Overwhelmed and anxious new grad

[rkapadia]

So, I completed my BScN in April however successfully wrote my NCLEX in October. Since October, I have been applying to many jobs however not always successful. In January, I got a job offer from the Mental Health position I applied for. This is my very first ever nursing job as an RN. I accepted the offer, and although I am excited to finally start working, I am super anxious, nervous and overwhelmed. I haven't attended orientation dates yet however, the anxiety and overwhelming feeling is making me feel extremely nauseous (and I haven't even officially started yet). I am finding it hard to sleep and eat (without getting nauseous).

What makes me even more scared is the fact that the hospital is far from where I live and the commute will be around an hour to an hour and a half. Not to mention, I am not too familiar with the route to get there.

Everything (the commute + new nursing job) is making my head spin. I have read many posts and stories on this site and they helped calmed me down.

I just need some words of encouragement and some motivation to help ease my anxiety and provide me some peace of mind.

Please help! I feeling crying every time I think about it.

[AliNajaCat]

OK. To recap. You graduated from a good program, passed NCLEX, and got a job on your first try out. Good on ya!

Do you know how many people would give their left (pick a body part) to have all that?

You'll figure out the drive. Get books on tape/CD and listen to them as you drive (and no matter how fascinating, ONLY when you drive). You'll start looking forward to it. Been there, done that.

Think of all the millions of new grads who felt nervous before their first job. Nobody died of it, LOL.

You'll be fine.

Get a grip.

Yes, I am not being unfeeling, just sort of like they did in the old movies: I can't deliver a theatrical slap or step on the front porch and fire off the shotgun to break a mood, but you can, to yourself. I recommend it whenever you notice yourself start catastrophizing: snap a rubber band on your wrist hard enough to hurt a bit to bring you back down to reality, or slap yourself, or jump up and down on one foot until you start laughing. Your brain will start noticing that catastrophizing leads to self-conscious laughter, and will stop trying to bother you with catastrophizing any more.

And life will proceed the way you planned: School, NCLEX, interview, JOB. See? You did it.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

You have the world by the tail! Everything you've worked for is coming true!

Try turning everything around.....what if you hadn't passed NCLEX? Landed a job?

If all all else fails, visit your PCP for some temporary anxiety relief. Just until you get a grip on your commute, etc.