New Nurse Anxiety

[whatthenot]

Hi all,

I recently started my first RN position in acute care (prior LPN experience in outpatient). I have been on my own for maybe 7 shifts now, after 5 shifts of orientation.

I am having the most difficult time getting through the beginning of my shifts. Although I've never had anxiety in the past, I have been having full-on panic attacks after getting report. I actually thought I was going to black out at one point during my last shift. I have an overwhelming urge to just say "I can't do this!" And walk out.

I feel fairly confident in my assessment skills, med pass/treatments, and the general tasks. My coworkers have all been very helpful and kind, including my charge. I do feel like I have the support I need. Overall I would say things have gone well and my preceptor and charge have said I'm doing a good job.

My issue is feeling so overwhelmed after getting report and during my first med pass. After that the night goes well and I feel less panicked. I know that the issue is me getting lost in my head but I don't know how to make it stop. I just want to run away and quit, which isn't an option as I DO want to be a successful nurse. Right now though, I just genuinely don't like being a nurse and cry before each shift.

Is it normal to not want to go to work so badly? Will this go away in time? Or did I really choose the wrong career? I'm so confused.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Your symptoms are way beyond normal new nurse anxiety. You need to see your PCP stat.

Best wishes.

[whatthenot]

Thank you. I hope to make an appt soon.

[Jerez]

I think some of what you describe is absolutely normal as long as it does not interfere with your care. When I started in the ER, I was a mess with only 2yrs exp as a nurse, I wasn't so sure I was ready for emergency but I so badly wanted the experience. I had a lot of anxiety....EVERY time I had to go to work too! It gets easier with time & experience that's for sure. You will learn how to really get your time management skills down, multi-task and hone in on those assessment skills, all while gaining more knowledge in the process. It will and does get easier. I felt the exact same way as you and questioned my career choice. I think it is more common than you think. Sounds like you are overthinking everything. If you're like me when I started, I was always worried that I was going to make a stupid mistake and hurt somebody. That's not always a bad feeling to have. You have a big responsibility now and you should have a little bit of fear to keep you from rechecking that med or that dose or whatever but don't give up, give it time, you may surprise yourself and as long as you have good staff to support you, you'll do well! Hope this helps...good luck :)

[kaylee.]

What are your steps during this time? Right after report and before meds? You need to develop a routine which will of course deviate as things come up, but something to anchor you.

Also try to think about what is scaring you specifically in this part of the shift? Is it the patients? Assessments? Time management overwhelm?

Is it the overwhelm of the report and feeling like you don't grasp their conditions and how to care for them?

Try to arrive early and read up on the patients so you can ease some of that start of shift mental burden. This helps!

The way to navigate through this is to figure out your triggers that occur, as you have identified a specific time you seem to get tripped up.

We get ALL can get triggered in our health care environments by any number of situations. So you are not alone.

And don't automatically assume that there is something clinically wrong with u as the first post suggested. 2 weeks of new onset anxiety does not suggest you need to run to the doctor "stat".

You say you never had anxiety before, so What would your pcp even say about it? They won't likely feel some prescription is warranted for a 2 week long crisis.

I tend to pass by one line responses from stangers warning to see a doc stat. The person put about 30 seconds thought into the post. And knows absolutely zero about you.

Just keep it in mind as an option if things get worse. I'm not saying do or don't see a doctor, but you can reflect and rationally make this decision for yourself.

Also, don't be too hard on yourself. You have had 7 shifts. So see how the next 7 go before you make any internal judgments about your abilities and yourself. And hang in there!