SNgirl21

Everything, please know you are not alone! As I'm reading this I'm lying in bed searching for answers myself or at least someone to relate to. I'm a new grad. I understand that feeling of making a mistake, feeling confused, afraid others are annoyed even if they are just stressed about something unrelated. I made a mistake my last shift too & it's haunting me. Literally I'm reading this and I want to give you a hug because I feel your words deeply. I struggle with anxiety, panic, depression, and ADHD. Depression is such a thief. Anxiety is a beast. The imposter syndrome, moral injury, and impossible standards set for us lead to greater odds of depression and unfortunately higher suicide rates too. Female nurses and physicians are statistically more likely to take our own lives. Please, if you are in immediate danger call 911 or a suicide line or go to the ER. You probably feel like nobody cares but please read the posts here & know lots of us want you on this Earth. Please, take care❤️Be gentle with yourself & give yourself the time & grace you need.

Hi nurses. I'm hoping someone might be able to guide me as to what to do. I'm a new grad (3 months experience). I'm feeling very overcome with negative emotions. Recently there was an error that happened and I keep going over and over it in my head. The patient is okay thank goodness but I'm shaken as I know I should be. I feel like I am a horrible nurse & I should just quit. Part of me just feels that way. I truly want to do my best but I feel like a failure. I struggle with ADHD and I feel like my time management is poor and I can never do all for my patients I should. I deal with significant depression and anxiety and everything recently I feel has sent me into the depths of my depression again but it is my fault so I feel like I have no room to feel depressed. I feel like my work environment caring for 30+ individuals is leading to moral injury and I don't know what to do. I feel like I need a nurse friend to talk to but I don't have anyone I really feel safe talking to.

Hi, I just started at an LTC facility and when talking with the nurse training me one question that came up was what I do when a resident passes away. I was under the impression that no matter whether a resident was a registered organ donor or not, LifeBanc would have to be called, but the nurse training me said they wouldn't and kind of made it like it was weird that I asked. She's like "nobody would want their organs anyway". It was an honest question though and I truly thought they had to be notified no matter what.

Hi Nurses, Just wondering, is 1: 20-25 typical for a RN: patient ratio in LTC (I'm in Ohio). I'm a new grad and I honestly don't know. I'm just worried. Should I be worried? Would you work somewhere with these ratios? I'm worried my time management and organization as a new grad might not be good enough to handle this. I also struggle with ADHD and it's been a real struggle. I was let go from my last job after 8 weeks (med surg 1:6 ratio) for not progressing through orientation fast enough. Also, any tips would be much appreciated <3. I just want my patients to be safe and get the best care because I do care and I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't.

Hi! I'm a new grad (2 months experience on a med surg floor, but didn't work out to be right place). I'm looking at a position as a Screener/Crisis Interventionist/Intake Counselor. Is this too niche? It's not only open to RNs, but also LPCs and LSWs. I'm looking at this vs a nursing/rehab/LTC facility that pays a lot more. Both are nearby as I don't have my own transportation right now due to finances.

Has anyone else experienced problems with the national drug shortages? I've heard there are many medications including normal saline that were part of this. I think of the ramifications for patient care if first line treatments aren't available at some point. Maybe my concern is premature, but I just worry. From another side, I'm also a nurse with ADHD. I take Adderall to treat my symptoms. My time management is one of my biggest problems. Adderall is also one of the medications in shortage. So, what if nurses with health conditions like mine can't access the medications they need to function as a nurse? It's a thought that scares me.

Hi there! I'm a new grad RN with my BSN. I have 2 months experience at a med-surg position but that didn't end up a good fit. It was a combination of the facility didn't seem to invest in the training of new grads and I was very anxious and was struggling with undiagnosed ADD in addition to the nervousness of being in a new role. Now, those are both controlled a bit better. But my question is, in my search for a good fit, I don't really think med-surg is for me. An opportunity came up at a facility as a dialysis nurse. They are willing to train and certify nurses and provide further education in dialysis. They prefer 9 months experience, but it's not required. In clinicals, I honestly had no experience with dialysis at all. I am a complete newbie and know nothing. I'm wondering if there are any dialysis nurses here or any nurses who have experience in this who can speak to whether this is an appropriate/good opportunity for a new grad and what your day to day in a job like this might be like. As a side note, through nursing school, my Community Health Nursing rotation was one of my favorites and I like working with people over longer periods of time with a variety of issues. I have thought of going back and becoming an FNP, but that's just a little thought in the back of my mind and I'm not really sure where I might end up. That would be way down the road if ever. Thanks!❤

Thank you Leader25, LittleCa, and londonflo! After a little time off from things I'm applying for jobs again. I'm considering my choice of where to work carefully, but I feel I am doing well enough to get back to nursing.❤

Hi, I'm a new grad. I passed NCLEX in September and got my first RN job with my BSN in November. I worked as a Med Surg RN in orientation at a small community hospital for 8 weeks, but was let go in early January due to failure to progress adequately through orientation. I was very overwhelmed when managing care for more than 3 patients at a time and became panicked and emotional frequently. I have been struggling with moderate to severe depression over the past 2 years, anxiety, panic attacks, and was recently diagnosed with ADD. I have been treated with medications and therapy with little to no success. Even through nursing school, I struggled to manage and had to retake coursework and clinicals. I've been advised by my former supervisor to avoid taking a position within an inpatient hospital setting right now, as she feels it's not right for me. I'm left wondering if I can succeed in nursing at all though. My mental health has me feeling physically ill some days and I just don't feel like myself and the nurse I want to be. It is so frustrating. Some people have suggested office settings or nursing homes, which I am open to but I also feel like I want to build my skills as a new grad and I want to feel excited about what I'm doing. I feel like my patients deserve more than I have to give and it is so sad that I feel like I can't be the nurse I want to be. I'm left wondering what I should do. As a side note, I don't drive either due to anxiety and a number of other factors, which limits the jobs I can take. I'm sorry for the lengthy post. Thank you if you took the time to read. I hope any response will be kind.❤️

Thank you vintagegal. I'm just worried some people might not give me a chance either way. I hope that I can find something that works for me. I'm just afraid, what if I can't ever do well enough?

