new LPN losing confidence, feeling burnt out after 3 months

Specialties Geriatric

Published

of working in LTC. i know part of it is the drive (almost an hour 1 way) which will change

within the next 1.5 to 2 months and that will make a difference. i know a lot of it is the newness of it all - getting used to having a job again, much less a job where i have a HUGE learning curve is a lot - and i am trying to go easy on myself - i have learned a lot in the short time i have been there - i am not afraid to ask questions - or jump in and try.

but i am EXHAUSTED! i try to decompress on weekends with friends - with keeping my focus on mindless things like going to watch a movie, etc. but i am dreading going back in to work tomorrow. i feel like my faith led me here, led me to a job - was it just to show me that i am inept as a nurse? that i am going to be burnt out after 3 months? i dont get it. i have fewer patients than most (between 18 - 22) - they are all rehab patients so they require more attention - at least that is what i am told - i am not sure how true that is - this is the only nursing job i know about so again not sure how true it is. my screen is being weird so i guess i will go with this. has anyoen else felt this way? i just need some support. thanks.

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i am even jogging - should i stop jogging? do you think that plus being on my feet 8-10 hours a day is making me too exhausted?

i thought it would cut down the stress. i am always so worried that someone is going to come and tell me something i overlooked

because sometimes i miss the details - i get the bulk but not every little detail - and its going to affect one of my patients lives -

i cry gong to work and coming home - i just feel miserable inside. i talked to my supervisor about it and she said but you arent missing anything that life threatening - we check behind you if its something that big - and we would tell you. but that doesnt boost my self confidence - i want to talk to my friends who i went to nursiing school with but they seem to be enjoying their jobs and i dont want to be the odd person out. i think there is something wrong with me.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Maybe your friends are in the same boat as you but don't want to say anything. You've only been there for 3 months. Of course you're tired. And stress is a part of life. Give yourself some more time to get acclimated.As far as jogging.....God only gives us so many heart beats. Why wSte them by speeding up your heart when you're running!! (wink wink)

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Give yourself a chance to learn, try to relax (easy to say, I know) I've been working as LPN for 1 1/2 yrs. It will get much more manageable.

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Specializes in mental health.

I am a new grad Lpn and started ltc as well. I had people tell me not to go to where I currently work because it was bad so I thought for awhile it wasnjust a preconceived opinion that I had in my head. I had less than10 days orientation which was 2 days a week over 5 weeks (the reason behind that is a long story)i made good grades in school and had 5 years experience as an industrial emt. I handled that job great but iwanted to do more so I became a nurse. I did have a lot of obstacles in nursing school and I had to drop and restart so I have put a LOT of time and money into it and missed out on the majority of my now4 year olds life. I really feel incompetent right now. The knowledge I once had about pathophysiology and anatomy and physiology jas escaped me becaise I am so overwhelmed with just the med pass and whem you throw orders and admossions and critical labs in the mix its even worse. I have made mu conxerna known and did get some classroom tome where i read through the lpn book for our facility and asked questions. Im just not catchinflg on at all. I leave 3 hours after my shift because Im trying to get everything done and to double check myself. I cant sleep and have lost weight because I jist fwel tp anxious to eat. Several of my classmates work with me and seem to be catching on fine. I really feel like Im not organized enough or have the critical thinking skills to be a nurse but then healthcare is the only thing I have done for the last 6 years and if i throw it away then theres all this time wasted and money. I rely heavily on my faith to get me through this but its just killing me. I forget things, not asbfamilar with procedures asi i should be and am much slower than others. I know how you feel. I pray we make it through this.hope your experience has gotten better really.

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