Ode to the New Nurse

roser13, ASN, RN · Feb 3, 2013

I wish I had seen this years ago when I was new and starting to break down under the stress, and the panic attacks were beginning. Until I found this forum, I thought I was the only one who couldn't seem to get a grip in that first year. Of course I did eventually, but I was already on the path to getting the heck out of hospital bedside nursing.

Aside from personal feelings, what this post most emphasizes to me yet again is that there is something so wrong with our system, as we continue to drive GOOD, caring nurses (and I now know that I was good and I was caring) away from the bedside.

Something must change but I don't know what or how.

wannabecnl · Feb 3, 2013

This is beautifully written, and I thank you for sharing it with us. I'm off orientation in my first job as of this Monday, and there have been days I survived only because my wonderful coworkers said something encouraging to me. And you know what? It is getting a little better each week; I sleep a bit better, worry a little less, work a bit more competently, make slightly better judgment calls, etc. I admire the experienced nurses in my unit so much and hope to someday be as good a nurse as they are. Thank you again.

metal_m0nk, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2013

And I just want YOU to know, SarahLeeRN - that you ROCK.

How do I request to make this a sticky???

guest358111 · Feb 15, 2013

May I come and work with you when I graduate? : )

Sure!! haha

guest358111 · Feb 15, 2013

And I just want YOU to know, SarahLeeRN - that you ROCK.
How do I request to make this a sticky???

Why thank you! And I don't know about the sticky...

imanurse19 · Feb 16, 2013

An ode to the new nurse I work with....also known as what I want you to know. I see in new nurses what I felt in myself when I started nursing. Reality shock is real. It is scary. And it stinks. You have sleepless nights and blurry days. You feel sick and are thankful at the end of the day if you didn't kill anyone. But you will get through it. Just hang on and give it time. I have faith in you. You are going to make it!
I want you to know
I saw you crying
I felt your frustration
I understand your turmoil.
I want you to know that you will get through this
(Although sometimes you have to fight your way through)
I want you to know that you will be all right.
(Even if it feels like your career is over)
I want you to know that this soon will pass.
(Even though it seems like it will never end)
I want to to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
(Even if it seems blocked)
I want you to know that we all make mistakes
(Have you heard of the ones that I have done?!)
I want you to know that we all have bad days
(Trust me)
I want you to know that it's not as bad as you think
(Even though you think it's worse than bad)
I want you to know they are not out to get you.
(But they can eat their young, so be careful)
I want you to know that your time management WILL get better
(But probably not until you realize how bad it is)
I want you to remember that you are still learning.
(I don't know anyone who isn't)
I want you to know that those who speak the loudest aren't always the smartest
(Even if they think they are)
I want you to know that years of experience doesn't mean knowledge of everything but
(That knowledge comes with experience which comes with time)
I want you to know that you ARE a good nurse
(Even if you think they say you are not)
I want you to know that there are so many options
(Just keep that in mind)
I want you to know that we have all been where you are
I want you to know that I care.
It's ok to cry
To vent
Just please come back tomorrow and do it again
Because I like working with you
Believe it or not
I see some of myself in you
And someday
Somehow
You will see
It will get better
(I just wanted you to know.)

First of all, how are you? I hope all is well.

Dahlia, I know you are busy but I just want to hear your say about Mercy college. I just applied at Mercy College and i want to ask you, if you don't mind, your thoughts and experiences with their program? How do you like it? Do you do online classes or all in school? How are the classes? Are they very hard? Are you done with the program? Greatly appreciate whatever you can impart with me. Thanks so much in advance!

Take care,

j.ll · Feb 27, 2013

Thank you for writing this. I started working 3 weeks ago and I don't know if I'll be able to hold on for much longer. The shock of reality is real!

nurseGi · Feb 28, 2013

Wow thank you so much for this. I am a new grad and a new orientee on a busy med-surg floor. I cry everyday before work and everyday after. I work 3 hours sometimes past 730pm (our end time) and wake up at 545am to do it all again. This is very encouraging.

jenrn78 · Mar 9, 2013

Thanks for this post! I graduated last may, started working in July, I float, I trained at our hospitals rehab facility first, then in Sept went to the hospital to train on the floor. They gave me 5 wks on a general med floor, 2 wks on an ortho floor & no training on a GI med-surg floor. I've been floating those floors up until census dropped in Jan, I kept getting called off, wasn't getting my hours, so they decided I should orient in the ER. I just got off orientation in the ER, they tried to only give me 2 wks but my preceptor fought for me & I got 4. I am just SOOO discouraged right now! I feel like I've been flopped around so much I can't get good at anything! Last two days in ER were pure hell, the nurse coming on was mean to me & I went to clock out but forgot something & came back in & heard her talking about how stupid I was! Anyway, I need some encouragement, I need to know I'm not crazy or stupid & this is a lot to take on in one freaking year!!!

PA_RN87, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 18, 2013

I just graduated in December 2012, and passed my NCLEX in February 2013. I'll be starting orientation and my first job next week, and I'm pretty nervous. I'm hoping that I can push through the bad days, and be thankful for the good ones. I'm hoping that I have a wonderful preceptor that I'm comfortable with. This little ode really helped me to redirect my thinking and realize I'm not the only one who feels this way, and if millions of others made it, then so can I.

Thank you :)