New RN off of orientation and stressed out!!!!!

[RN6157]

I am a new Rn on a tele med/surg floor, and just finished my second week off of orientation. Right now I could really use some words of encouragement. My first week by myself went pretty well. I dont think I made any mistakes, and I know if I did, they were not critical. I worked two nights ago, and my night went well untill I recieved my 5 am vitals, and 2 of my patients blood pressures were low in the low 100s, in which one patient had lasix and vasotec ordered, and the othere one in which the bp was 85/68, and when I checked it manually it was 92/70 and I rechecked it again and it was 106/70. She had bumex and lisinopril ordered, and with those pressures I held them both because I was not comfortable giving those two meds. The guy that had the lasix ordered, I gave the lasix IV and held the vasotec. He has had CHF and BLL edema, and I felt that was the most important of the two meds to give. I didnt want to give them both with his pressure being that low. Well when I gave report that morning, the nurse was one of those that "eat their young" and she was very cocky acting and made me feel like that wasnt a good decision, and when I asked her what she would have done, she said well its your judgement and as time goes by youll get more comfortable, instead of telling what was right and what was wrong. Im a new RN, and I would like to know other experience nurses opinions and what they would do in situations like mine instead of me doing something thats not right, and harming the patients. She just made me feel very uncomfortable, and then when I was giving report on another patient with diverticulitis who was npo and now on clear liquids, she starting going off about the doctor, but yet making me feel like I should have done something about her diet, and that this patient is a mess. And then after she got done giving her speel, she said this is not your fault, this is the docs fault. She made me feel so nervous to the point where yup..I did forget to tell her a couple of things in report. I wanted to cry the whole way home, and I keep thinking about what I did wrong and what I couldve done better. The patient with diveritulitis didnt complain all night about pain until 0430 she wanted tylenol, and that was ordered so I gave tylenol to her, and told that in report and she freaked out that thats all she was getting for pain, and I completely forgot she had vicodin ordered, but it threw me off I guess cause she requested tylenol. Her bp was 185/78, in which she has a hx of htn and tends to spike in the am, so I gave her lopessor 50mg early, and was not aware she had .125mg vasotec IV ordered. So all weekend I have not stopped thinking about work, and I just feel like im not cut out for this. I realize Im new and Im gonna make mistakes, hoping nothing that are life threatning. Im constantly asking questions, and asking for other nurses opinions and judgements, constantly worrying that im gonna make a mistake or forget to do something. I could use any advice right now and words of encourgement. I know this post is really long. Thank you for your time!

Megan:confused::confused:

[pthelper777, BSN, RN]

I hope this is true. New ED RN about to go off of orientation and Im really nervous! I don't feel as though I am ready, but I keep hearing that everyone feels this way. Anxiety, at times, is through the roof. Thanks for the reassurance!

[La'sBlueSky]

I have had 15 days of orientation. First half with preceptor on day shift. She was by the book and Joint commission standards. Second half with preceptor on night shift. She was not by the book or JCO standards. My anxiety went through the roof. I could hardly function under her. I would be passing meds only to be interrupted by her to call the doctor about a patient she had assessed. She would come in and scan patient armband save and confirm med administration before I had given the patient meds. Preceptors were clearly different as night to day. I have no experience except nursing school clinicals. NOTHING from nursing school clinicals is like the real life experience. Suppose to start on my own this coming week but now based on her eval of me I am receiving 2 more weeks orientation. My unit supervisor and nurse educator asked me what I needed to work on. How could I tell them that my anxiety with this preceptor made it so I could hardly focus on tasks or anything. I need to work on time management but when the preceptor is constantly interrupting when passing meds, patient care, and assessment. Telling me one night pass meds, next complete assessments, next patient care issues, then on top of all that admitting patient to room with no bed or anything (there were rooms available that were ready for patient). Was it a test or just a setup for failure?