Not able to do enough

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

I work in LTC and I am responsible for 30 residents. I have been a nurse for a little over a year and every day I go home from work feeling as though I have not done enough for my residents. I worry about what I missed or what I could have caught sooner. Most days I feel like I am losing my mind because I can not stop thinking about what I should have done. However, I already have to stay over at least a hour after each of my shifts just to finish the paperwork that I do not have the time to do during my shift. I had to quit my first job after 5 months because I always felt that there is more that I should have done for my patients. Will I ever be able to go home and say I did the best I could and that is enough? Sorry this is so long.

[imanedrn]

That's how I feel every day. And, now that I'm on my own, I feel it even more... I realized my preceptor "helped" me by doing all the things I didn't have time to do - instead of teaching me. Now that I'm on my own, I'm missing all these pieces.

I know it gets better, but will I EVER feel happy about being a nurse?...

[nyapa, RN]

I hate leaving work for the shift following. I feel disorganised. And I do stay back. But noone can say I didn't do my work...

Question though: did you feel you had to leave your first job? It would truly be awful if you left simply because you were underconfident with your performance, particularly if you were only five months out!

Did others make it uncomfortable for you? Again, if you were only five months out maybe they and you were expecting too much. The fact is you care, and you aim to get all your work done.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

No I did not have to leave my first job. In fact when I gave me 2 weeks notice my manager was upset that I did not come and talk to her about how I was feeling. She did not want me to quit because she felt that I was doing a good job. However, I felt I was not able to do enough. The people I was working with were great. Some of them could have been more helpful, but you will have that anywhere you go. I do not get my paperwork done until after my shift because I spend most of my time in residents/patients rooms assessing and doing treatments (I will not even go into the 2 and a half hour med pass every morning). I think I feel this way because most of my co-workers can manage to leave on time most of the time.

[nyapa, RN]

Hey, it sounds like you were doing a great job, but you have no confidence at all! The problem with nursing, and you'll see it written all over this website, is that the powers that be, the ones who don't do 'hands on' nursing, do not allow us to do our job properly, because they are in it for the money - the big dollar. So many of us go home upset and dissatisfied that we haven't done what we want to do.

You are a good nurse. You care. But you only have two pairs of hands, and a limited amount of time. It is not your fault

Jay

[nyapa, RN]

ROFL, I meant 1 pair of hands, or 2 hands Mind you, we need two pairs of hands

[bollweevil]

No I did not have to leave my first job. In fact when I gave me 2 weeks notice my manager was upset that I did not come and talk to her about how I was feeling. She did not want me to quit because she felt that I was doing a good job. However, I felt I was not able to do enough. The people I was working with were great. Some of them could have been more helpful, but you will have that anywhere you go. I do not get my paperwork done until after my shift because I spend most of my time in residents/patients rooms assessing and doing treatments (I will not even go into the 2 and a half hour med pass every morning). I think I feel this way because most of my co-workers can manage to leave on time most of the time.

Are they more experienced than you? We all feel this way sometimes, especially when new on a job. Just give yourself time. You sound very conscientious and I think you'll do well, given a chance. Try to make peace with your former employer.