New Nurse, am I doing enough??

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2015

I'm not sure what your question is. It sounds like you're really insecure right now, which would be completely normal for a new nurse. Many if not most new nurses spend their entire first year in a constant state of sympathetic nervous system activation. My advice to new nurses is that it's okay to ask questions, but it's best to think it through before you ask the question- frame your question in terms of "I think x, because y and z. Am I on the right track?". This shows that you've at least put some effort into solving the problem and aren't just relying on other to do your thinking for you.

hopemedsurg2picu · Oct 2, 2015

Okay awesome thanks so much :) I don't really have a question I guess I'm just nervous and praying that whatever I am doing is right. I guess I was just looking to see if my feelings are normal that's all

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 2, 2015

I agree with PP that it is completely normal. I am in my first year of a new role (NP) and I hold so much tension from the stress of needing to know so much. It's slowly getting better and (at 8 months in) I'm not constantly looking things up now but still looking up PLENTY.

Nerves and stress were bad enough I even got on Lexapro my last semester of school. I think in the next year or two I can wean off of it as I get more confident.

IT'S ALL NORMAL.

anewsns · Oct 2, 2015

I have this same thing where everyone thinks I'm the calmest person in the world and my anxiety is usually between 6 and 10. And I've been a nurse for 5 years. As a new nurse it's hard to know what to do, so it never hurts to bounce things off of people and call the doc more than usual. It's better to cover too many bases than not enough, even with the risk of looking inexperienced. It sounds like the comments that make you nervous are indications that youre being a good new grad :)

shermrn · Oct 2, 2015

You will eventually get over the nervousness. Also do not hesitate to consult with another nurse or doctor, in the long run they appreciate it. I think coworkers are more worried about the nurse who doesn't ask questions or seek assistance.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2015

If you make a commitment to do certain things and have a certain mindset than this will easy to overcome. You are a new nurse and as such you have been tested to meet a minimum level of competency so do not not except that you will know everything or even a lot of things right now! You must however, keep your patients safe and do no harm and that requires knowledge, skills, a commitment to excellence and continued professional growth and learning and understanding the nurse practice act in your state or wherever (have you read it by the way?)

To get to a level of greater comfort you need to accept and realize that you may not have all the answers but you know what your resources are,when to use them and how to access them! This encompasses from the most simple resources to the complex. Here are a few examples.... You may need to print and carry with you the most frequently used policies such as the electrolyte replacement policy or the CVC policy.... Know how to use your on line medical databases...use specialty teams such as respiratory and IV therapy when needed...do not forget that pharmacist can provide you a wealth of information.....there is no excuse for not knowing the policies that you will be held accountable to so you actually need to read them and if you do not know why they require you do something a certain way you need to find out.

Make a commitment to keep on learning and this requires that you read and study while you are not at work,on a break or while you are waiting for your meal to be prepared. Subscribe to your favorite nursing journals...pick up Betty L Gaharts IV Medications book (you will love this book and not regret it,the absolute best!). If you have a patient with a diseases process that you do not understand..look it when you get home and if you have the patient the next day you will be able to immediately apply your new knowledge. ( I do this still have 34 years of nursing)

Establish good professional relationships with your co-workers and be willing to help them out. This will pay off immensely and you will have many resource people that you can go to when you need some help.

Always Always Always report a change in your patient's condition to the MD/LP and document that they were notified and what actions they took such as orders. Know the chain of command if you do not get an adequate response and start climbing that chain.

NEVER bypass safety mechanisms such as medication bar code scanning and second person checks on high alert medications. They are in place because others have made mistakes and new technologies can now assist us in preventing or limiting them.

Believe that it will get easier as you gain experience and add to your knowlwge base and as this process is occurring you will be able to make good decisions because you will make them after an assessment of the patient and situation. If at the time you need help with that you will go get a teammate that can assist you with this. You are not alone!

I sometimes will think to my self when I am making a decision or doing something for a patient what is the worst thing that can happen if I do X, Y and Z. Let's just take for example if you are giving a medication that has a high potential for a hypersensitivity/adverse reaction. You looked the medication up and you know why the patient is receiving it, you checked the allergies and premeditated the patient with Diphenhydramine and yet they still had a reaction got SOB and had a respiratory arrest. You know what to do now...right?..if not find out and then give that medication and you will be prepared. I think ahead and prepare myself so I am ready.