New Nurse discouraged :( Help!

chrisrn24 · Aug 10, 2013

On day 4 you should still be nervous just a little!

If you don't already have anxiety you will be okay. You just have to get used to your job. No one is expecting you to be perfect. Ask questions...a lot! Do your checks and rechecks!

Sunnysleeper · Aug 10, 2013

Dearest Newnurse212, please give yourself a break! Yes, this is a difficult job with much to juggle and learn, so allow yourself the time to learn how to do all that before you expect yourself to set the world on fire! No one expects you to know everything right away! You've learned all the facts and why's and now it's time to learn the how's, if that makes sense. Everyone eventually learns how to run their shift and even those of us with 20 yrs. experience find some shifts simply don't allow us to manage them as we want: +>*%@ happens and you just literally RUN with it! (pun not intended) I was so scared when I first started that, although I'm not a traditionally religious person, I always prayed while driving into work "God, please make this a good night!" and I let Him decide what "good" consisted of: be it an easy patient load/shift, or perhaps He'd choose to give me a situation I'd learn from w/o doing anything to harm either my pt OR myself! It was 18 mos. before I realized I was comfortable enough in my skills that I was no longer habitually saying it before every shift.

I just re-read your post to see if I've even addressed what you wrote, and find myself wanting to COMMEND you for being scared and worried: a little fear and humility goes a long way in keeping you and your patients SAFE. I'd be very concerned if you WEREN't feeling overwhelmed at this point!! Too many new nurses I've seen are just SO confident, showing that they don't know enough to BE scared! School is totally different from the hospital and I'm sure I'm not the first to say to you "welcome to the real world" and "I know what you learned, but this is how it's really done".

It WILL slowly and eventually get better: you'll become more familiar with each Dr's handwriting, you'll learn how to prioritize, you'll learn to ask questions and to ask for help when you're drowning (yes, even when you're an experienced nurse you'll still have times when you'll need to ask for help from co-workers!)

Wishing you a fulfilling career and please be kind to yourself!

macrina · Aug 10, 2013

I am currently in nursing school but am also in my mid-forties, so I have some life experience that's relevant. I feel like a fish out of water with everything new around me, too, when I am at clinicals. So I can understand where you're coming from. I encourage you to think about why you wanted to become a nurse in the first place. You need to hang onto that inspiration and not let the anxiety make you forget it. There are so many different kinds of nursing, and being in the hospital is a particular pace and level of intensity. If that is the part making you anxious, why not think about other places you might work as a nurse that would fit you skills and comfort level better? I recently heard a conversation about someone choosing elementary school nursing. One student said, "I would hate a job like that - sounds so boring just putting band-aids on all day." But the other one replied, "Well, I love comforting kids and getting to know them. And I hate the hospital environment which is so frenzied and intense all the time." So remember that there are many ways to be a nurse, and don't get caught up feeling like hospital-level is the only "important" way of being one. It's easy to fall into that while you're in nursing school, but it's just not true. Hope that helps. And hang in there!

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 10, 2013

OP, it's ok to be nervous. I'm sure we've all been there in one form or fashion

I have a few suggestions:

Start with a "brain sheet"...on AN, search for a brain sheet and you will see plenty. It helps organize labs, things to do, Hx of pt med times, etc.

Organize your report by dx, Hx, and body systems for each pt; then cluster your assessments in the same fashion on your brain sheet, and go from there.

Plan ahead as much as possible. What needs to be done in the next two-four hours?? Once you have planned out at least two hours, make sure your are rounding in your pts, checking labs, orders etc at least hourly.

Make your therapeutic communication your "elevator speech". Let the pt know how long you are going to be with them, assess the pt, your environment/safety checks, and organize.

Make sure you clarify orders from the provider if you can't understand their handwriting; also if they are on rounds and see your pt; pop in to see if anything is going to be changed and the can anticipate specific orders.

And the last one...don't forget to breathe. :)

j_tay1981 · Aug 11, 2013

I've been a BSN, RN for a little less than a year. First, congrats on getting here! If you're like me, you focus a lot on your deficiencies instead of your successes and strengths. So for starters, try and get into a habit of complimenting yourself. It's not arrogant to do so and it feels better than berating yourself!

One thing that has bugged me as a new nurse is how little I actually know about my patients. In clinical as a student, I had one patient who I spent hours uninterrupted studying before meeting. As a nurse, I've got five patients and just enough time to check out orders, meds, quick history etc before I start work. Sometimes I feel like I simply do tasks and don't make a connection. It's tough because I wanted that connection, but its the nature of the beast.

