New Grad Nerves

[Lexilover33]

Where to begin... I just got my first nursing job in a new grad program and I'm nervous as all hell. I graduated in Jan of 2015, took the NCLEX in December of 2015 and I'm just starting my first job in July of 2016. I had to take care of my grandfather straight of school due to him being ill and now I feel like I don't know anything. It has been so long. I feel so nervous about not being prepared enough to be a RN. Medications and lab values overwhelm me because I feel there is so many and my mind just shuts down. I'm so scared of looking stupid and I fear the other nurses will look down upon me. I have been making so many "cheat sheets" to carry on me but I feel I never have enough. I lay in bed thinking of disease processes, medications, lab values, etc. I forget about, and how the hell I'm going to make it. My anxiety is through the roof. Is this normal? Are you able to look up things you don't understand while orienting without your preceptor thinking you're incompetent. I am just so scared of the unknown and my family doesn't understand. They just say "you'll be fine", but they have no clue about nursing. I'm hoping my first day on the floor doesn't send me into a panic because just thinking about it makes me get so anxious.

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

I was exactly in your place when I started on my DOU/telemetry floor this past October. My anxiety was mega high, I was super nervous every shift, and there were MANY things I did not know when I stared; however, it is just as everyone says. You WILL be fine. The "new grad" feeling happens to all of us. My anxiety didn't start to loosen up until about 6 months after being on my own (which was literally like 2-3 months ago lol). I still have it, but I'm more confident now and more experienced.

Hopefully you will be in a good teaching environment like I was. Ask away no matter how dumb it is. You are better off asking a dumb question rather than doing something you don't know that could potentially hurt your patient. In terms of labs, meds, disease processes, it'll all eventually fall into place in your mind where you won't forget. The first several shifts will be tough as a WORKING nursing is 200% different than being a STUDENT nurse. There's a LOT that you will learn on the job that you were not taught or expected to know in nursing school. Keep your head held up high, ask question, take breaks every now and then. The first few months is the toughest as a new grad, but you will make it through. I have, and like I said I was sitting in your exact place this past October.

My final advice is find someone and/or something that you can vent to. I never really super stressed out during nursing school or had much anxiety (aside from NCLEX of course). In general, I'm a pretty calm and collected person, but it wasn't until I started as a new grad did I start getting severe anxiety. I would wake up during naps or in the middle of the night with my heart racing, and my mind all over the place thinking about what patients I would get and what the worst could happen. I would get anxiety while driving to work. I would sit in my car after the shift ended for 20 minutes having anxiety trying to figure out if I forgot something. In the end, I found solace in venting with my fellow new grad cohorts, my brother (who is an experienced nurse), and praying. If it wasn't for that venting and solace that I found, I don't know how I would get through as a working nursing. So, find someone or something you can lean your head on to :)

[2ndGen BSN, RN]

I'm glad I'm not the only new grad out there that's anxious. I haven't started working yet, but I totally empathize with you. Much like nursing school, I think it will be most helpful to find nurses at the same level that we are (so that we can share our struggles and fears), as well as older and experienced nurses to gain wisdom from. Congrats on the job!! Take advantage of your precepted time - it's a free pass to ask all the questions you want. New grads don't have a very good name anyway, so I don't care too much about looking "dumber" than they expect me to be. Learn your mistakes while you still have a guiding hand from your preceptor. Good luck!