Med error/feeling overwhelmed has me thinking of career change

[Fl0ridaNurse]

So today I made a med error at work. I have worked myself up and have got so much anxiety over this that I have physically made myself nauseous. I’m seriously considering a career change because I’m feeling so overwhelmed and I feel like a terrible nurse. I’m supposed to go back to school in October for my RN but now I’m seriously considering just stopping nursing all together because it seems so overwhelming and like I said I feel like a terrible nurse. Not only does the med error make me feel terrible, I feel like being new, a lot of times I don’t know how to respond to a situation. I’m always afraid I’m doing the wrong thing. I feel like it just isn’t in me to naturally know what to do like I see it is in some of the other nurses I work with. Any other new nurses ever feel this way? If so, how did you over come it? My anxiety is spiraling out of control and I don’t want it to turn into a depression because I can’t get this under control (I have previous anxiety/depression issues) I try talking to my friends but they don’t understand anxiety or nursing so they just say “don’t worry” and it really isn’t that easy.

[momoneypls, RN]

Everything you are describing is typical of new nurse growing pains. You will learn through experience how to deal with difficult situations and people, so try not to be so hard on yourself. You will have really great experiences, too. Be patient with yourself and understand that personal growth like this is not easy, for anyone.

[_littlemissBSN, BSN, RN]

It's a natural feeling especially for a new nurse and I felt the same with my first patient fall. After that incident, I questioned myself if this is the right career path for me and thought of ways I can get away from bedside (not nursing entirely). I've been working as an RN for almost 2 years now and there were still days I feel like I'm the worst nurse ever. I've realized that matter how much experience you have or how much you know, there will be times when you just feel "off" and make mistakes. But then, I also learned that it's unhealthy to wallow in them, and that we should see them as a learning experience instead to motivate is in bettering ourselves.

I honestly don't know how I got through my anxiety during my first few months of working. I guess I just eventually got used to the routine. I'd say, have a good support system. They don't have to understand your nursing anxieties, they just need to be there for you to enjoy things together with (road trips, hangouts, eat outs, etc) and provide you with distraction. But the most important is self care. Pamper yourself if you have to, and learn to be kind and forgiving to yourself.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

Nurses don't get experience without experiencing things - and that includes whats happening with you right now.

Every shift you work is one more shift under your belt. It takes a LONG time to get comfortable - and even then you will often find situations you are suddenly uncomfortable in. Its called nursing! You'll ALWAYS learn something new and you will often stop and look things up. Thats OK. You have to go through this process in order to build on your knowledge and skills. Your first priority is patient safety, as long as your patients are safe and cared for it's ok to not have all the answers and its ok to fly by the seat of your pants. Just know when to ask for help.

So you made a med error. Welcome to the club. Every nurse makes them, more than once usually. There are many types of med errors. Transcription, dosage, etc. Learn from this and decide how you will prevent it from happening again and you have one more thing you've learned and experienced.

[Forest2]

Having a meltdown? It's ok, most of us have too. You also don't have to be a new nurse to have these anxieties. Experienced nurses put into bad circumstances can feel like this too. I would be more concerned if you were apathetic. There will always be something new to learn and worry over. New systems, new equipment, new ways of treatment are just to be expected so don't think that all of this will go away. I had a nurse friend tell me once when she first saw me and I was fresh out of school, she said she thought to herself, "see looks so confident, wish I could be like that", it is so funny now, I tell her I didn't know what the H____ I was doing. LOL.

Nurses make mistakes, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If they do then they are lying. Learn from your mistake and go on. There is no such thing as a perfect nurse. Don't let one thing ruin your goals. Don't let the attitude of management tear you down. They should be there to support you but those kinds of managers are hard to find. Do for yourself what you wish others would do. Give yourself a pep talk and tell yourself you are a caring nurse and this is why it bothers you so much.

[Interpolfan89]

This is typical of new nurses. I’ve definitely been where you are. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and often compare myself/abilities to other nurses. I just have to remind myself to look at the facts. When you are comparing yourself to these other nurses that just seem to know what to do all the time, get to know them. Ask them how long they have been in the field. You can’t know in 3 months what they’ve come to know over their 10+ years career haha

Also, I’ve worked along side nurses that seem to be so focused, cheery, and speedy etc, and then I find out they take all kinds of prescription meds that definitely assist with all that hahaha

[Nurse Pure-Spring, CNA, LPN]

I’m sure glad I got to read your post and the comments above as well. I am experiencing the same thing and have been questioning whether or not I should have given PRN Ativan or not...

But as a new nurse of only 3-3.5 month, I can already tell you this anxiety is totally normal and I have deeply considered changing my profession as well. But I also remember that we do more good as nurses than quitting and becoming something else. Think of all the good you still CAN do. I won’t give up if you won’t, let’s stick together. Nurses unite!