Just trying to survive

Nurses New Nurse

Published

i've been working as a new nurse for a few months now and at first i LOVED it. now i feel like i get up and go to work and just try to survive the day. its a TON of responsibility and i ALWAYS leave with a lump in my throat feeling like i forgot to do this or that. i like nursing and i cant see myself doing anything else but this is very stressful. i never feel like im good enough for the pts or their families. is it normal to feel this way? will things get better as i become more comfortable with the job?

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Specializes in Cardio/Pulmonary.

i'm in the same boat as you... i truly enjoy nursing, but like with my floor (like any floor), its sooo busy, i forget stuff all the time. i double check everything - charting, mars - but always always go home trying to recall every moment of the day trying to remember if i forgot something..

i hope it gets better.

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i've asked around and other people seem to generally feel the same way. but im praying it gets better as i become a better nurse. im so on edge all the time, worrying that i'll get in trouble or fired for accidentally forgetting something or whatever. i try to be the best nurse i can but i cant be perfect. *sigh*

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

Okay, both of you take a couple deep breaths. It's ok, I will wait while you do. Breathing?

Good. Keep that up, it'll be on the exam later.

Some reality: Nursing is mostly common sense. If you do things the way you're supposed to you will be fine. Chart your assessments, give meds using 5 rights. Wash your hands early and often. If something with a patient seems off, have the charge nurse, or an different coworker assess with you.

When I was a new nurse with maybe 5 months under me, I had 10 patients on night shift, busy med surg unit. I tried for about 4 hours to give some guy a couple tylenol. People kept crumping, one man fell, there was a code on our unit. When I left that morning I cried all the way home because I had just remembered: I never gave the tylenol!

Unless you actually kill a patient (which you WON'T because you're gonna use good sense and ask for help when you need it, RIGHT?) the chances of getting fired are slim. They have to go through a huge process to get rid of nurses anyway, and you'd know about it, trust me.

Moral of the story. Keep Breathing. Let work stay at work. Make sure you sleep. Keep your support systems. All will be well.

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Specializes in Cardio/Pulmonary.
Okay, both of you take a couple deep breaths. It's ok, I will wait while you do. Breathing?

Good. Keep that up, it'll be on the exam later.

Some reality: Nursing is mostly common sense. If you do things the way you're supposed to you will be fine. Chart your assessments, give meds using 5 rights. Wash your hands early and often. If something with a patient seems off, have the charge nurse, or an different coworker assess with you.

When I was a new nurse with maybe 5 months under me, I had 10 patients on night shift, busy med surg unit. I tried for about 4 hours to give some guy a couple tylenol. People kept crumping, one man fell, there was a code on our unit. When I left that morning I cried all the way home because I had just remembered: I never gave the tylenol!

Unless you actually kill a patient (which you WON'T because you're gonna use good sense and ask for help when you need it, RIGHT?) the chances of getting fired are slim. They have to go through a huge process to get rid of nurses anyway, and you'd know about it, trust me.

Moral of the story. Keep Breathing. Let work stay at work. Make sure you sleep. Keep your support systems. All will be well.

Thanks for the kind words.. I do appreciate them.. It's just very hard starting when everyone I talk to about my pts wants to eat me! (i know, ridiculous, but its how i feel)

thank you for the support!

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