?Awe, thanks! I always say no problem & my badge says no problama, LOL I was trying to attach a picture of the llama badge but I can't LOL. It is funny, you'll just have to imagine it

Thanks Davey Do for taking the time to respond. Unfortunately, I do live with my parents and sister, but my family is not the most accepting when it comes to mental health issues, so I don't really share these things with them, but I will definitely try to be as self-aware as possible and I have a follow-up in 3 weeks. Thanks again-I'll try not to bug you anymore

Thanks, I hope I can be a good nurse. I feel like getting let go really shattered what tiny shred of confidence I had left. I totally understand their decision though. I wasn't improving. I was totally overwhelmed.

Hi there, new grad RN here. I recently got let go from my first nursing job after 8 weeks of orientation because I wasn't progressing enough. I was already very depressed and struggling each day at work. I was showing up but found myself completely overwhelmed. This week I had a Drs. appointment and was surprised to hear her diagnose me with ADD and prescribed a low dose of Adderall. To be honest the thought of taking it makes me nervous as I don't know how I feel about this new diagnosis, and I also have a lot of anxiety in general but if it will help I am willing to try I guess. I am wondering though about whether I'm allowed to take Adderall as an RN? Can a hospital refuse to employ me even if I have a prescription? I'll be looking for a new job, so I'm just wanting to be informed. Thanks in advance.❤️

I do definitely need to be more independent. I feel bad that I'm not. Honestly it's really because I panic behind the wheel. I feel like I'm just a mess right now and I don't know how to fix it. I've tried therapy & multiple meds in college & nothing helped. But these problems are affecting everything & I just dread waking up having to do it all over again every day.

Thank you. For EAP we get 3 counseling sessions. I do not drive and unfortunately still live with my parents. My mom doesn't work so I don't have the privacy for telehealth as she is judgemental and always in my business or screaming at me for something. Anyway, it's a bit complicated, but I truly appreciate your suggestions ❤️

I'm a new grad RN who graduated in August & just started my first nursing job a few weeks ago. I know people say it is normal for new grads to feel anxious and overwhelmed, but I truly feel I need to do something, but I don't know what. For context I do have anxiety and depression anyway. But after starting this job I feel so overwhelmed I'm constantly on the verge of tears and I have felt profoundly depressed. It is hard to function. I make it through work somehow but at home I lay in bed on every day off for the entire day feeling empty & like life is just meaningless. I need support but I can't go to therapy due to not having a driver's licence and depending on my parents to drive me who are judgemental about mental health. I am wondering if anyone knows of resources available to support new nurses though as that may help at least a bit. Thank you so much in advance ❤️.

Hi there! I'm a senior nursing student in a BSN program currently looking at hospitals in Ohio to apply at. I was wondering if anyone works at MetroHealth and could tell me about your experience there or what sort of benefits are offered to new nurses. Thanks x

Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry you're going through this too x

Thank you I know I am so close to my degree. I know I'm going to try to push through and get it. It just scares me to think I might not be able to use it as I want to x

Hi. Senior nursing student here. I'm just not sure if I can be a nurse. I've been increasingly struggling with depression and just feeling extreme tiredness, loss of interest and motivation for almost 2 years now. On one hand, I want to give my all and be there in my fullest capacity for patients, but on the other hand, I find myself struggling to even have the energy to do the simplest of things and I find myself just not caring about anything anymore. Of course, I feel for my patients and try to do my best anyway, but I just don't feel fully present and it doesn't feel okay. I don't think I can do nursing if I'm going to keep struggling this way. It breaks my heart and I wish so so much I could get past this because I know nursing is where I belong. I just don't know what to do. I'm trying to get help, doing counseling, taking meds prescribed by my health center, trying to find an affordable psychiatrist (not getting anywhere with that yet). I feel like I'm so close to graduating, but I'm not able to be a good nurse like this. I'm so sorry this is so long. I'm really not looking for pity, I guess I just needed to get all of these thoughts out of my head and try to figure out what to do from here

I have insurance through my parents but they are judgemental about mental health, so I've not told them about my struggles w/ depression & anxiety. Plus their insurance isn't very good. I do see a counselor at my university for free though. Thank you for the suggestions?

I could use some exercise too. I know that's supposed to be good for mood, but sometimes I just don't have the energy. I'm going to try and add in as much as is doable though. Thanks❤️

Hi there, Yes, I have finished my general education requirements luckily. This fall I'll have 16 credit hours, then 12 to finish up my degree in the Spring. 28 total left until I graduate (7 courses left).

Thank you for sharing, Jared! I'm glad you were able to get the appropriate help and that you were able to graduate and pursue further goals. CONGRATS btw! There are many supportive people at my school actually, which I found out after the unfortunate circumstance of having my first panic attack. A few days later, I started counseling through my campus. About a year later, my depression just got too bad and I decided to open up about that part of things in counseling as well. A few few months ago I started taking medication after being on the fence about it. I've also reached out to professors (who mostly had initially learned of my difficulties by accident), but I still am struggling. It makes me feel as if I'm a broken record and taking too much of people's time and mental space. Plus, life after graduation terrifies me because those resources will no longer be available.