Need some reassurance

[Kinelle1]

Hi, everyone I am new to the forum and nursing! I graduated in may 2010 but due to personal circumstances did not start working u till febuary2011. I landed my dreamjob as a nursery/pp nurse lucky me!! I have been on the job two months and had to go out on short term disability due to health problems ( it should figure I am never sick until I land a new jOb). Anyways being a new nurse and taking on with the relative characteristics of almost all RN's I am a bit compulsive. It is very hard for me to cope with a learning curve! I am on a M/B unit and want to learn it all ASAP. I am having a hard time giving myself a chance. I am so passionate about about this unit and it's patients both mom and baby. In school OB is a very short rotation due to the fact it is a very hard and limited field to become a part of. I am so excited to be a part of my dream but so nervous it is a very over whelming field! We are both nursery and PP nurses. For the most part it is a happy field but so much could go wrong so fast. mom could start bleeding out, baby can have a bad transition etc. I suppose I am very frustrated it is taking a a while to catch on! I am just in the honeymoon phase, but am quickly realizing that just because you dream you are made for a particular job, does not mean it work out as planned! trust me everybody I will stick it out I just wish dream jobs landed gave you a upper hand!! I often question my abilities and skills needs as a first line of defense for my patients moms and newborns especially do to lack of school focused training! I suppose I need so e hang in there post and it will get better! But I find my self asking should I have gotten a Md or a PHD just to be a RN-BSN ??? Please help!:confused::confused:

[klone, MSN, RN]

I assume this post got cut off prematurely? I also assume you meant that you started working in February 2011 (rather than 2010)?

[Kinelle1]

Yes, Klone can you tell it is my first entry!! Thank you I have fixed my corrections!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Welcome!

Hang in there, it WILL get better! I remember feeling sick to my stomach before every shift for at least six months when I started as an RN, and I had done a full year in OB before that as an extern.

Keep in mind that the vast majority of crap that will happen, will happen in the first couple hours after delivery, and at that time, the L&D nurse (and/or whoever is responsible for transitioning the newborn after delivery) will be taking care of them. I know it's easy to get overwhelmed by the responsibility (which I think is the case in any area of nursing as a new grad), but for the most part, healthy new moms and babies can pretty much take care of themselves, medically speaking. So try not to worry too much, and accept that this is a normal learning curve.

[Kinelle1]

Thank you Klone! Yep I have that sick to my stomach feeling, and I hope it resolves soon soon so I can concentrate! I long for the day I feel confident in myself as a educated RN.

:):dncgbby:Dancing Baby

[klone, MSN, RN]

It will happen, I promise!

[merlee]

Most nurses will tell you that it may be a year before you begin to feel truly competent in your field, around the time when newer nurses are asking what YOU think about a certain situation!

Try to remember that we were all neophytes, we were all inexperienced. An airplane pilot doesn't fly a jumbo jet alone - ever - let alone 2 months after leaving 'school'.

So take some deep breaths in your car before you walk in to the hospital, and a few more just before you walk into your unit to get report. Smile, it makes people feel better, and lets others know you are ready for the shift!

Best wishes!

[Hushi05]

You MUST give yourself a year at least. Don't be hard on yourself. It isn't easy to be humble and accept that you can't know everything all at once. There is no substitute for experience. None. You will be fine. Really.