New and scared

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Specializes in Adult ER.

well in the last two weeks i have gone from student nurse doing my senior practicum to officially being a grad nurse. next week i start a new job as a gn on a unit that i have never been to, which i might add has the name of hell 4 for all of the codes and stuff. at times i'm overwhelmed, scared, and happy. i know that i am going to learn a ton on this unit, and i am happy to be going there especially for all of the experience that i will gain. however its a scary thought to know that if i screw up i can really screw up and unintentionally hurt someone. thankfully i know how to and am not afraid to ask questions .... sometimes i'm sure people wished i didn't :)

i guess the reason that i am writing this is to ask all you guys out there how you adjusted to the change from student to nurse. i know no matter what i have learned from my senior practicum that i am about to learn a whole lot more and maybe some of that learning will be done the hard way.

dani

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Specializes in Peds - playing with the kids.

[banana]congratulations!!![/banana]

it will take time to get used to. it is perfectly normal to be scared. they should be giving you some orientation(which will help).

don't be afraid to ask questions. nobody assumes that right out of school you know everything.

[mouse]good luck!!![/mouse]

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Specializes in icu.

I will soon be in your shoes. I graduate in 42 days and will be starting in ICU. I am thrilled, but scared at the same time. I had a very experienced nurse tell me that she would be worried about a GN who wasn't scared - the fear keeps you on your toes as you are learning and adjusting to your new role. Use it to your advantage at this point - it can help keep you from making a mistake. She also assured me that it will get better - you aren't going to feel this way forever. Hang in there!!!!!

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Specializes in Adult ER.

well thankfully i'm not afraid to ask questions :) i know that things will get better as time passes and i become more confident in myself and my skills.

i will be getting an orientation, so that will be good.

wow i don't think that i'd want to go straight into the icu that would truly scare the crap out of me :mad: .... where i'm from you cant do that (if you can its very rare to be able to do so).

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I graduated in december and started straight into ICU. I am still terrified every time I go, afraid I'll miss something important or hurt someone unintentionally. The support from the rest of the staff is amazing and life-saving to me! You will be amazed at how much you will learn in just the first few days! Good luck and CONGRATS!!!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

I graduate in May...so I will soon be w/ya. I am scared to death too, but I can't wait. Its M/S for me, and I guess we are all alike...afraid you will somehow harm someone....I know I will be so slow because I will doing the double/triple check on everything I do. I know I have so much to learn.....I pray to the Lord to just help me to practice safely, and care for every patient like they are my family.

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You made it through nursing school so you will be fine. Just relax and good luck!

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