How Do I Get Strength To Go Back?

[berquj]

I'm a recent grad (May 09) and have been on my floor, med-surg, for 6 weeks now. I have 2 weeks of orientation left before I'm on my own with four patients. I feel I am not ready and I want to quit. How do I find the strength to go back to work tomorrow and every day after that? I'm so stressed and overwhelmed! I feel incompetent and sure that if they leave me alone with pts I will forget to do orders, check labs and a million other important things. I feel nursing is too fast paced and I can't keep up. Everyday I dread going to work. Please tell me if it gets better or do I need to just leave and find another job?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm so sorry you are overwhelmed. Have you talked with your preceptor, your educator or your manager?

Nursing can be overwhelming but your orientation should be tailored so that if you need a couple more weeks, its available to you. At one hospital where I used to work, they had an official mentor program for a year for new grads.

[learning08]

Hang in there, it's so overwhelming at first. Please don't quit if you are in a generally supportive environment. Four med surg patients is a blessing!!! Many places will give you 5-6 and up to 7 on nights, high complexity, on tele etc.

Make an actual list of tasks to be done (an outline of your day) e.g. get report, check labs, page Drs. with critical lab results, make your first rounds to check O2 sats and ask if Pts. are in pain, gather your meds, start your med pass and assessments, chart, do pre-lunch blood glucose checks, etc.

Keep a list of med schedule times for each pt. and things they need and check off as you go. Dressings and IV changes etc. when you have a bit of downtime. Get back to them if you get sidetracked. Before you know it, you will get your routine down. It truly does get better with time. (((hugs))) My best advice so far is ask questions, take it easy on your body (back, knees etc.--get help to move Pts.!) and take it one day at a time for now.

[86toronado, BSN, RN]

Please don't quit! My hospital had a new graduate class the other day where we talked about "reality shock" and it sounds like that's what's happening to you. You've only been there for 6 weeks... you probably have way higher expectations for yourself than anyone else does.

Try asking your preceptor or unit manager for some constructive criticism. Take what they say and create a plan to work on those things. If you feel like you need more orientation time to prepare for being on your own, ask for it. If you get denied, say that you would like a resource person to go to when you are on your own with questions.

Lastly, you are probably orienting on a busier day shift. There are always a lot of order changes, and tests, and treatments to do then. If you aren't going to an off shift once you're off orientation, ask if there is an opening. Night shift really is a different world from days, busy but in different ways, and way less distractions.

[LovingNurse, BSN, RN]

You've already gotten nice advice. I agree, you should ask for more time. It's a lot cheaper for them to pair you with a preceptor for a while more than it would be for them to train someone all over again, because you left.

I was constantly asking my perceptor to help with this or that, to keep me caught up and I hated thinking of her not being there at the pace our floor runs.

I asked to try nights, to see if the pace was better - and it was. Still busy as heck, but not as many people around and easier to get things done, plus significantly better pay.

Hang in there.:redbeathe