New Grads after 6 months: How do you feel?

[RNcDreams]

I've hit the 6 month mark.......and the warm-fuzzy feelings that I had toward the end of my preceptorship have evaporated.

Before work, I now find myself feeling anxious, nauseated, and afraid....yet hopeful.

I think this is for a variety of reasons:

1. There is no longer a preceptor by my side to encourage, guide, and safeguard

2. I'm adjusting to the lack of bathroom breaks, meal breaks, and rest

3. I'm coming face to face with my inadequacies--there are so many meds to know, so many different patient presentations, so much paperwork, so many personalities to work with, and so many "different" family members to answer to

4. I am hating the fact that I can't get through a day without messing something up and feeling like an idiot

5. I am horrified at how easy it is to make serious errors

6. I am frightened by the amount of responsibility this job entails, yet I am proud of myself for attaining it

Is this a common way to feel at this point? I've heard over and over "after your first year, you'll feel much better."

Is there such a thing as the 6 month slump?

[OhioMTCRN07]

You have to laugh at your mistakes. As you said, if the patient doesn't get hurt, it's okay. I have one of the charge nurses that "eat their young." It's been tough to deal with but the last day we worked together, she actually complimented me and I thought I would faint! The worst part for me is whether or not to hold medications due to vitals (such as blood pressure). The docs don't give parameters to hold - it's all nursing judgment. IV starts are getting better for me although I will admit, most times I need 2 tries! We've all come a long way since that first day as a nurse. Funniest thing that happened to me was something I said to a patient when talking about ways to alleviate constipation. I said, "Have you ever tried prunes? You eat 1 or 2 a day and you're good to go." Patient laughed and I said, "The comedy is provided at no charge." Using that "good to go" phrase way too many times!~

[Ohmygosh]

It's nice to know that I am not the actually the "Lone Ranger" disguised as a nurses!!-- just completed my 7th month in SICU.

I had my first patient death about 2 weeks ago -- that was really hard.

Our unit census has recently picked up and I frequently have 3 patients which is definitely a challenge.

For the most part I find that when I have questions that I already know the answer -its just that I want to make sure my thinking/rationale is correct.

My most recent challenge is that I have a new charge nurse on one of my shifts. She has been a nurse for 18 years and is very knowledgeable -- but I was told that she made a comment the other day that "she couldn't get her charting done because I had sooo many questions because I am an inexperienced nurse" Well there are 2 inexperienced nurses that work the shift she charges!! And not the only one who asks questions!

And yes on that particular day I did have to ask her a few questions regarding 3 medications that a patient was prescribed. All of which would affect the patients HR --Yes, I knew to hold the digoxin because the patients HR was hanging out at 57-61 - however one of the other medications was Lopressor which though prescribed for hypertension- it will also lower the HR (BP at the time was 123/65). The other medication was Pacerone which I knew was prescribed because the patient has previously been in Afib. However the patient had converted to NSR -- but according to my drug book -a side effect of Pacerone is severe bradycardia. Anyway>>> I have decided that the next time I am assigned three patients on her shift, that I am going to ask her if she thinks it's a good idea to assign an inexperienced nurse 3 patients because that will mean 3 times the questions and I wouldn't want her to get behind on her charting.

[AggieD04]

I too am a little past the sixth month mark and have many times especially recently been rethinking my career choice. I know that I have come a very long way since I started but lately I feel as though I'm just getting worse. I also need to do something a few times on my own before I'm comfortable with it.

I started work directly in an ER, and on days when I know I have support of coworkers who want me there and who I will always have my back then I love what I do. On other days when I work with doctors who belittle those around them to make themselves feel good and other nurses who don't feel that new grads belong in the ER I hate it.

Now I make a copy of the doctor schedule and the nurse schedule just so I can know going into my shift what I'm facing. The motto where I work is "see one, do one, teach one" and "trial by fire". Lately they keep putting me in the trauma rooms and so on my way to work I too sometimes wish for a car wreck.

I hope it gets better =(. I used to get so excited about going to clinicals and learning new stuff, now I'm just afraid I'm going to make mistakes. I come home and study, but I still feel like I am constantly asking stupid questions. And even on my days off I dream that I am at work.....

[AggieD04]

One little positive addition, on my last shift, I had a patient OD who we had to lavage, I had assisted a few times but hadn't done it all by myself yet and was nervous, but I did it. I was pretty excited! Then later, we had a patient who we couldn't get blood on, multiple nurses tried, I tried, lab tried, the doctor tried, no one could get it. Finally I gave it a go again and got it! So there have been triumphs to go along with the trudge up the learning curve. :pumpiron:

[BetterMeRN]

I too am a little past the sixth month mark and have many times especially recently been rethinking my career choice. I know that I have come a very long way since I started but lately I feel as though I'm just getting worse. I also need to do something a few times on my own before I'm comfortable with it.

I started work directly in an ER, and on days when I know I have support of coworkers who want me there and who I will always have my back then I love what I do. On other days when I work with doctors who belittle those around them to make themselves feel good and other nurses who don't feel that new grads belong in the ER I hate it.

Now I make a copy of the doctor schedule and the nurse schedule just so I can know going into my shift what I'm facing. The motto where I work is "see one, do one, teach one" and "trial by fire". Lately they keep putting me in the trauma rooms and so on my way to work I too sometimes wish for a car wreck.

I hope it gets better =(. I used to get so excited about going to clinicals and learning new stuff, now I'm just afraid I'm going to make mistakes. I come home and study, but I still feel like I am constantly asking stupid questions. And even on my days off I dream that I am at work.....

Wow, I dreamt about work last night, actually it was a nightmare. I'm talking to my Nurse Educator tomorrow, I want off that floor.

