I Don't Get the Anxiety Part of Nursing

[missmollie]

I see these posts where people complain of anxiety. Crying before work, crying during work, dreading going into the hospital.

I'm just thankful that I'm not the patient. I split my weeks into what I want to accomplish. One week, it was to ensure that I checked the orders every half an hour. The next week, it was that I's and O's were okay. Focusing on one item at a time allowed me some mastery over it. Granted, it was during my orientation, but I've built on that, and I don't look at work as something to be dreaded, but rather as an experience to get it all right. I'm at that point.

Nursing is overwhelming. Focus on what you can change at this time, and those tasks that have an immediate effect on your patient. Look at your weakness, and improve it. Work is a challenge, but it's one I'm prepared for. I finished nursing school, I passed the NCLEX. I'm not going to know everything, but I will get better as I go. Much like the dreaded care plans, have a plan for yourself.

Know the areas you need to focus on. Make a list. Get good at the things you occasionally miss. The most important things. When you have that down, go to the next item.

No one expects you to know it all. It's okay that you don't. Don't cry after every shift, because really, what is that accomplishing? Nothing. Have a plan. Become the nurse you want to be in small steps. That's okay.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

""OP, how do you not get anxiety when you're actually taking medications yourself for it?""

"Do you have diabetes?"

"No"

"Why are you taking insulin, metformin and Januvia then?"

"Are they for diabetes? ALL OF THEM?? I thought they were for sugar!"

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

Yes, you are expected to know it all.

That one sentence stuck out. If your have excellent ancillary staff, and management support, you don't have to worry about knowing it all. If you don't, or there isn't enough staff, you do.

Therein lies my personal anxiety.

This stuck out to me too. OP, it took you a week to learn how to check for MD orders regularly? A week? Sounds like you're working in an unbelievably gentle and supportive environment; most new grads would be hung out to dry if they weren't doing this on their second, if not first shift.

[LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN]

****, where do you work? Because I need to go there if you have time to spend a week to master one skill. I understand what your trying to do but agree with others, you sound very naïve. And believe me, never get too comfortable. It's how I personally made my first med error. I am also a very anxious person that struggles with anxiety outside of work as well. What helps me is to have a good cry (not on the job) and release all of it otherwise I would be irritable as all get out all the time. I am in my LPN to RN bridge and I cry at least every week in my car on the way home lol and so do my classmates. I think you will set yourself up for disaster if you think this is how the rest of your nursing career will go.

[emmy27]

I do have an actual anxiety disorder, however, I found probably the least-stressed point in my career was around the end of my new grad year. The initial overwhelming nature of being brand-new to the job had worn off, yet I had not yet seen or done or learned enough to truly realize the array of potentially disastrous outcomes that can come from a mistake or from simple understaffing, or to consistently identify unusual potential issues proactively. I was no longer struggling with the basics, which was an important step, as it is for everyone, but it felt so good in contrast to being brand new that I mistook it for having become a fully competent independent nurse.

I look back on that time now and think of how much I didn't yet know and I realize that my sense of calm collection during that time was a product of inexperience, not real mastery.

As I've become more experienced and seen more of the healthcare system's fundamental brokenness in many areas, my anxiety has risen steadily. I currently work in an environment where due to staffing issues, even with maximum effort from all hands, all day every day, near-misses are frequent, and the new grads are probably the least stressed about it because they simply don't know any better or are so worried about things like making sure their I&Os are done that they don't realize that a disastrous outcome was just narrowly averted- sometimes through chance.

[Nursetk4]

To Ambr46 post 21

You are absolutely right.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

To Ambr46 post 21

You are absolutely right.

It would be helpful if you would use the quote function so we know what you're agreeing with.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

As I've become more experienced and seen more of the healthcare system's fundamental brokenness in many areas, my anxiety has risen steadily. I currently work in an environment where due to staffing issues, even with maximum effort from all hands, all day every day, near-misses are frequent, and the new grads are probably the least stressed about it because they simply don't know any better or are so worried about things like making sure their I&Os are done that they don't realize that a disastrous outcome was just narrowly averted- sometimes through chance.

Thank you for stating this . It is so true. I feel the same way also, and was perplexed as to why, as time goes on and experience is gained over the years, that anxiety is actually increasing.

[lavenderskies, BSN]

As someone who has struggled with lifelong generalized anxiety disorder I totally get the nurses who dread going to work and cry after. I didn't cry but like a previous poster I would will my phone to ring to call me off, I'd always volunteer to be OC. If I knew then what I know now (about stress/anxiety) I'd of worked part time and eased myself into the workforce.

BUT that said. I love your suggestions for focusing on something and mastering it to gain confidence. Love love it. Reminding yourself to be glad you're not the one needing the care is a good attitude towards a cranky patient. These are things I wish that my preceptor had talked about all those years ago.

I wish they'd taught a separate required class on coping and stress management in nursing school. Complete with real life scenarios of the very stressful situations we all find ourselves in. One of the most frustrating things for me as a new grad and longer actually....was being caught off guard by something I didn't expect. Some patient or doctors harsh words or family interactions. All of those things you run into that you're just not aware of them coming. Standing there with my face blank or worse mouth hanging open. Ugh I hated that. Or so busy I felt I could never catch up and leaving feeling as if I MUST have missed something. Which led me to laying awake at night fearing what I'd find the next day. That after shift debrief and coping is also something that would be so handy having learned in school. NOT years later after the damage to my body forced me to learn.

We should have a thread on helpful techniques! :)

And often anti-anxiety meds are necessary before any techniques are truly able to be helpful.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I think those are all good thoughts, and my intention isn't to come off as condescending. When I say that "I'm glad I'm not the patient", I mean I'm glad that I have the use of all four limbs, that I can express my needs through communication, and that I'm not in their position. I'm grateful that I have my health.

I just think that nursing can be overwhelming, and I felt the anxiety and fear of the responsibility we have for the first couple of months. I've worked through it in this way, and I thought it might be helpful. Don't get me wrong, I've shed my fair share of tears. However, breaking down the job into things I need to work on has really been helpful. It's much easier to focus on one aspect and master it than to focus on everything. I also pick up one extra shift a week in order to get the most exposure to my job.

The other thing I negated to mention and probably should have: Don't be afraid to go to your doctor and seek a medication alternative if everything else isn't working. I take an anti-anxiety medication. I needed it, or otherwise this job would've became all consuming.

6 months out, and I feel pretty comfortable. I have more good shifts than bad, and the bad shifts remind me of what I still need to work on.

Your initial post states you don't understand the anxiety that some nurses experience.

In this post you , you admit to requiring anti-anxiety medication.. or this job would be all consuming.

Which is it sister?

[Farawyn]

Which is it sister?

Hahahahahahhaaaa!

[SweetandSalty]

You are on anxiety meds but don't get the anxiety? Empathy is a valuable thing in nursing ...just a thought

[ScrappytheCoco]

Do you work critical care? Because then you might understand.