New Grad Anxiety

[dergs]

I'm a new grad nurse with 3 months of ICU experience, 2 weeks off orientation. I know it isn't a lot of time, but I find myself making mistakes that I beat myself up over all the time. These mistakes may just be tiny charting errors to two med errors that I've made (both of which caused no harm, but still shook me to the core). Even when I have days where nothing went wrong, the bad days overshadow those positive experiences. I've been told by coworkers on my floors, as well as, my manager and assistant managers that mistakes are all part of the learning process and you're doing more good than bad and to embrace those mistakes as learning experiences. But I can't help to still have the "I will hurt my patient/get fired/lose my license" mentality over every little thing I do.

Is this a normal to feel this way? Do these feelings start to wean over time?

Thanks!

[NurseCard, ADN]

Yes, and yes. :) Keep on keeping on. You're fine.

[Wiggly Litchi]

I'm a new grad nurse with 3 months of ICU experience, 2 weeks off orientation. I know it isn't a lot of time, but I find myself making mistakes that I beat myself up over all the time. These mistakes may just be tiny charting errors to two med errors that I've made (both of which caused no harm, but still shook me to the core). Even when I have days where nothing went wrong, the bad days overshadow those positive experiences. I've been told by coworkers on my floors, as well as, my manager and assistant managers that mistakes are all part of the learning process and you're doing more good than bad and to embrace those mistakes as learning experiences. But I can't help to still have the "I will hurt my patient/get fired/lose my license" mentality over every little thing I do.

Is this a normal to feel this way? Do these feelings start to wean over time?

Thanks!

Be kind to yourself!

You sound like you have a wonderful manager and assistant managers that are willing to support your learning process and help you grow as a new nurse :)

Sure, making mistakes can feel awful, but I'm confident that you'll do fine! Trust in your skills!

[mzsuccess]

I could've wrote exactly what you wrote. I feel the same anxieties as you. I pray for us both. Becoming a nurse is life changing and it's a new chapter that we have to get used to. We will be ok and get there

[tara07733]

One day during my nursing student preceptorship I forgot to alcohol swab my patient before giving the patient a dose of insulin. When we left the room my preceptor gently let me know that I had forgotten and to remember to do that. Well, I beat myself up so much for that little error that everything else that came after was stressed me out--I just couldn't get myself together for the rest of the night, I was so rough on myself.

My preceptor told me that it appears that I know what I'm doing but am my own worst enemy , that I stress too much and need to slow down, calm down and think. It sounds like you are very similar to me in that little things affect you in a major way. After that night and another night during which I was the same way, I took her advice and it made a world of difference in my work and self esteem.

If your peers and managers are telling you that you're being too harsh on yourself, believe them. And then think of ways to de-stress. It sounds like that is the problem and not a lack of ability to do your job. Hugs to you!