Lack of confidence

[fredafrals1224]

So this is my first post. I read a few others posted here and I hope my post will be accepted with the others. I've been a nurse for over a year now and to make a long story short I still have a tremendous lack of confidence in what I am doing. For the record, I feel that I practice safely, I understand what I am doing and why I am doing it, when patients have gone bad on me I've been able to handle the situations and get help. However, this new year is really throwing me for a loop. I've developed some financial troubles and need to start working overtime. The only difficulty is that the only overtime is available on other floors. My problem is that I am terrified of going to another floor. I work at night in a small hospital so after 730 we drop down to a skeleton crew. So my immediate problem is if I feel anxious about working on my own floor how in the world can I go to another floor where I don't know anybody?!?!? My long term problem is if I feel this lack of confidence with over a year in nursing will that every go away? I don't have a specialty in mind yet but I just feel so nervous about moving on to bigger hospitals and sicker patients. I feel so anxious and on edge at work, that I'll miss something or something will happen and I won't know what to do. Does anyone have any kind of advice or been in this situation before? Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed. Thanks in advance :)

[amberlt]

I can understand your anxiety. However, I have only been a nurse for a short time (maybe 2months). I cannot sleep, every time my phone rings I panic thinking its my job, and I've done something awful! I wake up all through out the night thinking I've forgotten something at work and fear I'll get into trouble. I'm hoping all this anxiety is. Because I'm new and will decrease with time. I love this profession but my fear of really messing up and hurting someone is taking its toll on me. Any advice you get, please pass to me as well! Good luck!

[JesiD]

Let me suggest something. I was having test anxiety and one of my friend who was in a MSW program had me try something to help my confidence. I had to write down 3 examples of how I accomplished or overcame in nursing school or college. It worked to build my confidence. It worked so well, I started my own confidence journal where I only write my accomplishments. I also take notice more when people compliment my performance and I try to write it down. I even suggested it to a classmate when she started working as well. We are capable, we are accomplished but sometimes we need to remind ourselves. When I doubt myself I refer to that. I have a BA in psych, I am a RN now, I was a supervisor for 5 years and there are days I still doubt myself and get anxious but I over come it. Self talk, self support and I also go running. (running helps me sleep and decreases my stress big time!) I hope this helps you