New Grad afraid to start working!

[anxiouspn]

I graduated from RPN school in April. Still waiting on my license, but the option to work under a temp license is there.

To be completely honest, I haven't been going hard at the job search. Of course the longer I wait, the more I risk forgetting things.

I am just really scared of being out there alone in the nursing world caring for people's lives without the protection of my school or my preceptor.

I really enjoy nursing and I did very well in school, got a lot of positive feedback from my instructors, preceptor, and patients along the way. Everyone says I work really well independently, good critical thinking, various skills, etc., and come off as very confident. But I deal with low self esteem and anxiety in general and I have suddenly lost confidence in myself as a nurse. I feel like for some reason, I just can't do it.

Has anyone had similar feelings when just starting out? How can I get over this, any tips? I don't know what to do.

[quazar]

You're completely normal, and I think just about everyone feels like that as a new grad. Heck, even now, 19 years later, sometimes it occurs to me that I have quite literally delivered other people's babies (it happens...sometimes the doc just doesn't make it), and that the patient trusted me completely. I sit there and momentarily think to myself, "WHAT? ME? Noooooooooo. I'm just ME. Omg. How did this even happen? Those crazy people."

It's good to have a healthy level of fear and respect for the job. It means you understand the gravity of what you're taking on. That's good. Just go into it remembering that every single nurse you're working with has been a new grad too, and they were nervous too. We all had to learn, we all stumbled, we all made mistakes, and that's how we learned and got better. You will have a preceptor who will help you, just like your instructors. Get a job with a dedicated program for new graduate nurses, and you'll have even better training and guidance.

You can do this!

[Courtney Nurse Writer, BSN]

Completely normal. It never passes either. Some days I would have to talk myself to go into work because I would be so scared. It gets easier, it really does!!!

[NewMurse1014]

I think it's normal for new grads to feel this way, knowing that you're dealing with pt's lives. If you can get into a new grad program or have a good orientation with a good preceptor, it will make the transition a lot easier than hitting the floor on your own. I felt the same way starting out in this new grad position. I had a solid orientation with a good preceptor, and I was clueless during the first few weeks off orientation on my own. I really became comfortable around the half year mark, but even now I still feel overwhelmed at times and ask a lot of questions.

The best advice I can give you is to always ask questions when you're not sure, even if you think you know it. You'll learn something new on every shift, be able to reflect on the mistakes and look up anything you don't understand. Your confidence, as well as your time management and organization skills, will build over time especially when you're on your own. One day you'll get through a shift smoothly, knowing when to do what and how to do certain things, and become comfortable with the flow. Good luck!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"I have suddenly lost confidence in myself as a nurse." You haven't been a nurse yet. You've been a student. The transition can be scary if you focus on it.

I am encouraging to get on the "horse" and ride. It will be a ride with ups and downs, but one you will enjoy.

If you can't force yourself to do so, please get professional advice.

[rzyzzy]

I wouldn't want a new nurse who *didn't* have some healthy fear.

You still have to jump into the pool though.

You're never "alone" as a nurse - some of your co-workers will lean on you in their weak areas & you get to lean on them in yours.

[Babynurse1993]

I'm in your same shoes! I graduated May '15 and in August had my beautiful baby boy. I used wanting to stay at home as a crutch - yes I love staying home with him and would love to just do that if I could make money that way and hadn't just rung up 20k in student loans. I took my board (finally) in January and much to my surprise I passed. People asked when I would start working and my reply was I wanted to stay home with my baby, while true, it was for sure a way to hide from going to work out of terror. I have low self esteem and anxiety. I just got put on my anxiety pills last week so that will hopefully help. I've been reviewing everything I can like crazy and trying to get as much insight about even just the interview process, that alone terrifies me. Now I'm slowly coming to the realization that is this: I got through nursing school!! If I can do that after multiple times of dropping out because of the anxiety from it all I can do this. If I can study for and then pass my boards with a baby at home I can do this. And you know what, if it just doesn't work out, if it's truly not for me it's not the end of the world - there are other careers out there and this just goes down as a lesson learned. The longer we wait the more our anxiety will grow - trust me in the year I've put it off it hasn't gotten any easier and now I'll probably have a harder time getting a job so go for it! :) Easier said than done, I know, but if you don't do it know then when will you? Good luck! Both of us will be okay :)