New Nurse Jitters? Am I alone?

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I am currently working at a local hospital on a med-surg telemetry floor. I have started working without a preceptor for going on about a month and I am having trouble adjusting.

I find it hard to sleep the day/night before my shift as if anxious about what tomorrow will bring. I also worry about making mistakes and causing patient harm! I am very careful but it gets hectic on the floor and I come home and worry if I hung the right fluid or gave the right dose of the meds.

Is this something you are going through as well or am I alone? Should I reconsider being a nurse? How long will this last? Help!!

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Specializes in Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing.

I dont think you are alone as many of us are frightened. My first job was wokring in convalescent care and during my training i felt fine however when alone i was scared and anxious.

At night i would stay awake from a long day my mind would be racing almost as if i was still on the floor. it took me about 3 hours to go to sleep and wake up periodically in the night i would catch myself thinking about my notes and how i wrote them what i might of forgotten.... it was awful!!

now im working in case management and it seems to be alot better however i miss patients!!

Not sure how long the frightened new nurse" lasts might be different for everyone!

but in the end it WILL GET BETTER!

give your career a shot, you wokred so hard for it give it a try!!

=D

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I'm very new...and still on orientation, but on my floor there are at least 5 nurses that are around 1 year RNs, most night shift. I've worked my floor (med/surg, tele) as a NA for a year, and because I was in nursing school during, I would always pay attention to the new RNs. They were always petrified, nervous or even crying. Now that a year has passed, I see their new comfort level....far from expert, but no longer fearing losing their licenses with every move they make. Also because I saw their transitions with my own eyes, I am able to deal with my fears a little better. I know that my feelings of inadequacy will be normal for a while. I know that I will not feel ready to come out of orientation, even if others know I am. I know there may be days that cause stomach churning anxiety....but I also know that it is part of what will make me a good nurse.

Like my manager just told me when I told her I didn't think I was learning fast enough..."I'd be worried if you felt like you were ready, if you think you know everything already...this is not the job for you!" I hope you feel better sooner than later, but the fact that you think about any possible mistakes tells alot about how you consider quality of care.

I'll be where you are in two weeks...hopefully the sleeping 3 hours after coming home won't happen to me....I am just too cranky without my ZZZZZ.

Each of those 1 year RNs have told me that they are just now feeling comfortable with doing their job. Don't give up without at least giving it that one year!

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Thank you for your input! I am actually already starting to learn that I have to let some of the less important things go...at least until the important things get done! I became so anxious when my meds were late and now I have become a little better about grouping things together without decreasing the quality of care to the patients. The pts will get their meds eventually, I am only one person!

I worked today and I didn't leave until 8:45 because I was behind on charting. But guess what? Other nurses (with 10+ years of experience) were right there doing the same thing! Some days are just busy!

Coming from a student nurse (with 3 pts at the most) to working on this floor with 6 pts, I have already improved on time management and prioritization. You can't just learn these techniques, they come with experience.

However, I have an awesome group of nurses who are always there and help when I am drowning. I even call on them for questions that might even sound crazy to them but they never make me feel crazy for asking. I would much rather ask and be sure, then to do something and be wrong.

I know that this experience will prepare me for any other area of nursing I decide to go into. I just don't think I could be in a non-hospital setting and gain such a broad knowledge base.

It comforts me to know that I am not alone when I feel like I am going to lose it! Haha :) Oh, and another point I have already learned: go with your "gut" instinct! If you feel like there's something going on with the pt, speak up and get an order! You are probably right!

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You definitely are not alone! If you can't readily find someone at your work to compare your feelings to the norm...you can always find someone here! I just can't wait until next year to see the difference in my own experience.

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I'm 3 months into my med/surg/tele job, and I have felt the same way. What makes me feel better is looking back to the first few shifts that I worked. I was PETRIFIED to give any meds at all to pts and even though our system is computerized (increased safety), I was not only double checking, but checking like 12 times before I gave a med...even if it was Colace! I was SO scared to make a mistake. I am still quite cautious, but I feel much more comfortable with giving meds!

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I'm 3 months into my med/surg/tele job, and I have felt the same way. What makes me feel better is looking back to the first few shifts that I worked. I was PETRIFIED to give any meds at all to pts and even though our system is computerized (increased safety), I was not only double checking, but checking like 12 times before I gave a med...even if it was Colace! I was SO scared to make a mistake. I am still quite cautious, but I feel much more comfortable with giving meds!

Thanks for posting this!! It made me feel SO MUCH better! I know my patients are thinking, "what the heck is she doing?" I check, then double check, then check, check, check, and before handing them the cup check again. Haha! Of course, it gets better throughout the shift but it still takes me forever! I am just scared to death to make a mistake.

In fact, because of my checking and reading everything on the eMAR I discovered a small, yet still an error. One of my patients last week had Nystatin ordered and I have previously administered it to another patient where the order read "swish and swallow". However, this patients order stated to "swish for 3 min and spit". I was pouring it into the cup when the patient stated, "do I have to take this? It makes me nauseated." I gave her the ordered instructions and she told me she had been told to swallow it. Definitely not a life-threatening error, but still an error.

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Specializes in Pediatrics - hoping to get into the NICU.

I know exactly how you feel and have been trying to put a tag on what i have been feeling for the past few weeks. I have been on my own for about 3 weeks and it is overwhelming but I am trustung in God that I can make it. I have been taking "on call" for my pass 3 shifts because of the jitters but it feels better knowing that i am not alone. I can do, i just have to encourage meself and realize that i am still learning and to keep it moving :)

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