Need some guidance

uRNmyway, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2014

Hi everyone. So I am a recently newly licensed nurse and have been working as a nurse for the past 2 months. Now I know a lot of you are going to say "what you are feeling is normal " but I just hate this feeling. I am still feeling like I don't know anything, that the other nurses hate me, and that maybe nursing isn't for me. I am still feeling like I am the only nurse that feels this way and it's frustrating and upsetting. I am just ready to be the nurse I know I should be but I feel like that's so far away. Can anyone truly related and help me out of this depressing feeling? Honestly, I have been losing sleep over this! I talk to some of my other friends and them seem like they are doing fine and I just wondering why I can't be in that place or close to it. If anyone has some great advice or story to tell please share![/quote']
You're not alone. Seriously. I think I was about 1.5-2 years in before that sense of panic, lack of confidence, and always feeling like I was forgetting something went away. It does get better, I promise.

Mr. Murse · Mar 25, 2014

It's different for everyone, so I'm not going to tell you that you're not alone, because you may be......but that's okay. Each of us adjusts differently and takes different amounts of time to feel comfortable. In general, 6-12 months is considered a normal adjustment period. I felt comfortable a little faster than that, and some people take longer than that. It will come though. Don't compare yourself with others, it doesn't help because, again, it's different for everyone. Hang in there.

As for other nurses hating you.......chances are they're not thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are. Just do you job the best you can and it will all fall into place.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 25, 2014

I also went thru that for about a year. Awful. I was lucky enough to have ONE nurse to mentor me through. Hope you find the one.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2014

Sounds like your main problem is the other nurse.

We ALL needed support and mentoring in the beginning. I couldn't nurse my way out of a wet paper bag for the first two years.

Why do you feel the other nurse " hates you"?

Lola RN · Mar 25, 2014

I'm not sure. I feel like they think that I should just know. Not realizing that I am new to the game. And I that I am still getting my bearings. For the most part everyone is so helpful. I think I'm just being paranoid. I just don't want to be seen as "that nurse." The one that no one wants to work with or that they say really sucks. I'm feeling like I'm doing everything wrong.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2014

"NO one can make you feel inferior without your permission."

The first year STINKS! Which is actually about a year and a half. Nursing school doens't prepare nurses to be nurses. Not at the bedside anyhow. You have a steep learning curve. Everyone does. Heck I even had butterflies after my maternity leave...what have I forgot? What if I lost my edge?

Breathe...this too shall pass ((HUGS))

SwansonRN · Mar 25, 2014

I felt the same way for a solid year and still feel like that from time to time (almost 2 years in). What helps me is reminding myself that this is JUST A JOB. Struggling does not mean you are a good or bad person and it doesn't determine your self worth. You're going to get better, but in the meantime just look at it as strictly business and don't take things personally. There's a whole great big world out there, try not to be so narrow focused and you may feel better :)

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Mar 25, 2014

I can definitely relate to you. I am 8.5 months in and feeling what might be described as somewhat comfortable for the first time. Still though, it's a tough job. I think a lot of the new grad fears are "am I this bad" VS "nursing is actually a damn tough job" and the realization comes in time.

You eventually get a handle on how to approach different situations, simply because you've seem them before. I bet you're running into clinical problems you haven't seen in real life with interventions that you haven't seen either - well eventually it comes together. Your knowledge is there at a basic level, but your skills and critical thinking aren't. Honestly your best approach to everything is extra caution. Always ask if you don't know something.

As for your coworkers not liking you, it's probably just your anxiety playing games on you. I went through it a little bit. The anxiety gets to your head and stirs up a little paranoia, but it gets better in time.

I'm not gonna lie to you.. at 2 months it's going to get worse before it gets better. You just have to realize that it will get better. I didn't believe it when I was told so 5-6 months ago, but it's completely true.