new grad blues

[kasey9269]

hi, just wondering if there is anyone else out there struggling in their new grad program ... I am feeling so overwhelmed and out of my depth eight weeks into it! I had two shifts supernumerary and then out onto a very very busy acute stroke unit. I had a preceptor for the two supernumerary shifts I got and then not been rostered on with her again, I just have to ask questions of whoever is on and has time. The clinical support nurses are hardly seen, the last time I saw one was 10 days ago - it is very busy and stress is +++! I had to take a full patient load straight away from my first solo shift on day 3. I know I should be grateful to have a grad program as places are few and far between but at the moment I am struggling and feel in way over my head! Everyone tells me this is normal and part of being a new grad but it's not quite what I expected - I knew it would be hard, don't get me wrong, but this definitely feels like I have been thrown in the deep end. My anxiety level is +++ and I feel so stressed out. I feel unsafe and worry all the time. I have been thinking of withdrawing but everyone tells me my career is over if I do! Any thoughts? Thanks.

[imaginations]

First off, it sounds like your orientation was lacking. As a new grad I had two weeks supernumerary on my first rotation and six weeks on my second rotation (though this was in a critical care area, new grads rotating to other wards had another week supernumerary to learn the new wards ropes).

As a new grad I would have really struggled being thrown in the deep end without a lot of support because sorting out all the little things - like knowing where things are kept, when the meal trolleys come around, what phone numbers to call, when the doctors round and so on - take up a lot of time on your planner when they aren't second nature.

I would second all the advice on organising your planner (if your ward doesn't have a template you can make up your own by drawing up a table with hours down the rows and each of your patients in a separate column) and reaching out to your educator, NUM, grad program staff but also don't look past your colleagues. I know that nursing culture is not always sunshine and bunnies and that on a busy shift it can hard to find someone that is willing to help you out but it is the role of the team leader and float nurses (if you have them) to make sure the show is running smoothly.

It's okay to ask for help and it's okay to be struggling. It's intense and stressful and you are new to this. It's okay not to be getting everything straight away but it's not okay not to be seeking help where you need it.

I remember many a-day as a new grad on the ward feeling overwhelmingly stressed/frustrated/useless/like I wasn't doing the best for my patients. The thing that helped - every time - was support from my colleagues, which I didn't always get.

Make sure you have good supports outside work and look after your health (mental and physical). I know it sounds superfluous but I can't stress enough how much it makes a positive difference when you've had a good breakfast before a morning shift and have a good lunch sitting in the fridge in the tea room; or how much it helps with the havoc shift work wreaks on your body to exercise, even just for twenty minutes, every week; or how much better it makes you feel to have a sympathetic shoulder to rant or cry on after a crappy day.