New nurse & not good enough

[Nursebface]

I found this site after simply googling "advice for the stressed new grad nurse". Articles I looked at were dated back in '08. I don't know if this website is even relevant, but I'll post just to vent.

Nursing is hard, stressful, and terrifying. I go home everyday crying. I don't sleep. I get worked up even on my days off. I have 3 more weeks on orientation and honestly, I feel like my preceptor still helps out way too much. Even if it's just him replacing IV bags, preparing the next patients meds, or helping me admit a patient. My time management sucks. I still question things even after I experienced it. Those blood cultures I just did? I don't know how I'll do that again. I'm so scared to be alone. I work with a great team, but I can't just be like, hey Brittany come hold my hand and direct me exactly how to do this. I hate not knowing things. I learned the other day that giving Zofran q2hr is really dangerous and can cause dysrhythmias. But the doctor ordered it that way, so I'm not really experienced enough to catch that on my own. Sure, I'll call the PA next time to clarify the order, but if I come across something else, I won't know to question it. Like what if medihoney ointment is bad for closed wounds and I apply it anyway? I can't question every order. I'm terrified. Im stressed beyond belief and I cry all the time. Im literally losing the passion for this job. I doubt myself all the time. I don't know what to do in the mean time until I reached the fable "you'll get there someday and you'll be full confident". Just any help from anyone would be great... new nurse, seasoned nurse, anyone.

[VegGal, BSN, RN]

I'm a new RN as well (although I worked as an LPN before I returned to RN school) and I wish I could give you some good advice, but I probably can't, apart from to say that firstly, you said that you still had a couple weeks of orientation left. That's time that's there to help you get better in your time management skills, among other things.

As for your preceptor doing all the things you mentioned to help you out, that's exactly what his job is. He's supposed to be there to do all that. You also mentioned how you may not catch the Zofran q 2hr, but the fact that you remembered it long enough to write it here shows that you're learning. Be patient with yourself, and try your best to be positive, and to tell yourself that you're new but you're learning something everyday.

If at the end of your training with your preceptor you still feel that you're not ready, all you have to do is tell them that. The worst thing they can say is "Oh that's too bad, you'll have to leave" which btw I doubt they'll say, but instead they'll probably say, "OK let's see if a couple extra weeks will help you."

Or you could start your career in a nursing home, or even consider Assisted Living. The beauty of being an RN today is that you have so many options. Don't limit yourself to just one small part of nursing. You could even train with a home health company and go see patients, or work in their office, or you could do wound care in a nursing home or hospital, or work in a doctor's office, or numerous other things.

I truly believe you're learning more than you realize you are, and one day you'll look up and realize, "Gosh, I know all this stuff that I didn't know a month ago!" All the best to you.

[Summers3]

Hi there,

You recently posted on my question about how to prepare for orientation of a new job. I'm so sorry to hear about this but I have to agree that we as new nurses still don't know anything and it's so extremely frustrating. I will be in your shoes and feel so crazy stressed out in a few weeks. I am scared beyond relief sometimes too. Please know you are NOT alone. I am sorry that reality is very stressful but over time after orientation and some time on your own, I'm sure you will eventually establish your own rhythm and pace for your job. :)

Keep your head up and you are learning so much already! It really shows that you care greatly about the work you do and the patients you serve. I'm sure you will be a great nurse. It just takes time (as stressful and agonizing to wait) to improve and learn overtime.

Like what you have told me, don't lose hope. :)