Nervousssss New Grad starting on Cardiac Floor!

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Hello All,

I am a new grad that just accepted a job offer on the cardiac pain unit, or cardiac medical telemetry floor. It is FAR from my top choice of units to work on (Med/surg, Mom/baby, or nursing home were my first choices) but since it has been so difficult to find a job as a new grad, I decided there was no choice but to suck it up and take the job. The nurse manager told me right off the bat that this was a very paced unit. This worries me, because fast paced doesn't really suite me well. Now obviously I know that every floor in the hospital and even nurses that work in nursing homes are extremely busy and require moving, thinking, and acting quickly. I just hope I made the right decision in taking this job. I am not interested in ICU or ER. I prefer slower moving units and ones where you get to interact and talk with your patients. Being extremely honest, I just don't function well under pressure or in emergency situations. I have tendency to freeze up out of nervousness. (Maybe this will change over time with practice???)

All I know is that ever since I accepted the job offer I have had difficulty falling asleep and have been waking up everyday teary eyed with my stomach in knots because I am so unbelievably nervous and scared!!! :( Scared to start my career as a new nurse in general, but particularly nervous about working on cardiac medical telemetry unit where I never ever imagined myself to be! I worry whether I made the right choice in accepting this job offer knowing that it doesn't really fit my personality. But then I think, what choice did I really have? I can't really afford to sit around for several more months hunting for a job.

Anyway, my orientation begins in two weeks, if anyone wants to offer up some words of encouragement or has any advice for me as to what things I could start to review prior to orientation to make my transition from nursing student to professional nurse go more smoothly, it would be much appreciated.:)

Thankyou, thankyou thankyou!

Nervous new nurse

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Specializes in PCCN.

It may be a great place to learn how to pace yourself though. Sometimes these are stepdown units- the ratios might be less- not saying any easier, but learning to juggle say 4-5 pts better than 7-8 on med/surg.Just learn your stuff- hopefully you have a great preceptor. Learn your rhythms. Learn your common cardiac meds. Get Acls education and cert( down the road) A lot of experience and judgement is learned from having these pts. Always look at your pt- numbers are only part of the puzzle.Feel free to pm me if you have questions- been on stepdown for 8 yrs.

I find what helps me now is a quote from a song that's out there: Don't let fear decide your fate. That's been helping me go ahead and " get in there" Every challenge is a learning experience , and you will be better the next time a similar situation comes up. That only comes with time.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

Sorry to say, but I don't think your feelings will change. I have been doing surgical telemetry for 1.5 year. I loved getting hired there, it was my choice, and I liked it for a while after I got hired.

But now? I get so stressed to the point that I always have nightmares before work. lol. And, I am not the only one in my unit who feel stressed to the max just for coming into work. Yes, there are situations where patients will suddenly go unstable, and you will have to think under such stress.

If you are ALREADY teary eyed, and stressed just to think about beginning there, quit now. It won't get better. You may used to it though. But, if you don't perform well under stress, then you won't. You will still get stressed to the max.

I don't know a single nurse in my unit who loves coming to work.

Heck, I am talking so negative. Sorry, hate scaring you.. But that's my experience at a telemetry floor. I am quitting next week to go into mother/baby, and I already feel so much better about my life. The quality of my life was bottomed out because of the stress my work put on me.

As far as I know and witness, it is not hard to get into nursing homes at all. Or at least it isn't in my area. Good luck!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

Oh, I forgot to mention. The experience telemetry gives you is invaluable and opens a lot of doors. That's the only thing I am glad about.

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I appreciate your honesty Seas - although I don't think quitting before I've even started is a wise choice... I am beyond lucky to have gotten this job through my connections. If I were to quit now, I would be burning a lot of bridges. And lets all be honest, I know I am not going to get my dream job right off the bat. I have to try this first, and hopefully in a year from now I can transfer into something else that I will be more happy in. Like Mom/Baby :)

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I love your quote jrwest "Don't let fear decide your fate". I will definitely remember this!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg.

Don't worry. You'll be fine. I am also a new grad working on a med-surg cardiac unit and I absolutely love it! Just take everything in step by step and BREATHE. It's a lot to take in but everything will make sense. Also, ASK QUESTIONS. Most of the things you learn in nursing school is totally different from the hospital policies. Treat your CNAs and fellow RNs very well because they will help you out, time management is the key, so, there are plenty of SBAR examples in one the threads and be CONFIDENT. You've gotten this far in your career after graduating.. you must be doing something right:). Believe in yourself and always think of your patient's safety. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Oh hon, you're paying interest on money you haven't even borrowed yet. Don't get so busy 'awfulizing' that you are unable to enjoy the moment for fear of what may happen. You don't want to be that person - in any facet of your life.

Fact of Life: Beginnings are always scary & endings are always sad... No matter how old or experienced you get, this will always be true.

Have some faith.

- We all started as new grads

- You passed boards & are pretty much starting from the same place as all the other new grads

- Your new department has hired a lot of new grads over the years - they survived, and probably became very competent nurses.

- The experienced nurses on your new unit are not going to risk their patients safety by leaving you unassisted when you need help

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HouTX- that is such a truthful post. I tol am starting a new job and am extremely nervous. I seriously can stay awake allll night imagining scenarios, what if this, what if that.. Am i gonna be able to do it or will i fail.. Etc.. Not too mention stalking allnurses and reading posts 10years back just to get all the advice i can. But lately, ive been really trying to relax. Like u said, beginnings are always scary! I was terrified when i began nursing school, i didnt think i could make it, but i graduated with the #1 gpa in my class, not too mention i found that i LOVED NURSING!! So i tell myself exactly what u said- beginnings are scary. But in the end, most are so worth it! I like your outlook! : )

Ps- good luck to the op! While you have time prior to orientation, really try to practice ways to decrease your anxiety, and gain self confidence. You'll never know what will happen until you do it, and you would definately regret it if you didnt try. Sometimes our anxiety is a good thing bc it keeps us on our toes, and continuously trying our best. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

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Specializes in PCCN.

Dont forget too- some moms have comorbidities too-we have had a few post partum chf'ers, cardiomyopathys,svt's or diabetics, or asthmas, etc you will better nurse for them when you do get to transfer over to mom/baby someday:)

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