Now at the nine month mark, I feel large improvements in my job performance and confidence. But I have so much left to learn. Breathe, ask for help and be open to learning as much as you can from even miserable situations. We'll get there!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

sillylilly05 · Aug 12, 2013

I feel this exact same way! I've been a floor nurse LPN for 4 months now ( a year in a doctors office) I thought I was doing okay until I had my first code on Friday..i felt completely useless and embaressed because people were yelling at me and asking me about his labs...how am I supposed to memorize 5 peoples lab results? And im in school to become an RN and am having 2nd thoughts..what was I thinking? Maybe we can lean on eachother :)

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Aug 12, 2013

There are so many specialties in nursing. Some people find their niche in: Critical Care, Med/Surg, Pediatrics, Rehab, NICU, Labor/Delivery, Surgery, Education, Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Professor, Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing...okay, do you get my point? It does not make you a bad nurse if you don't like a particular specialty or three. You are on day four of orientation. You switched specialties all together. I think having an expectation of feeling comfortable is incredibly too high! Each day your work, you should be becoming progressively better. Ask your preceptor how she is able to keep track of all of the patient's information. She may share the secret that works for her.

Good luck to you. I would encourage you to continue pursuing specialties until you find your niche!

NewNurse212 · Aug 15, 2013

Wow I did not thought a lot of people would reply to my Post.

Unfortunately there is only 7 days of orientation at the Unit.

Right now I feel like Whale poop in the bottom of the Ocean. I just got terminated. I'm writing this as tears flows down my face. I'm started to question if this career is for me. They terminated me because they think i'm not "good enough" as in I don't have the experience of a nurse to function quickly on their busy floor. I am so heart broken right now. I know I have lots of things to work on such as time management , reading the charts and my techniques. But what can I do ? I have to start somewhere, they are expecting me to be an experienced nurse when I am now just starting to learn. I am so discouraged. I just feel like hiding in a cave and never come out. I am starting my last year of BSN next month so I need to find a new job soon so that I can work part- time to support myself during my studies. I don't want to be living on my student loan. I am lucky that I am still living with my parents, at least I won't have to worry to pay end of the month bills, but still , I still have a lot of expenses such as bus passes, books, phone, food ... etc.

Although I know I did my very best ,I am still very disappointed at myself.

NewNurse212 · Aug 15, 2013

I feel like I'm the only one that can't seem to "fit in" , when I see my old nursing buddies from nursing school all of them seems like they are doing great in their unit, I am happy for them believe me. But when will it be my turn to "fit in" in this career. I am so depressed. I am too ashamed to call any of my nursing friends right now, so writing here is the only way for me to vent my frustration at the moment. I feel like work plays a huge part in your identity and right now I just feel lost. The only thing that keeps me hanging on is that maybe with a BSN I would have more options to try a different kind of nursing. Maybe I don't belong working in a hospital. But the thing is I need to be able to work at a hospital for at least a year or two in order to be considered to work in clinics. I have so much on my mind right now my head is about to explode. I will be posting later on... right now I am just gona try to get my mind off of this awful mess I'm in . I know I'm young early 20's and I have so much ahead of me and sometimes life puts us in situations like this to be stronger in the end. I am not giving up on nursing just yet. I am a good nurse and deep inside I know God made me a nurse for a reason.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 15, 2013

(((HUGS))) sorry that happened OP!!!

I've recently had a "not a good fit" experience. It will make you stronger. I ended up getting a better job, a chance to help me in achieving future goals, and with more pay

Allow yourself to go through the grieving process. If you don't want to tell your friends, you don't have to; its your life. Try Skilled nursing facilities, specialty clinics, do vaccinations or flu shots for the season. Network, Network, Newtork.

If you are looking for resources, grab a book called critical thinking and nursing judgement, as well as a NANDA book...immerse yourself in getting on the "nurse" side; also ACLS and classes and low cost CEUs if possible after your BSN studies are completed.

You will get there...some places do not always have the best or appropriate settings for a new grad; however, if you gave it your best, then that's what matters. :yes:

NewNurse212 · Aug 15, 2013

LadyFree28

Thank you so MUCH for your supportive comment. I've been so depressed about the situation.

Yesterday I kinda had the feeling that they were going to terminate me today so after work I went online and found that there was a job posting at a nearby hospital so I applied ( I guess it was away for me to try to comfort myself). Anyway since I got the bad news today I've pretty much spent the day locked up in my room being all depressed and questioning if nursing is really what I was meant to do. Even went to the point that I bought a lottery ticket (which I never do), cause I wanted an easy way out of my problem, if I win ...

So my father came home and turned the answering machine and there was a message from the hospital that I recently applied in stating that they received my application and would like me to call them back.

I broke down crying but not because I was sad, but because I finally saw that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I finally felt that there was hope after all.

I am guessing they want me to call them back because they are interested in hiring me ... otherwise why would they even bother to call... right? I guess we will see tomorrow...

But my question now is ... should I tell them I got terminated... after not even month from the last hospital. .. should that even be considered as experience? because I fell that telling them that is like shooting myself on the foot before the interview.

I am going to hope for the best and right down on a paper what I have improve on and try to find ways to over come them.

I am not a religious person, but I find myself very spiritual and right before I walked in the Head nurse's office this afternoon I told myself " God or whoever it is up there, I know you'll be closing a door on me today, but please don't forget to open a window"

On that note maybe my mind will finally rest and help me get some sleep tonight.

Thank you again for the support.