advice. I think the PACE approach may come in handy. Sometimes it's hard to ask for help. Because some nurses pretend they are teaching you things when other nurses are around. Then act differently when those nurses are not around. And it makes me look incompetent.

Again thank you for taking the time out to share your wisdom.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Jun 1, 2012

You know what? The more I learn, the more I realize I have yet to learn. Nursing is a life long learning process. You have the basics down thanks to Nursing school, but real life on the job training is where you learn to be the Nurse. This has been my own experience.

I have "idiot" moments, I believe we all do. I learn from them, laugh a little, try and not cry if I feel especially "duh", but in the end I move on a better Nurse.

I am naturally very awkward socially. I love my residents, I love people, but I give off an awkward vibe socially. I have learned to fake the confidence, while it builds. I have learned to think carefully before I say anything to family members, that way what I do say is stated with confidence and precision. I am not afraid to say "I'll go look at "Mrs ABC's" chart to freshen up my memory on that surgery she went out for... Etc..

My mom used to say it all of the time "Think before you speak". Never be afraid to say "I do not know, but I know who does." Or "I do not know, but her chart has that info."

bebot_19 · Jun 1, 2012

Thank you everyone for the wonderful advice. It gives me something to think about & work off from. And it seems that on the job experience will help build my confidence. Hopefully i can hang in there.

Reese0608 · Jun 8, 2012

As a new RN myself, I have gathered very helpful tidbits from this thread! Thanks to all the contributors!

amygarside · Jun 8, 2012

I can completely relate to your situation, as I have also been in that same situation before. I agree with most of the comments above. It is important that you ask for help or advice whenever you are unsure of what you are doing. In time, you will learn to be more confident. Good luck on your career!

minnymi · Jun 8, 2012

this!

i started out feeling like i knew nothing (and i still feel like the OP) and i let the other nurses know it. that method worked like a charm for me during my clinical experiences and internship so i stuck with it when i got hired. i would get with a nurse when i was training, ask if she was comfortable letting me do things or prefer that i observe, and then do everything i could get my hands on. my peers would be like, "i just got to watch." that's because they stood there and watched and asked too many questions (testing the vets).

my first day giving meds with my preceptor i was like, "i'm sorry if i'm slowing you down. it would help if i even knew what color the pills were, but i don't have a clue." that doesn't mean i made myself look like a fool either. i could tell them what a medication was for, what the therapeutic dose was, the side effects to watch for....all the textbook stuff. BUT i had never seen the actual medicine or ever actually touched a peg tube. i made it clear that i didn't have a clue, but that i knew who DID and i wanted THEM to teach me. other nurses (not just my preceptor) would come get me to start IVs, blood draws, etc. they acted like proud mamas instead of the "nurses who eat their young" you hear about.

of course, on the job it's a little different because you're expected to be able to function on your own without a LOT of help. that's the way it should be, but it can be scary when you run into a situation you haven't dealt with before. when that happens, i still go with the old, "this is what i'm thinking, but i've never done it....will you do this WITH me" (not for me) approach. so far, it's worked like a charm and kept me from having a MI. it really is true that practice makes perfect. i laugh now thinking about things i used to be terrified to do. nothing but time and experience can make you confident. i'm still not fully confident either...just aware enough to know what it will take to get there.