Nursing impacting self esteem... maybe it's just not for me?

Published

I am a fairly new second career RN as of 2013, I've had numerous jobs OR was my first hospital experience and the training for that was akin to a cruel hazing. Since then I've worked in surgical centers and in a dermatology office.

All of which ended with me feeling less and less confident. I've had a manager who was devertting meds and taking them herself, two anothers who offered me a managerial positions I wasn't ready for. I feel like I don't have a solid foundation and I am pigeon holed in the Perioperative area now.

I went to an open house lI was interviewed and hired for PACU but the offer was rescinded after I didn't pass a EKG analysis test.

I feel like like a failure and all I want to do is be a competent RN. Is it possible I'm just not cut out for this? Everyone tells me I have to be confident and I feel very underprepared and totally insecure even after 4 years.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm am lost and so depressed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What is the longest you have worked in one place? As we've all heard, it can take a good year of FT work in one position to even start to feel confident. I don't know who is telling you that you HAVE to feel confident, but that is non-sense and highly unlikely when in a new in a position. Now if they meant you have to LOOK confident, then yes, of course. We want to appear confident. While always asking questions, of course, when unsure of something.

Good luck! I'm sorry I don't have advice, but wanted to comment on confidence.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh!!! Study study study up on EKGs! If they were willing to hire you others may too once you study up. Maybe even the same place. It would also show initiative and your commitment to learning.

I like Lippincott ECG Interpretation Made Incredibly Easy.

You can get it used on Amazon :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took AHA's rhythms test and ACLS and passed but their test is not standard like those rhythms. Even the educator said she wasn't a fan of the complexity of the test and still had to use the answer key herself.

As for confidence I just didn't want to go into this position having them think I'm something I'm not. The position called for 5 years of a critical care background, I don't have that. Also they only gave me four days to study. I just feel so inadequate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I think to feel confident you have to be in one area of nursing for a couple of years and more. Also, I think EKG's are hard. If you study until you know it no matter what, you will feel confident about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
I took AHA's rhythms test and ACLS and passed but their test is not standard like those rhythms. Even the educator said she wasn't a fan of the complexity of the test and still had to use the answer key herself.

As for confidence I just didn't want to go into this position having them think I'm something I'm not. The position called for 5 years of a critical care background, I don't have that. Also they only gave me four days to study. I just feel so inadequate.

^^I think this is the problem. You weren't 'inadequate' just inexperienced. Cast a wider net- there's something out there for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion