New nurse- Over thinking everything

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 11, 2013

Deep breath. You can not predict--none of us can--and at the end of the day we all have little control over things that are going to happen. You can only refine your practice so that you know that you are the best nurse you can be. ICU is a tough gig, but you got this!!

Literally tell yourself each day you leave work that you are done, that it is time for you, that what happens at work stays at the door of the hospital. The first couple of years are tough, and all of the overthinking wrecks havoc on any new nurse. It will get better once you do this for awhile. In the meantime, be busy with things you love (even if it is a long nap) on your off days.

Best of luck in your endevours!

cardiacfreak, ADN · Dec 11, 2013

If everyone is breathing (even with a little assistance) when you go home....then it was a good day. You are only remembering the bad things, try thinking of the things you did right too.

TopsDrop, RN · Dec 11, 2013

everyone is breathing.

This is usually how I start report after the day shift nurses ask how the night went lol

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2013

It is what it is....you need to let it go. Patient will extubate themselves, pull lines, try to get OOB ALL the time. With critical illness and drugs used they have confusion and ICU psychosis.

I have found a patient intubated on the vent, PA line, with a balloon pump standing at the bedside weaving, I have had an open heart pull out the PA line and a death grip on their chest tubes demanding "What the ^(*% is THIS!.... as he shoved the PA line in my face. I had a patient who was the reincarnation of Houdini in 4 point soft restraints WITH mitts, sedated with his ETT secured to a turban on his head extubate himself with his feet and a lady who chewed her foley in half!!

I have been beaten with call bells and felt more threatened by a little old lady who weighs 80lbs than a biker who weighted 350.

Defecation occurs. Some nights you just can't win....((HUGS))

A good place to start report is....the IV tubings/drsgs are up to date...they are clean, alive and breathing.

cardiacfreak, ADN · Dec 11, 2013

Esme, I know that little old lady who chewed her foley in half (LOL), and I am also more leery of the 80 lb little old lady than the big burly biker guy.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 11, 2013

The first year is rough. You'll take your work home, you'll lay awake at night ruminating over a bad shift, you'll feel incompetent and inept. You'll cry. But you'll get through it -- we all had to. We've all been through it. At some point, you stop taking MOST of your work home with you, but there will always be the occaisional patient you're thinking about as the clock flips steadily through the hours of your sleep time. And there may be some you'll think about decades later -- in a positive or in a negative way. What you're feeling is normal.

NurseBerter · Dec 11, 2013

The first year is rough. You'll take your work home, you'll lay awake at night ruminating over a bad shift, you'll feel incompetent and inept. You'll cry. But you'll get through it -- we all had to. We've all been through it. At some point, you stop taking MOST of your work home with you, but there will always be the occaisional patient you're thinking about as the clock flips steadily through the hours of your sleep time. And there may be some you'll think about decades later -- in a positive or in a negative way. What you're feeling is normal.

Ruby, I appreciate so much that you said this - I think I will print it out and post it. Or possibly make it into a t-shirt. I am feeling these exact same feelings as a new nurse, losing sleep and ruminating on my days off about what I might possibly have done wrong on the last shift. It's good to know I'm normal and that I'm not alone.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 12, 2013

Ruby, I appreciate so much that you said this - I think I will print it out and post it. Or possibly make it into a t-shirt. I am feeling these exact same feelings as a new nurse, losing sleep and ruminating on my days off about what I might possibly have done wrong on the last shift. It's good to know I'm normal and that I'm not alone.

You're normal, and you're not alone! And how wonderful that you can get the support online to tell you so!

ParisAntonel · Dec 12, 2013

I've been a nurse for almost a year now and One of my weaknesses is triple checking everything!!!!It's getting on my nerves.In a 12 hr shift, I spend 1 hour throughout the shift triple checking my charting, meds, doctor's orders. This is due to fear of making mistakes , or not following orders! I hope that one day I change and I hope you do too :)))) hugs

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 12, 2013

I've been a nurse for almost a year now and One of my weaknesses is triple checking everything!!!!It's getting on my nerves.In a 12 hr shift, I spend 1 hour throughout the shift triple checking my charting, meds, doctor's orders. This is due to fear of making mistakes , or not following orders! I hope that one day I change and I hope you do too :)))) hugs

One day you'll notice that you're only double checking every time. And then one day you'll notice that you have confidence after you've double-checked that you've done things correctly. It takes time. Let me just tell you that triple checking isn't a weakness! You're doing what you're supposed to do to get things right. It won't always be required, but at almost a year you're still learning. Keep it up!

ParisAntonel · Dec 13, 2013

One day you'll notice that you're only double checking every time. And then one day you'll notice that you have confidence after you've double-checked that you've done things correctly. It takes time. Let me just tell you that triple checking isn't a weakness! You're doing what you're supposed to do to get things right. It won't always be required, but at almost a year you're still learning. Keep it up!

I hope so! Thank you so much for the reassurance, I love learning from people ! :)