[MissERN]

Oh how funny! Your shift report sounds like mine! Also the iv clamping, I swear I have it down, but it never fails that it squirts all over my fresh bed change on the most painful person in the world!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pretty good about remembering to clamp the tubing now...BUT last week I was having a crazy day (by 0830 I had been attacked by a phych pt, she sliced my arm with her fingernails, had to go to employee health and get a tetorifice and have my blood drawn) and so I get back to the ER and see that all my rooms are filled with critical pts...I'm trying to catch up and for some reason there is a student shadowing me that day...so I check charts for order, grab my Rocephin piggyback, prime it and hang it, and as I'm about to leave the room the student says "umm, are you going to mix it up???" OH yeah, kind of an important step huh!! So just a friendly reminder that the antibiotics go in much better when actually mixed in with the solution...the student saved me!!!

[RNcDreams]

I too am a little past the sixth month mark and have many times especially recently been rethinking my career choice. I know that I have come a very long way since I started but lately I feel as though I'm just getting worse. I also need to do something a few times on my own before I'm comfortable with it.

I started work directly in an ER, and on days when I know I have support of coworkers who want me there and who I will always have my back then I love what I do. On other days when I work with doctors who belittle those around them to make themselves feel good and other nurses who don't feel that new grads belong in the ER I hate it.

Now I make a copy of the doctor schedule and the nurse schedule just so I can know going into my shift what I'm facing. The motto where I work is "see one, do one, teach one" and "trial by fire". Lately they keep putting me in the trauma rooms and so on my way to work I too sometimes wish for a car wreck.

I hope it gets better =(. I used to get so excited about going to clinicals and learning new stuff, now I'm just afraid I'm going to make mistakes. I come home and study, but I still feel like I am constantly asking stupid questions. And even on my days off I dream that I am at work.....

WOW That is WORD FOR WORD how I feel, what I do, and what happens when I go to sleep at night.....

I totally agree, the right staff and the right attitude make you feel capable and good about your skills, and the opposite is enough to make you want to barf before your shift starts.

Thank you so much, now I know I'm not alone!

[calhoun220]

I am approaching 4 months, and I feel the same way. There are days I wish I'd wreck on the way to work just so I could miss a day. I work in a MICU and I feel constantly overwhelmed with information and I feel like I should know and remember so much more than I do. I just try and tell myself it will get better. Hopefully it will! Good luck to you!

Well actually, I did that last month. I had worked about 4 1/2 months and I was having a very bad week - my worst yet! I worked 2 days, off 1, and then back 1 day before a 4 day break. I burnt my hand while cooking on my 1 day off and my first thought was, "I hope it is burnt badly enough so I can call out." Well, it wasn't. So the next morning on my way to work, I hit a deer and totalled my car. My first thought was, "Yes, now I can call out." I called the my supervisor before I called anyone else. Sad but true - I was soooo happy!!! I don't still secretly wish I would have a wreck on the way to work only because I have a new car to pay for. Now I wish to catch the flu or something.

[candycane267]

it is so nice to know that you are not the only one that feels this way. i do feel i have grown since i started but i do know i have a long way to go. i wish they would have assigned a mentor for questions that come up along the way.

[NurseRatched67]

Hang in there Nursing Students and New Nurses!!!!

It will get easier over time.

I'm an RN with 14 years experience in high risk L&D, OB/GYNE and Oncology.

Your tear filled, frustrated, exhausted drive homes will change to tearful, frustrated and exhausted drive homes!! LOL.

Sometimes those drives can be the worst part of your day. On your way in you anticipate the worst (it's a human response) and on the way home you are either crying from frustration & exhaustion, or in some cases pure sadness or emotional discontent.

After 14 years I still get anxious to a certain degree on those drives in. If I know RN's will be out on vacation or census will be high, it's easy to let my mind wonder what the heck I'm going to get slammed with!

I still cry on the drives home sometimes. The frustration of being new and feeling like I don't know enough is gone, replaced by frustrations with pretty much everything else.

I cry for the Oncology patient, whom I've treated for years who is now not responding to treatment and is going to die...soon, I cry for the other RN's who are going thru the same situation, I cry for the doctors, most of whom are brilliant and wonderful and just as frustrated when there is absolutely nothing else they can do to help a patient, I cry for the families of patients, whom I've grown close to and who put their trust in me to care for their loved ones. I cry at the thought of "what if that was me or my loved ones", what would I do?, I cry at sad songs on the radio on the drive home too.

All of this crying makes me realize a few things.

1. I'm human and have empathy for all people.

2. I need to invest in stock in the Kleenex company

3. I have great tear ducts

4. I love what I do

5. I love the people I work with and for

6. I know it's not a perfect world

7. I feel better after a good cry

8. I wouldn't change a thing about my drive home!

If you are really having anxiety driving to and from work, invest in some good comedy cd's or affirmation cd's. Better yet, learn a second language by cd in your car. If all else fails, cry and let it out...you are not alone!

[MeeshellRN]

I've been working in our ICU/SDU for 6 months now and it's definitely SO overwhelming. Some of the other nurses have been thre 15+ years and act like I should know everything...it's frustrating.

I'm getting more comfortable but still have a hard time taking the initiative to take the challenging ICU patients.

Good luck to the rest of you

[Pink Lotus]

it is good to hear this because I am at the 9 month mark (my unit had a 6 month orientation)- I am always anxious about going to work and feel that I will never know as much as I need to know in order to do the right thing when a serious issue comes up. I feel as if I am on the brink of just getting by but could make a bad mistake at any moment. I hate it and have been looking at other Nursing Jobs but don't really think switching at this point is the best idea. Its good to hear that you finally like your job-- I'll try and stick mine out until at least the year mark and then reevaluate!