Need advice: I have bad anxiety before I go to work.

[funnygirl01]

I am a newer grad and have been working in an ICU for one year in June 2009. I have been getting kudos from my coworkers and compliments on how I have been doing so far. The problem is that as time goes on I should be getting more confident in my abilities but instead I am getting anxiety. I start worrying about work the day before I have to go in. I think about if I'll have a terrible night, have a difficult family, or just one of those crazy hairy nights. I work night shift and have had some whoppers so far and I have handled them fine.

I just don't know where this anxiety is coming from. Sometimes I just want to cry before I go to work. The staff is great and is always helpful. I enjoy the focused care of just the two patients and and most nights are fine. The main problem is that resources and dr's aren't around during the night which makes things crazy sometimes. I wanted to get two years experience in ICU because I have heard some specialties like that two year background. I just don't know what to do. I used to handle stress fine. I just wish I could have a job I enjoy and have fun doing. I think I'd like something more uplifting and fun, yet I like the learning oppertunities of the ICU. Any advice on how to deal with my anxiety situation. It is to the point that I hate my job and dread going to work!!!

[brownbook]

Sounds like your worse worries are before work, very normal when you have more idle time, once at work you are probably to busy with patient care to have time to worry. There is a polite way and crude way I dispel my worries. Polite, "Face the worst, believe the best, do your most, and leave the rest." The crude way I dispel my worries, "I hope I kill someone tonight so I lose my nursing license and never have to work as a nurse again." I know it sounds real crude but it worked, it got my worries to shut up as I drove into work. (No I never did kill anyone.)

[10ACGIRL]

I understand how you feel. I graduated in May 08 and have been working in the Neuroscience ICU in Detroit ever since. There are many nights I worry about being able to provide the necessary care it takes to care for those high acuity pt's. We are a teaching hospital so I have residents and NP's available which really helps. I try not to work more than 3 nights in a row and getting plenty of sleep on my days off is a must. Also being able to talk to my friends who are also "new" to nursing lets you sort of de-brief, which is really important. Sometimes ppl still make fun of me because I always have my 2 ton backpack with me with all of my resources, books, and a scrapbook I put together with important tid bits I collected. It's kinda like my security blanket I can look anything up that I need, it's kinda a work in progress...lol...anyway, you're not alone, there are many of us "newbies" out there. Hang in there, but if the job is seriously impacting you in a negative way you might wanna think about other options, only you know what's best for you. Right now with the nursing shortage there are tons of options out there. Good luck to you....Brigitte

I had an interview for PCT on an NICU(neuro icu) and was offered to think about if I want to work on that unit or on MICU, NICU has 50 beds with 8 pt's per tech and MICU has 8 beds with 2 pt. per tech. The hours are from 8p-6a (10 hr. shift), so can anyone help me a bit on which unit is more total care than the other or R they both the same!?