Just a thought

[nursing6207]

I have been a nurse for almost 3 years. I work on a very busy medical floor. Is it normal to feel like due to liability that your job and license is always on the line? I constantly feel like I need to have a back up plan just incase nursing falls through in my future. I just feel like anything could happen in such a busy environment. I have also been functioning as a CN over the past year and the thought of being responsible for all of the nurses and pts on the floor is scary to me. I'm the bread winner of the family so maybe that's what keeps these thoughts in the back of my mind? Just wanted to get some advice on how others feel.

Thanks

[Felicia LPN]

Hello, Ive been a nurse for allmost 2yrs. and I feel the EXACT same way, however Ive been in LTC since the start of my career. But do to the stresses of my feelings of fear of my liscense, I have done a bit of job hopping. Maybe if you feel your liscense is truly on the line or feel uncomfortable with some things you think you may have to do because you were told to even if you know it is wrong, you might consider finding somewhere else to utilize that hard earned liscense in a way that you could feel good about your accomplishments for the day! I have worked homehealth then LTC and I just kept looking until I found a place I was comfortable working for.

[jmolinaRN]

Hello Madame,

Yes, actually even here in PH we are also having problems with that; nursing roles being expanded to such an extent that it scares us and to make matters worse, the totally unbalanced N:P ratio.

In my experience though, before problems get to the level of threatening your license; the management has already found solutions for the problem. It may make you feel uneasy to be the CN but you're also handling licensed staff on top of that, if you're not doing bedside then the ones the patient and his relatives will remember is the primary nurse.

I have done mistakes in my practice to which extent, I do not know; but you know that feeling deep inside you that missed something or didn't do a task the way it should be but so far, having a nice demeanor and establishing rapport to the patient saved me from tons of trouble.

PS: Those who make a bad impression are those who get into trouble.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Mistakes happen. No amt. of preparation, determination or worry will stop them. Difference between losing your license and not is if you are being negligent, IMO anyway. I think the avg. nurse is way above negligence.

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

I think that is why i try not to take short cuts....i think its good to feel that pressure .

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Honey, you can't live your days with this hanging over your head! You will have an ulcer in no time flat!

Just do your job well, make sure you are documenting well (document as if you were testifying in court), and if something really bothers you, talk to your NM.

Don't let the beauty of nursing be overshadowed by "what ifs". You will burn out quickly. If you feel uncomfortable in your job, then by all means, search for another. You have worked far too hard and have jumped through too many hoops to be in a position where you are worrying about your license.

I must also add that since you ARE worried, it shows that you are a good nurse. In my experience, the nurses that think they know everything and have horrible habits are the ones that are in danger of losing their license.