Why is it that I come early and I still finish last, and am the slowest at handles :( (nic

[tmjwe3]

Hey guys I have only had 7 shifts in the nicu and I feel so stupid. I get super anxious. Like I'm trying really hard I'm coming early I'm not taking lunch breaks. I came from med surg exp so it's so hard to swallow all of this stuff. I don't want to mess up but there's all this math involved weaning the IV while mother breatfeeds but that isn't the TFI so add formula wean 3 ml on IV it's just overwhelming:( I always ask u they look at me like ok the highest frighin idiot. I can tell she's exaushted of my dumb questions. Man... I come in readyvwith my brain sheet but by the time I fill it out all hell is breaking loose. I need to start feeds and start this and give this med ... I cry on my way home and there cause I don't want to mess up. I don't know when this will get better or if I'll even ever get it:( I know I'm not stupid I graduated nursing school, but maybe I am idk. I don't want to discourage myself but I feel like my hard work extra preparing staying up reading isn't working

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

8 shifts? That's slightly more than 2 weeks... Lord, my orientation was almost 5 months and I still felt like I only skimmed the basics. You'll get faster with skills. They are all new to you.

4 babies is a lot!!! I've only ever had 4 twice. Once was a necessary check-box for orientation and another was because we were short. We are highly encouraged to have the tech and other nurses do many of the feeds and other tasks while we focus on assessments and orders.

[tmjwe3]

Wow that would be a blessing. Everything is so fast paced holly crap. Like we have no helpers for that but we can call charge if we're overwhelmed we have two. It's a 42 bed unit so we're HUGE! Gets super chaotic I might say. Even today my baby has this gi test then this gi X-ray then tpn stat then feeds and weaning and increase feeds every 3. Then all blood work newborn screening. It's like my tenth shift and I'm like wth just happened ahaha. I'm starting to enjoy it though just because I think I got a handle on times and meds I just always do my own stuff and never just listen to my preceptor I CHECK EVERYTTHING. Feel like my preceptors push me to do things and I'm slow so it's good to say hey I can't do bloodwork in .3 seconds lolll. But guys I'm getting there!! Hopefully I will be there soon!! Fingers crossed thank you all for your kind words!

[nursejulia1]

Love your post. I'm considering a NICU job and you really helped me a lot in understanding some of the frustrations I may face as a newly licensed nurse. I too am a perfectionist so I think I may be crossing some of the same hurdles you are facing now.