Normal to feel so stupid?

allstudentnurses, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

It's normal to feel dumb, slow, and inept... Over time you'll get better, faster, and (in my case) my memory improved.

sweetER · Mar 12, 2011

So glad to hear I'm not alone in feeling this way. I'm a few weeks into my 3 month preceptorship in a level II trauma center and most days I feel like the dumbest nurse on the planet. :/

FF-PHRN · Mar 13, 2011

It takes a while. A year easy to feel comfortable in a busy ED. It doesnt help that its a tight group. BUT..when you are to that point, its a good place to be. Give it time. Its a hard, complicated job. They are probably more forgiving than you think to the new RNs.

TJobs · Mar 13, 2011

Thanks for starting this thread. Good to know I'm not the only one.

I'm just finished week 7 of my orientation with a hellish day. I was seriously concerned on the way home, wondering how I was going to protect my patients and my license in such a busy, fast-paced environment. Luckily, my preceptor is absolutely amazing: smart and assertive, my cheerleader when I need it, but also quick to let me know when I'm going too slow or not prioritizing correctly.

I worked as a PCT in my department before starting as a nurse and that's been a big help. I know the staff, the doctors, the flow. For those of you starting out in a new place as a brand new nurse, kudos to you--I imagine that makes it much harder. If you're still there and staying afloat, I bet you're doing a good job even if it doesn't always feel that way.

My biggest problem is time management. When I mean to just pop-in and revitalize the pt, I get caught in a discussion about how pt doesn't get any help at home and that's why she's sick. (I know it's something that I need to discuss, but I've got a pt with a BP in the dumps next door, so it really needs to wait.) Or I just need to recollect a couple of tubes, and the only tiny vein the patient has is drip, drip, dripping blood into the tube while the clock is ticking. Prioritization and delegation... I can see why that's the biggest chunk of NCLEX.

Stay the course, new grads.

remoteareanurse, LPN, RN · Mar 15, 2011

If you didn't feel like that you would be dangerously overconfident. The day you feel like there's nothing for you to learn is the day you should leave nursing. Hang in there, it does get better. And don't beat yourself up about mistakes, just learn from them and don't make the same mistake twice. Any nurse, no matter how experienced, who says they don't make mistakes is either a moron or a liar!

MAL, RN · Mar 25, 2011

your original post is exactly how I feel, and I'm also in my 3rd week of orientation as a new grad in the ED. Im having the same struggles as you!! I felt like i wrote your post, actually.

One of my biggest challenge is taking orders/discharge/admissions--busy work. I'll think im completely informed about a patient and then -pooff-- my preceptor will come in with a prescribed medication and a foley. When did that order come???..I feel like im asking this all the time...

Everyone is telling me Im doing great..but at the same time i feel like they are annoyed with me at times because they are so busy. My hospital does not assign me to one preceptor so no ONE person feels responsible for showing me everything, and I find myself doing alot of TECH work to help the nurse im assigned to that day. And for this, I am worried I will have a very rocky start and my coworkers will hate me

herowneulogy, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2011

Everyone is telling me Im doing great..but at the same time i feel like they are annoyed with me at times because they are so busy. My hospital does not assign me to one preceptor so no ONE person feels responsible for showing me everything, and I find myself doing alot of TECH work to help the nurse im assigned to that day. And for this, I am worried I will have a very rocky start and my coworkers will hate me

Maybe you could talk to someone and maybe arrange for just one preceptor (if possible), so that it's less confusing.

The responses on here are so encouraging.

MAL, RN · Mar 28, 2011

Maybe you could talk to someone and maybe arrange for just one preceptor (if possible), so that it's less confusing.
The responses on here are so encouraging.

Ya, I have mentioned it..But thats a big burden for someone who isnt getting extra pay for precepting. Not all hospitals are like mine though. Everyone is so busy! I'm very proactive about getting experience/explainations so I've been delegating more lately...

The level-1 trauma I precepted at paid mentor's an extra 3 dollars an hour! SO everyone was down to precept and they were all great! I have pushed for the same few preceptors though, and I come to work with a list, literally, of things I want to work on.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 28, 2011

maybe you could talk to someone and maybe arrange for just one preceptor (if possible), so that it's less confusing.
the responses on here are so encouraging.

we don't have enough preceptors to go around -- so you might have to switch frequently. sam might be your preceptor tonight, but he has to do charge tomorrow night so zeke will be with you tonight. but sam and zeke both called in sick on the weekend (what can i say -- it was nice out!) so you'll be with linda who is so new she really ought not to be precepting . . . .