Rant: Feeling like the worst nurse ever

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Worst day ever, I felt like I was getting into it with all my staff members. CNAs getting upset with me when I delegated to them. Following advice to -tell- not -ask- with patient concerns ... I mean I'm misses-unfair etc etc. Especially with their scope of practice and facility protocol...

I feel like my new full-time co-worker doesn't think I am competent and whenever I do hands on assessment, or nursing based skill with her everything falls out my head and I feel -extra- incompetent when she criticizes me for sloppy work or doing things differently?

Today was especially bad, had 2 rapids where I was assessing and I felt... Just bad. Sloppy. No one liked me. I was a ***, and I was incompetent.

4 more months until I hit my year of nursing... I'm just burnt out and crabby over my co-worker politic drama and pt. Complaints as a charge nurse... Wanna go part-time but life isn't doing it... Or new job ?

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

Stay with it for four months!!!!! You will be glad to have the "one yer of experience".

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Specializes in Primary Care, LTC, Private Duty.

Did it seem particularly worse this past week? Because everyone I talked to at work seemed to share in the same sentiment...for some reason, this past week was worse than most! Hang in there! You'll be surprised how quickly the first year passes when you look back on it!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I think the full moon this week was especially strong. We all have bad shifts, bad days. You're still in that tough first year, you will get through! Try to focus on some positives, I would imagine that not too many months ago you never thought you would get to where you are now.

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Specializes in Nurse.

We all have had bad days. You have undertaken a lot In your first year of nursing. Do you have a past mentor or preceptor who you can speak with and gets some perspective and feedback on your work. Remember, you are speaking about work and not who you are personally. If you do not have a preceptor or mentor, then try the employee assistance program in your organization to find someone you can discuss your current work circumstances and coping skills. Please seek assistance and discuss your feelings about work. This is important to your success.

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Specializes in QA-QI Manager.

I think it's safe to say that most nurse have had this exact same experience, but that doesn't mean that this how nursing should be. After speaking with your mentor or your nurse manager if things do not improve take your leave, find a new job. It's stressful enough to deal with sick patients but not unprofessional mean conduct from co-workers. This could be damaging to your health and to your career. We are in great demand and you deserve to love what you do as a nurse. Remember there is a old saying "nurse eat their young".

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On 8/17/2019 at 9:42 AM, 2018nurseandbeyond said:

worst day ever, felt like i was getting into it with all my staff members. CNAs getting upset with my when i delegated to them. following advice to -tell- not -ask- with patient concerns so i mean im misses-unfair etc etc. especially if when under their scope of practice and facility protocol.. . ..

i feel like my new full-time co-worker doesn't think i am competent and whenever i do hands on assessment, or nursing based skill with her everything falls out my head and i feel -extra- incompetent when she criticizesme for sloppy work or doing things differently?

today was especially bad, had 2 rapids where i was assessing and i felt... just bad. sloppy. no one liked me. i was a ***, and i was incompetent.

4 more months until i hit my year of nursing... i just... am burnt out and crabby over my co-worker politic drama and pt. compliants as a charge nurse... wanna go part-time but life isn't doing it... or new job :(.

EVERY nurse goes through this at some point. Only 4 more months and you can pick a specialty that suits you better. Hang in there, and just know that it WILL get better. YOU GOT THIS!

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thank you guys i cant believe the amount of support i feel from this... its been paralyzing me for my weekend off!! ive been so stressed that im "weird," "paranoid" "anxious" and "lazy"...means so much

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Specializes in ICU.
On 8/17/2019 at 1:56 PM, River&MountainRN said:

Did it seem particularly worse this past week? Because everyone I talked to at work seemed to share in the same sentiment...for some reason, this past week was worse than most!

Full moon was the 15th ?

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Your first year in nursing is a living hell, I promise it gets better.

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I think those nurses that are in prison for murdering NICU babies or for deliberately killing adult patients in the hospital are some of the worst nurses ever. Relax! You didn't hurt anyone, are trying your best, and plus, conflict is inevitable when you work with other people for an extended period of time. "Nothing personal, just business", as they say!

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Specializes in ER.

I'm thirty years in to nursing and every damn shift I thank God and all his minions that I have that first year of nursing over with. If you feel incompetent and lucky to have not killed someone, you are right on target with your nursing developmental milestones. Within the next few months you'll catch a serious issue that could have gone bad before anyone else even notices. then you'll happen to know something that no one else on your shift knew (like where a piece of equipment goes). It gets better, but you have to slog through a lot of hard, frustrating days to get there.

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