New nurse anxiety

[Jds1329]

I have been a nurse for about 5 months now and I am terrified. I feel like I am constantly stressed out even when I am not at work. I am in a constant rush to get my billion tasks done at work so that I can get home on time. Every time I get a call that I am getting a new patient I am terrified, because I just feel like its one more thing I am going to have to juggle. I am so scared and I just want a job where I dont feel this way.

I need some advice, or encouragement, or both I guess. I have been working on a surgical unit for 5 months and I think I hate my job. I love taking care of people but I am so scared all the time. I feel nauseous before work everyday and I cant even enjoy my days off because I am thinking of work even when I am not there. I sit here in tears because I don't know what to do. My floor is so stressful. I want to move to somewhere less stressful but I am trying to get at least a year of experience first. I just feel like a failure. I never thought this was going to happen when I got this job. I have thought about talking to my manager, but there is nothing she can do for me even if I did talk to her. I just feel hopeless and alone. Anyone have any advice?

[Jules A, MSN]

Bummer this is so stressful for you. Have you ever sought treatment for anxiety? I would bet its not 100% about the job and there was likely some underlying anxiety even before you became a RN? In any event seeking a therapist and possibly a medication evaluation might be helpful to ease your anxiety as you figure out what your future holds. Best wishes.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I am sorry that you feel so stressed all the time.

The first year as a new nurse is probably the most stressful time as a new nurse. There is so much to adjust to and expectations are high while at the same time orientation is not always that good. And of course the constant anxiety of doing something wrong.

I think besides looking for a different job you can also explore what makes it so stressful and where the anxiety comes from. Perhaps see a therapist and work on that.

It takes some while to learn how not to think about work on the days off. I think to a certain degree it is normal but you have to learn to allow your mind to do something else as well.

Sometimes switching to a different shift or doing 8 hours instead of 12 helps.

Surgery can be stressful depending on the kind of hospital and the surgeries they are doing...

Do you have some kind of mentor you can go to?