3 months of nursing and feeling burned out

[djsrn]

I need some words of encouragement. I started on my med-surg floor July 27th. I still feel lost. the whole month of october i worked nights, so i really feel lost on the day shift. today was just crazy. i feel like i run around like a damn fool and don't get anything accomplished. the resident writing orders for me kept writing them all wrong,(I'm not mad at her, she is new too). so i spent half the time calling her to get the orders straight. i guess i just need to know how long does it take to feel like you are somewhat competent? i know i'll be a great nurse someday, but right now i feel like a failure. when one of my patient's is a lot of work, i almost forget about the more independent ones. i don't have any time to talk with my patient's (i know noone does but i feel so bad). some days i have just enough time to take care of my patients and I wonder how i would've gotten everything done if any of them had started to crash. i usually drive et get a coffee and my mail and then go to the gym after work to destress. Lately after work all i think about is work until i go to bed...I know all nurses do this somewhat, but does it ever get any better?

[NurseCard, ADN]

Hi there! Not much else to add, just a little sympathy. :) I have been a nurse now for a year and a half, so I'm still pretty new. Not a few months ago, I was still wondering if I would EVER be good at this! But now, I have lots of confidence!

I'll stress again what has already been said! Develop a good routine!!!!!! That is so key, because time management is such a huge part of being an effective med-surge nurse.

Good luck!!!!!! You'll be fine!