I know this has been said but I have to vent!

[kenesha212002]

I have been in a grad nurse internship for about 2 months now. I passed my boards last Tuesday and now I am really anxious about being a registered nurse. In the program we have two days a week on the floor in telemetry and med-surg before we are on critical care. The other two days a week we are in classroom learning hospital protocols and ICU nursing.

When we are in the classroom I am sometimes lost not knowing what hemodynamic lab values are or what to do if a patient is in cardiogenic shock, etc.

On the floor it is worse because I just feel like I am in slow motion and everyone else is moving way too fast. Sometimes during the day I feel so proud of myself for doing something and than the other parts of the day I am really confused and need tons of help. I know that everyone says this is natural but, when does it start to feel natural to a graduate nurse and what should one do to make the transition a lot easier.

Brandi, RN, BSN

[littleredmare]

Brandi,

It is so normal to feel anxious, nervous, and overwhelmed. I too am a new nurse, passed my boards in Feb., and am now working in Med/Onc. I am also taking classes for my NP. It takes forever to get confidence in your judgement and even then, you're never totally satisfied-the best advice I can give you (second-hand from my mom, also a nurse of 30 years) is to never, ever, be afraid to ask questions and to ask for help. The older and more seasoned nurses are there to help you, and should help you, if you need guidance. Always ask for help if you need it, and when you are able to be 'super nurse' on your own, give yourself tons of credit--let it keep you going to the next shift. I try to put everything aside, and tell myself that it's the patients that keep me coming back to work. As one of my patients' once said, 'The saga continues...'

Good luck!

littlered:thankya:

[jillyk*rn]

hi,

i know it's been said, but it is normal to feel this way.

everything will click in. nobody expects you to know everything at once. if they did, you wouldn't be getting this orientation.

it will get better...and you will always have resource people around you.

good luck!!!

[Loca]

Hi!

I passed my RN boards one year ago this upcoming June and I know exactly how you feel. I started out in a nursing home where I worked as an LPN and recently began a hospital position working in an acute care environment. I hadn't started and IV since clinicals and the atmosphere is entirely different. My orientation feels very scattered and the nurses who are orienting me are new also...Ugh! It has been a difficult road of discovery since becoming an RN and finding my niche has not been an easy task. Hang in there--I guess I will too!!

[kenesha212002]

Thanks for the advice! It is very much appreciated.