Overwhelmed at my new job..

[nikkimgxo]

I got my license as an LPN in May and was VERY lucky to land a job fairly quickly at a great healthcare facility. I have worked as a manager at a gym for almost 10 years and I have no experience in nursing so I'm grateful that they are giving me this opportunity. I have been training for about three days and I am so overwhelmed! I am so used to being the person that knows everything. I am usually a very fast learner and easily trained but I feel like I'm never going to get into the swing of things. The nurses who work there are so fast when they do their med pass and the paperwork- ohmygod! It's such a mess at the nurses station, I can't keep track of where anything is. I'm just looking for some advice from people who have started a nursing job and have felt this way. Everyone keeps saying that it will get easier but I need some reassuring thoughts.

[solneeshka, BSN, RN]

OMG, you've been training for 3 whole days and you *still* don't have the whole job wrapped up?! ;-) As you can see if you read around on some of these other posts, it generally takes months to even think about starting to feel like you know what you're doing when it comes to nursing. The other nurses at your job have probably had years to work out how they handle a shift. Go easier on yourself. It'll come with time.

[MollNick]

It will get better for you and much easier. Don't beat yourself up over it. Give it some time, this is all very new to you.

[nikkimgxo]

Thank you, I've trained a lot more and am slowly getting more and more comfortable. I'm just a very impatient person and expected to understand everything right away, like I usually do. But it's apparent that this is not how it works, haha. All the paperwork is killing me but everyone keeps telling me that it comes with time, i'll get there. Thanks again.

[Tenacious Me]

The one thing that nursing will teach you is patience. As you learn more, things will become easier and you'll have your own rhythm and pattern of doing things.