questioningnurse

Hi everyone, I've worked in the ICU for just over a year, almost 4 years' experience as an RN. I've been struggling, especially recently, with fear over the potential to make a mistake at work. This is compounded in the ICU, where even a single, small mistake can threaten a patient's life. What's strange is that this feeling has worsened over the last few months, after I felt I had achieved a feeling of competence (I don't believe one should ever be "comfortable") in the ICU. I've had positive feedback from coworkers, preceptors, and management about my performance at work. I have made a work-related mistake in a previous position that resulted in no patient harm, which I reported promptly and managed correctly with the physician and management. However, this anxiety has resurfaced despite no recent errors being made. I mostly love the ICU, I am excited by stressful situations, critical illness, complex situations that require critical thinking, and working closely with physicians. Most importantly, I am deeply fulfilled by helping my patients and their families. But it is such a strong anxiety that it sometimes makes me doubt my career choice. Wondering if any of you face this same anxiety, even a year or so after being in the ICU? And any suggestions on managing it?

I had worked at the same small-ish community hospital for 3 years. I started as a new grad on a general surgery floor and moved to the MSICU where I worked for a year. Loved the ICU, was very involved in the hospital, took on leadership positions. Quickly became part of the code team, was offered to be trained on dialysis, and would work as charge and on the rapid response team within the next year. Liked my coworkers, loved the attending physicians. However, I was frustrated with chronically short-staffing, having no in-house physician overnight, and wanting more complex/challenging patients. I took a job in an MSICU at a level 1 trauma centre at a large, downtown teaching hospital and have been here for 2 weeks. I was for a challenged and to feel more supported/safe by having more doctors in-house. However, the patient population at this hospital seems to be mostly the same and the day-to-day life as an RN seems to be similar to my previous hospital. I now feel that I made a huge mistake in leaving my previous hospital... I hope to return to graduate school in the next few years and work as some kind of mid-level provider. I feel like I have taken a huge step backward by moving to a large hospital, career-wise. Although the reputation of this new hospital is more prestigious, I am now a small fish in a big pond, and won't be able to take on leadership roles or additional skills (codes, dialysis, etc.), for at least 6 months-1 year. I will be starting from scratch to form professional relationships with managers and physicians who could act as references one day (already had great relationships at previous job). I left my previous job on good terms. I'm wondering if it is worth it to wait it out at my new job to see if some of this feeling of regret is just "new-job jitters," or if I should contact my previous employer sooner and see if they would be open to having me back. Anyone have experience with switching jobs and regretting it? Thanks in advance!

New grad here - accepted a full time RN position on a med/surg floor in an acute care hospital being told that orientation was flexible to our needs. Was super grateful to be hired full time. I've had 4 shifts of orientation have been told it's time to be on my own. Requested extra orientation time and was denied. Was told that other nurses on the unit will be there to help. I feel that I am so new that I need more support than just asking other nurses who have their own assignments. I need someone co-responsible for my patients to watch me closely until they are confident I can safely care for these patients alone. I need someone who has the time to answer my many (many, many) questions I still have after only 4 shifts. I am wondering if 4 shifts of orientation has been anyone else's experience as a new grad? Am I right to feel that this is very unsafe and refuse to work on my own unless I have more time? Thank you!

Hi everyone! Long time reader, first time poster! I'm a new graduate and am so thankful to have a few job offers to decide between. One is gen surg (they get everything - GI, thoracic, ortho, gyn, head/neck, etc), the other is a cardiovascular surg step down I loved gen surg in nursing school (fast turnover, variety of conditions and treatments, so much to learn). I didn't have any cardiac rotations but enjoyed learning about it and am currently taking a cardiac certification course (which I am loving). The gen-surg floor is a team model (everyone divides tasks rather than pts), the cv surg is a regular pt assignment (4-5:1). Both NMs seemed really nice and supportive, both orientations seemed vague but flexible. I'm looking to learn as much as possible. I'm hesitant to start on a specialty floor so early on without having prior experience with it, but the idea of the acuity of cardiology thrills me. Any advice on your experience (both positive or negative) as a new grad on similar floors would be so helpful. Thanks!!