One weekend as a nurse and I feel like quitting!

[meg2014]

I started my new job this weekend. Night shift on a med surg floor.First two nights were a breeze. First night I was helping the cna. Second I had one patient that I was in charge of with supervision of my preceptor of coorifice. He had 5 PO meds and slept the rest of the night. The third night my patient was more complicated. Lots of IV meds amount other things. The meds had me feeling a little overwhelmed and while I was doing her admission charting the docs come in and start asking me all kinds of questions. Needless to say I directed all this to my preceptor. But I felt so dumb. I went to the bathroom and cried and thought to myself I just don't know if I am smart enough to be a nurse. Am I going to be able to pick up on things that change with my patients condition and things I need to report to the doctor? After so much school and clinicals and the nclex, am I really cut out to be a nurse? I know it's only been a few days and everyone feels like this. Anyone have any advice?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I started my new job this weekend. Night shift on a med surg floor.First two nights were a breeze. First night I was helping the cna. Second I had one patient that I was in charge of with supervision of my preceptor of coorifice. He had 5 PO meds and slept the rest of the night. The third night my patient was more complicated. Lots of IV meds amount other things. The meds had me feeling a little overwhelmed and while I was doing her admission charting the docs come in and start asking me all kinds of questions. Needless to say I directed all this to my preceptor. But I felt so dumb. I went to the bathroom and cried and thought to myself I just don't know if I am smart enough to be a nurse. Am I going to be able to pick up on things that change with my patients condition and things I need to report to the doctor? After so much school and clinicals and the nclex, am I really cut out to be a nurse? I know it's only been a few days and everyone feels like this. Anyone have any advice?

It's only been a few days and everyone feels like this. Honestly. It has only been a few days. And everyone (at least everyone I know) feels anxious, stupid, helpless and hopeless when they first start a new job. The more experience you get, the more you learn, the better you will feel about your knowledge base, your critical thinking, your time management . . . your job. It WILL get better. You just have to go through it in order to GET through it.

[meg2014]

Thank you Ruby Vee!!!