New nurse feeling discouraged

barcode120x, RN, NP · Apr 16, 2016

Ah yes, the almighty contract... it's so funny, both my cousin and best friend ended up getting jobs with contracts (2 years and 1 year respectively) and straight out of school my first thought was "oh that's awesome, you're guaranteed a job for 1-2 years"... Ha! Now I know the real reason those contracts are in place. Anyway, I really wish I'd done my homework too. It was a small miracle I'd even been called from this hospital (large reputable teaching level II trauma center). This is my 2nd career, and at the moment, I'm having some serious trouble remembering why I found the first so bad.

Well said and so true! Fortunately, my close friends and I from nursing were fortunate to work at local hospitals that are fairly good in general despite having to sign a 2 year contract. I love my hospital/unit/coworkers, but I wish my contract was only a year or even less. I don't expect to see myself in the hospital in the near future. As mentioned by others, I too want to explore my options outside the hospital at some point in my career, but for now, I'll be in the hospital for at least another year and a half.

Coolbeanz · Apr 16, 2016

I did long term for a month. My training was 6 days. 30 patients, no desk nurse only a supervisor running from floor to floor. My anxiety level was in the roof. Everyone questions why would an RN work at a long term? Simple! Hospitals wont hire new nurses and when they do they make you sign a contract at a lower pay rate.

Neurotic Student · Apr 24, 2016

I've got 3 more weeks of training left, then I'll be on my own. I'm also getting lots of anxiety on my days off and the day before work. I have some nausea too but I haven't had the feeling of wanting to cry. Maybe I'll get like that when I'm off orientation. I'm only scared that when I'm off orientation, there's going to be a time where everyone's busy and nobody can help you. When it's time for med pass, everyone is busy.

I'm not questioning if I made the right choice, I'm questioning how long will it take till I get better. Am I making adequate progress at this time? How am I supposed to know.. They say everyone learns differently, learns at a different pace, but you can't be making itty bitty progress over the span of a year!

lavenderskies, BSN · Apr 27, 2016

I'm not questioning if I made the right choice, I'm questioning how long will it take till I get better. Am I making adequate progress at this time? How am I supposed to know.. They say everyone learns differently, learns at a different pace, but you can't be making itty bitty progress over the span of a year!

Neurotic, do you have someone that you work with regularly that has experience_and_you trust_and_has a good attitude? If so this would be a good person to talk to about your progress. Maybe even ask them if they would mind being your unofficial mentor and see if they would be willing to give you feedback about your performance. Be willing to be completely open and receptive. It helps me a lot to have people give feedback because when you have your head down and are working to keep up its hard to know how your overall performance is coming along.

OP I totally hear you and those first couple years are hard on a mind and body. I am returning to nursing after a long break and have a different perspective. I have the basic nursing skills and am pulling speciality skills out of the cobwebby nursing parts of my brain but I'm on a crazy busy unit that is different in so many ways than the type of unit I left years ago. So add to that a different charting system, all the technology is updated so of course you don't know it until you've handled each peice etc etc etc. A million different provider names and faces. The list of details for every task is endless. Just contacting a provider or finding the charge is herculean at times.

I do have the perspective tho of tried and true life skills, and have already put a mind and body back together after having been a new grad the first time. I'd say the first time it took 3 years before I felt really confident.

I expect it'll be a good year or two this time. But I will take care of my mind and body during the process this time around.

I wish that my mentors as a new grad had talked about doing that more....more than just saying it'll get better. But maybe we just know more about that nowadays. I would say that these are the things that matter most in order of most important IMO of course.

1) self talk--watch what you say and where you let your mind go, it matters!!!

2) addressing anxiety---learn self calming techniques and for Petes Sake USE THEM

3) rest---don't be tempted to cut short your sleep to "get more hours put of your time off....just dont

4) eating healthy---you don't have to be a food saint, but don't get addicted to sugar, refined carbs, drink much and avoid the treats at work in the staff lounge

5) exercise---again, you don't need to be a saint about it but some stretching and a brisk walk

I enjoyed you tuber EmpoweRN, Caroline Porter Thomas helps on being new and learning how to manage the stress. She has some great ideas that might be a good jumping off point for you. I especially liked her tips on feeding your mind positive thoughts on the way to work, avoiding negative unit culture, and on how to handle mistakes/fails by acknowledging them and then visualizing how it might have gone with your new knowledge. I practice this as I enter work as well. I visualize how things will go in a positive way. And then do the same after I leave with the remake of how I'd do things differently next time.

It's hard work. I want to be fast and proficient as I used to be....right now. I want to know it all now and not have to relearn as basically a new grad all over. So I'm making myself cut myself slack and create space to have good self care. It takes time and other things will have to be set aside for awhile but I know in the long run its worth it. I hope you take the time for you as well. :)