New Grad Struggling

Nurses New Nurse

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So I am a (young) new nurse on an observation/telemetry unit and I am overwhelmed. I'm not really overwhelmed by the patient load (we are 5:1 and constantly admitting/discharging patients), or even the skills. But I'm overwhelmed because I don't have time to look up all my patient history or new orders, and I keep making mistakes! I feel like at any time the manager is going to call me into the office and fire me. Some nurses are really supportive and have even printed policies to help me, and others refuse to even verify high risk drips, etc.

I am 6 weeks in after a 15 week orientation (~2 weeks on each floor), and I didn't make any mistakes until this past weekend. We had a huge snowstorm and we were understaffed. I had 10-15 patients total per day, between admissions and discharges and made 2 med errors that were completely my fault (no harm was done to either patient- but I know that I could have done so much better) I also didn't catch that central supply hadn't sent epcds up for a patient I admitted towards the end of one shift, and patient transport tried to take one of my patients to CT (he didn't have one ordered at the time, wrong patient). The nurse manager took it well, just told me to be careful and check with other nurses, these things happen, etc. But if I continue making mistakes I know I won't be here much longer, and I hate that! I love my job and the floor I'm on; I just feel like I haven't figured everything out yet. My patients love me and I have gotten nothing but good feedback on their end- at least I'm doing something right.

There is so much that I could have done better. Today they put me on call and now I'm freaking out because I'm so worried that it's because they think I will make another mistake (I am going to do everything in my power Not to). But I was also top of the list to be on call as well, so I could just be psyching myself out ;)

any my advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Your being to hard on yourself. It's ok. Your still in orientation and it will take a long time before you find your own grove. Don't worry about being put on call. Consider it a blessing. I remember one time I missed the phone call and when I called back they said they had found someone else to be on call. Darn!!!!! So seriously it is A ok! Hang in there!!!

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I agree with ccakes you are being a little too hard on yourself! Your floor sounds like a very busy floor. I'm wondering what kind of high risk drips you're administering while having 5 patients? And why are there nurses that won't cosign for you? That's so annoying and unhelpful and rude. I remember when I first started on medsurg/ortho and I had 7 patients and I can even remember having 8 a few times but I was super overwhelmed a lot in the beginning. There were a lot of things to do and I would freak out if I wasn't able to d/c a foley or change a dressing but I had to realize that things like baths, linen changes, dressing changes, ect. isn't something I should worry about if I get busy due to a patient becoming unstable or something like that. Nursing is a 24 hour job and if you're unable to do something it is ok if the nurse on the following has to do it.

In order for you to grow and gain the confidence you need to succeed you need the other nurses to support you and help you. Some nurses forget what it's like to be brand new bc they've been doing it for 30 years. I'm not sure what kind of med mistakes you've made but just slow down and realize you're only one person and its okay to ask for help if you need it. I hope it gets better for you, good luck!

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Thank you! We do nitro drips up to 30 mcg/min and heparin drips. We don't actually have to verify these drips with another nurse in the computer, but I try to check them with another nurse because I don't want to mess it up, and other nurses don't always want to take the time to check it with me. You're right... With all of those patients (I usually have a whole new assignment once per shift, sometimes twice) it's hard to keep track of all the details and that's when I get overwhelmed. Prioritizing more would definitely help.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Relax. ANYone in your situation while weather-bound could have (and several probably did, but nobody knows about them) made similar errors. None of us is perfect, we're not machines, we're humans. And humans tend to be the hardest on those most like them. Not one of the errors you made were serious, simply human, given the workload you had. It would be incredibly difficult to do the work of 2 - or 3, even - nurses completely flawlessly. Your manager is being fair; her advice to you is the same advice she'd give any nurse who'd survived those kinds of shifts. It's not an indictment suggesting that you ask for help when you need it, more of a reminder that we're all going to need help once in a while. As for the on-call thing, my guess is that you're overthinking it. It's your turn, therefore you are on-call. You're fine.

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Thanks so much! I needed to hear that. I actually got to work tonight, picked up on another floor... And didn't make any mistakes! Woohoo í ½í¸Š one day at a time...

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I agree with the others. Also, I'm pretty sure they value someone who takes on twice the normal patient load during a weather event, and wonders how they can do better as opposed to having an attitude about it.

I remember that feeling that every furrowed brow or frowny face on my nurse manager meant I was about to be fired on the spot for I know not what. In hindsight I realize I wasted a lot of time with that. Usually I wasn't on their radar at all when I felt the illogical panic.

All the best to you!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

Everything you have mentioned is normal mistakes, except for the drug errors. It's part of the med surg/tele chaos. The one thing I would say is, "no matter how busy you are, you have to slow down and look at the meds you are giving and double/triple check." It's the one thing we do that there can be no excuses and you have to slow down and pay attention."

After more than a decade in ER and ICU nursing I still stop everything, slow down and pay attention to the 5 rights. Don't let anyone interupt you when checking meds. Did I mention slow down and pay attention when it is med giving time. LOL

I still like to have my "scarey" drugs checked by another nurse and they giggle but do it for me.

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It takes a year before you're confident and 3 before you're competent

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Hang in there! As mentioned by others, I too (also a new grad, 5 months in), I always go slow when taking out meds and giving meds (it's a 3-check system at my hospital). I always explain to the patient every single med that I am going to give them. It is tedious at times, but honestly, it covers my back.

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