Sarama

I feel the same way sometimes. I started in the ER about three months ago as a new grad with no prior experience. There are two other new grads that started a few months before me and I can't help but compare myself to them. I feel like I'm so much slower and not as competent, but I don't know if it's my perfectionist attitude as well. My preceptor is awesome and tells me I'm doing a good job, but I feel like I'm constantly asking the same questions over and over and get paranoid that other nurses think I'm incompetent. I've spoken to some friends and some experienced nurses who gave me pretty good advice: don't compare myself to others, that it might takes years until you feel confident and find your groove, and that it's better to ask the same question 10 times in a row than to do something that can harm someone. Overall, you're not alone in how you feel. I think we just need to be patient with ourselves.

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write that! I truly appreciate everything you wrote, and it was great advice! I wish there were more nurses like you out there. I just have to take it one day at a time and realize that I'm going to make mistakes, I will run into rude people, and I will be stressed, but this is all normal and it's okay lol. Thank you again for your words.

Thanks for the words! I think some patients get upset from a lack of understanding what's going on, so I'll try and be as upfront as I can. I know it'll be tough some days, but I'm excited!

Congrats! Maybe we'll be able to vent to each other about our bad days

Thanks for the reply! And yes, I'm starting to realize that that more confident I look and sound, the more likely the patient will listen to me, no matter how angry they are

Any advice for a new graduate about to work in the ER? Specifically on how to deal with extremely rude and irate patients (I.e. Drug seekers). I know I can't take things personally, but sometimes it's hard not to. What's the best way to handle these tough situations?