I'm feeling dumb........

HelloKittyRN · Feb 1, 2006

Wow, that patient load sounds like a lot to me! No wonder you feel overwhelmed! I remember my first few days on orientation......so much stuff to learn! I think nursing school tries to prepare you for this, but no matter what, your first few days are crazy! Just a few suggestions for you....talk with your preceptor about time management. Ask her how she prioritizes her day. Some people use a "brain" and this helps them a lot. Basically it just contains pertinent information about your patients. Carry this with you wherever you go. Also, since you just started orientation, don't take a whole team of patients. Try starting out with one, getting your skills down and then move up. You'll notice that once you get the hang of how things work, it will get easier. Trust me, I know exactly how you felt. Maybe try to pick a nurse that could be your mentor. You know, give you advice and you could talk with her about certain issues or problems that you are having and you could work them out together. A lot of people say to use your preceptor as this person, but I don't necessarily agree with that. Sometimes you can have a preceptor that just isn't in to teaching a new nurse. If you find that one nurse that is very patient and an excellent teacher and good with patients, try to snag her! I know every floor has some of these nurses! Also, don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake or don't know how to do something. You're not supposed to know everything! Hang in there, it will get easier. Good luck to you!

Chaya, ASN, RN · Feb 1, 2006

You made it this far so you must have A LOT going for yourself-YOU ARE NOT DUMB! NURSING IS REALLY, REALLY HARD! So give yourself a pat on the back and jump back in!

FreshRN05 · Feb 2, 2006

thank you for replying to my post. A lot of people are telling me that this is a normal feeling of a new grad/new nurse and that it'll get better as I go. I am just so frustrated because I feel like I'm not grasping anything at work. My preceptor is good at what she do. The thing that bothers me the most is not knowing exactly what I'm doing. I know that we are to check the meds we give to our patients and we have to know the rationale of the things/interventions we do for them...but I catch myself just doing what is ordered and clueless about it. I am the type of person that has to sit down and do a little reading before I do something but how can you do that in the real world? If I sit and read I'm gonna be behind with all the tasks I'm expected to do...Day shift is so exhausting...even if I try to prioritize my day, things come up and just ruin the prioritization ( Dr's coming in and placing orders, PT, dietician, discharge planners, social workers,consulting MD's, patient going out for procedures or tests, family members coming in and expect you to know everything, phone calls from different people....the list is endless)....Ok at my work patients has 2 charts....their main chart which is kept at the nurse's desk where Dr's and other healthcare team members write stuff such as orders..then we have our own chart that is placed at the wallaroos at the patients door for the patients MAR, kardex, care plan, flow sheet......gosh...it's so confusing! yeah we get reports from the previous shift but still in order to get more medical background from the patient or any relevant information concerning their health, it's always good to look at their main chart...but who has time for it? I'm so surprised how these seasoned (even new ones) nurses on the floor carry on their day by just going with the report. They just know what their doing and even what to say to the patient...they're like a walking medical dictionary/drug book/energizer bunny! I'm sorry guys I am venting too much..........

LadyJRN · Feb 2, 2006

You are not dumb! You made it through nursing school and passed your boards. Don't be so hard on yourself. It will come with time. You will be a really great nurse. It is all so overwhelming at the beginning, but, you will see, with time it becomes easier.

lyallch · Feb 2, 2006

Dear FReshRN05

I am also a fresh graduate. I am into the second week of nursing on a surgical ward. I can wholly identify with what you are going through. The interruptions are the worst. I have always prided myself with having brains and I did great at my clinical placements while still at Uni. But now, it is like someone stole my brain and stuffed cotton wool in my skull or something. At times, I feel like I have either chosen the wrong career or the wrong ward. The staff are all helpful but I feel like my three years at uni has come to nought! I cannot think for myself anymore hahaha...I dont trust my judgement and it is just all horrible!! I feel like the patients are going to find out what a phoney I am. People say things will get better.. :uhoh3: d'oh???!!!

