I feel so stupid in the NICU, will I ever be good enough?

[tmjwe3]

Hey everyone I just started in the NICU with no baby experience. I came from 7 months of med surg experience and am finding everything so difficult. I've been on 4 preceptored shifts so far and every time I come home crying. I feel like I'm too stupid to be there... I feel like there's just SO MUCH to know and I don't know it all yet. I come across new things everyday and it gets me so anxious because I won't have a preceptor soon to help me... I'm on my 4th shift and am taking 2 babies out of 4. The girls that's started with me are super excited they say they're having so much fun and that they love it. I absolutely love the babies but I'm falling back on the time management piece. Babies need to be bottled then one cries then one wakes up then one etc. I just feel so stupid. My preceptor said I can't possibly know everything in 4 shifts she felt comfortable at 8 months to a year. I know there's help everywhere but what happens when a baby needs to go to the OR or I have an admit or etc and I've never done it ... gives me so much anxiety (( is this normal??

[tmjwe3]

Hey guys, I just wanted to update everyone on my progress. I MADE IT!!! ahaha. I can't believe I'm saying it. I'm feeling more confident in my abilities. There are obviously times where I feel overwhelmed and feel like I'm going crazy, but I still enjoy those times. Sometimes its astonishing, I find myself helping people who have been in the NICU for 5+ years, or who have started before me. I feel like my anxiety just made me try super super hard to just understand everything and know everything. I made a book with all the hospitals protocols, I always keep it in my pocket. Moreover, I ask questions like crazy. I know random things, I ask the NP everything she's so sweet. I've even caught a baby early from developing NEC. The team even assigned me to an assignment because they knew "she could handle it". I feel successful, sometimes I do feel discouraged but it only drives me more. It's just the beginning. Anyone who things they can't do it, you can! Hang in there!

[LadyLeoRN, BSN]

Can you update me on how you're doing now? I could of wrote your post above right now because I can totally relate to it being a different world in NICU. I'm 16 weeks into orientation that I was told could last 12-16 weeks...20 weeks max. I had a year of pediatric experience prior. They still give me a hard time about not knowing things I should know by now like the long bones being affected by syphillus and LPI protocols.  I am starting to think I am not fit to be a NICU nurse.