In need of some uplifting

Sorry that you are feeling lousy.

Nursing can be humbling sometimes even for the most experienced(ask me how I know).

In a sense you are a brand-new nurse, give yourself a break.

Best of luck for your next shift.

Thank you so much!! I really needed to hear that. I guess because in my first job and in home health co workers and pts kept saying how good of a nurse I am. I put a certain standard on myself which I shouldn't have done. I know I need to work on building my thick skin, it's just hard.

I still feel that way at times, and I've been doing the same thing for well over a year!

It's so easy to forget what you've learned, especially in a 5 month time period while working a totally different job. But it will all come back very quickly. I agree you should give yourself time. If people have told you in the past that you were doing well, you're a great nurse, etc, you were doing something right! If you survived neuro ICU for 8 months, I'd say you will be just fine.

With a year of experience, you are still a newer nurse. There are days that are discouraging for any of us when we start in a new area. You're more likely to feel this way since you know you are new in an area, trying to make a good impression, on probationary period, etc. We have all been there. I remember my first few weeks starting in ICU as a newer nurse (with only 1 year of experience in a non-acute setting), I felt like an idiot most of the time.

But, it's really to be expected; as long as you're learning, making progress, taking initiative, asking questions, that's what matters. Now, if at the end of your orientation, you're not able to take a full patient load, you can be concerned. But....you just started. So, no worries. I remember that I wasn't fully comfortable until being there for about 6 months. Once I took care of the sickest patients on the unit on my own, and did well, I felt confident.

Beginnings are always scary - no matter what the circumstance.

But heck, if you did well in Neuro ICU, you can conquer anything!! You'll get back in the swing in no time at all.