FreshRN05 · Feb 2, 2006

Dear FReshRN05
I am also a fresh graduate. I am into the second week of nursing on a surgical ward. I can wholly identify with what you are going through. The interruptions are the worst. I have always prided myself with having brains and I did great at my clinical placements while still at Uni. But now, it is like someone stole my brain and stuffed cotton wool in my skull or something. At times, I feel like I have either chosen the wrong career or the wrong ward. The staff are all helpful but I feel like my three years at uni has come to nought! I cannot think for myself anymore hahaha...I dont trust my judgement and it is just all horrible!! I feel like the patients are going to find out what a phoney I am. People say things will get better.. d'oh???!!
Exactly how I feel....I don't trust my judgement...my biggest scare is patients not finding me competent and them not trusting me...I get tongue tied at work....I can't even explain things...like yesterday when I was giving my discharge instruction to my patient..I had to ask him if he had his influenza and pneumonia vaccine..of course the patient was clueless and threw the question back at me which caught me right off guard...He just had to ask me what is influenza and pneumonia vaccine for??? GOSH! I went blank and could not even find the right words to explain them...SO DUMB! I don't know how to talk to the Doctors...So far I have not gotten on the phone to talk to them and take phone orders or something...this is what I'm scared of too...most of the Doctors at my hospital are Indians with very strong accent..what if I get the orders wrong or what if they yell at me because I don't know how to communicate well....you see, english is not my first language..there are so many american slang words there that ae new to me.......Right at this moment I am questioning myself if nursing really is for me....or bedside nursing is......I'm kind of regreting not accepting the job interview that was offered to me at a dialysis center close to home (teaching center)...maybe being a dialysis nurse is much easier than hospital bedside nurse......Geeessshhh! I'm so frustrated! Even my family is affected.....

lyallch · Feb 2, 2006

English is also my second language. We have a few Indian doctors here too and some Eastern European ones as well. My preceptor said all us new graduate RNs look like Stunned mullets (dead fish with mouth and eyes wide open) hahahaha...and judging from my fellow graduate nurses, I would say everyone here is regreting they have not chosen something easier, but I dare say we would be terribly bored after a while too. My husband said that it is good that we are so nervous, it is because we care enough not to want to make mistakes and we take it very seriously. I have decided I will hang in there, switch off my emotions for a while and switch it back on when I get home, cry if I have to when I am home and just ride it out until it gets easier. I dont see why we could not do this when others have! I refuse to believe that if we can overcome the language barrier and learn (more than) two languages that we cannot overcome this newness. Hang in there! We will come through all these problems and come out the other side and proud of ourselves!!

karynfrances · Feb 2, 2006

Just ask a lot of questions, as a senior nurse I'd much rather someone new who asked questions (no matter how silly they might seem), than someone who thinks that they now know it all and just stumble on and risk harm to a patient.

bluestar · Feb 2, 2006

Wow, it's only your second day of orientation. Relax, give yourself a break. It takes time to learn, that's why your on orientation. Good luck.

FreshRN05 · Feb 2, 2006

ok...here's another thing that confuses me at work...calling or approaching the right healthcare team. I mean, I noticed that the patient not only have one doctor but sometimes 2 or 3. What is the difference between a primary doctor, attending doctor, house doctor etc.....how do you know who to call when problem arise with the patient? This is really getting into me....I was off for 2 days but those 2 days are spent being stressed out and depressed....I report back to wrok tomorrow and I'm already freakin' out......Thank you all for hearing me and giving me all these words of encouragements...

Lorie P. · Feb 2, 2006

slow down and breath, remember the old saying " rome wasn't built in a day" give yourself time, it quite a different world out on the floor than when in school. almost like culture shock.

there is this great little book called" training wheels for new nurse, what i learned my first 100 days as a new nurse" it give all kinds of hints and advise.

ask your preceptor how she may be able to advise you on time mngt and oragnizational skills. also remember most of the nurse on med/surg floors are well seasoned. don't be afraid to ask for directions and help, that is why you have a preceptor.

remember also it took you months/years fo learning to get this far and each and everyday in nursing is a chance to learn even more

you'll do fine! :nurse: