New Grad Anxiety

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Hi all,

I have so many feelings that I just have to get them out of me. I know that I have seen so many friendly nurses provide information and help/ advice, so I thought that I could use some of the advice that I am always seeing offered to other new nurses.

I applied for a Peds RN position at a large teaching hospital, and I got hired as a graduate nurse until I pass boards. I am feeling so much anxiety. I am having a hard time distinguishing whether it is regular new grad anxiety or full out panic. I have so much fear. I am scared of being a "real" nurse, scared of asking a dumb questions, sounding dumb, looking dumb, afraid to talk to residents and doctors. I really like Peds, I love the staff, they are great, I don't know what my problem is. Our hospital also has student loan repayment( which I REALLY need), but I am afraid to take it because I am afraid I won't make it a year, and that I will have to repay all of that money. I did my Peds clinicals there, so I knew that I wanted to work here, but of course it is SO different than clinicals. I feel anxiety looking at all the things the nurses have to do every shift. I have only been working two weeks, and take boards in two weeks from now. A friend of mine said that I could transfer units,( post-partum was my second choice) but I don't want the staff to feel that time was wasted training me, if I decide to leave. I am confused and nervous, any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.

Dimples

Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.

I'll second what others have said ... take a deep breath. You'll be okay. I came straight out of school into the PICU as a new grad, and was scared of my own shadow for a while. It's normal. One of the first things my preceptor told me was to give it a year before I didn't feel like throwing up before I came to work. It didn't take that long, thanks largely to a wonderfully supportive staff, which is sounds like you're a part of.

And now, not even 2 years out, I'm taking charge, riding with our critical care transport team, taking the sickest kids on the unit and even precepting my very own extern.

Realize that fear can be a very healthy thing. It keeps you sharp, makes you stay on top of what you're doing, makes you think through everything you're doing. That's so important.

Welcome to the world of peds- I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and I hope you'll be able to agree soon!

Specializes in Cardiac.

I have so much fear. I am scared of being a "real" nurse, scared of asking a dumb questions, sounding dumb, looking dumb, afraid to talk to residents and doctors.

Sounds totally normal to me!

It will ease with time, trust me. Soon, you will be telling the residents what to do.;)

Specializes in 66H.

i have the same fears/anxiety. i graduated in may, took the nclex in june (passed!!!), have never worked in the health care profession at all (my only experience is from school), joined the military (they gave me a scholarship while in school) and i leave for training this aug for a little over 2 months. so by the time that i actually start working as a nurse it will have been 6 months after graduation. i already feel that all of my knowledge is slowly disappearing. then i think, what if they deploy me in a few months and i don't have enough experience to pull my own weight in a CSH unit (combat support hospital). i know i will have the support from my co-workers but the fear of failing in this career is a hard one to swallow.

Specializes in acute medical.

I know what you mean re: being a new grad and not knowing anything. Just when you think you are going ok, a new situation arises. I find the staff on my ward are fantastic as well, and I ask lots of "stupid" questions. I guess the only way we'll learn is to ask the experts - the other nurses, read, and do it ourselves! As for talking to doctors et al, I think that will just take time. Find out what the routine is...do you go through your team leader or do you contact the doctor yourself when you need something done? The scary thing is when they ask questions of you about your patients, but I guess that is where we need to be on top of current, past and prospective care and history. Our docs are great...but I don't know what other hospitals are like. Like the nurses, I can ask lots of stupid questions and they are happy to give answers.

I know I sound confident here, but often I go home and stay awake for hours stressing, thinking have I done this right? Once I actually rang the ward at midnight to tell them something; they thought it was hilarious.

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