RN for 6 months...feel like a newbie

[jesshopper12]

Hi all - I graduated from school in May 05 and have been working on a very busy cardiac/thoracic unit since July 05. A couple of weeks ago it was like I had a revelation...I couldn't believe how comfortable I felt on my unit, and I felt as though I had learned so much! Then just a couple of days ago my attitude changed - I feel like I still have so much to learn, and so many questions to ask. Does it ever get to a point where you are 100% comfortable with everything? Some days I feel so dumb...I will say, however, that if I am ever unsure about something or don't know what something is, I'll research it so that I know more about it. I've come so far, but have so far to go! Any advice?

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

The learning curve really begins after graduation. It takes most nurses at least a year to feel comfortable and confident in their abilities, sometimes longer if it's a specialty area. Don't worry, you are completely normal.

:)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I don't know if it ever gets to 100% all the time. There is usually something that comes up from time to time that will send you running to the books. The new procedures are a little harder to find information on right away. The profession would be pretty dull if there weren't new things to learn from time to time. However, what really changes and makes all the difference in the world is the feeling of confidence that you develop. That level of confidence helps you look at and solve new problems with less emotional content than you did when you were a brand new grad. When you are brand new, you worry about every little new thing that you do. After you have some seasoning you begin to realize that there is no need to worry all the time. Those dog gone emotions are really a big problem when we are all first starting out. I'm glad you're finally "settling in". Can't promise you won't have an occassional shift that sends you home dragging your tail, but it won't happen as much as it did when you first started. It's all part of the learning curve.

[KatieBell]

well yes and no. I think for a long time, in a nursing career, especially if you change units or specialties a nurse can always feel a bit like a newbie. For me, with experience, I have less of a problem saying, "What is that, I've never seen it/heard of it/ done it" and I just go with the flow, usually....usually.