Rough Start

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Hello all, I'm new to this site, so I first want to say thank you for welcoming me.

Here's my story: I'm a new graduate nurse (I graduated in May) I just started a new job on a progressive care unit, and right now I'm feeling overwhelmed. First I was assigned to a preceptor that made me me feel so nervous, incompetent, and stupid; after meeting with my manager I was assigned a different preceptor on nights. Well then last week I failed NCLEX and I have been bumped down to a PCT. Although the nurses on my unit are encouraging I feel like I let myself down. I feel very incompetent when it comes to any clinical skills, in school I excelled, but I need help with my clinical skills. Any advice ladies and gentlemen

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:-( I am so sorry about your boards. Had you ever had difficulty in your exit exams? I'm so glad that your have some encouraging coworkers though!

The first step is going to be studying for and retaking your boards. Now you might be able to study a little easier if you aren't trying to go through orientation and the same time as you're studying. Remember, NCLEX and real life nursing are *slightly* different (read: life isn't a perfect situation).

Does your school provide any resources for new grads who need help passing boards?

We're glad you're here and please feel free to keep us posted, but there is also another section for student nurses, or maybe in general nursing, where other new grad talk about what they did to prep for their second round at the NCLEX. That might be helpful to look at as well.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Welcome ((HUGS))

The first year is the hardest. MANY MANY very competent nurses have failed boards and are competent successful nurses.

Take a moment to cry and grieve...then get up, shake it off, start studying, and kick some butt!

You got this!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm thinking this is a blessing in disguise. You now have a chance to get a feel for the floor, the flow of the work, the personalities and the diagnoses you will deal with, meds, treatments, doctors and the like - at a much lower level of responsibility. Instead of everything being 'on you' - it's on the nurses you work with, who can educate you in a lower stakes environment.

Meantime, you can be studying for NCLEX again. You'll get there- no worries.

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Thank you, my school uses ATI which I didn't like I have been using other sources such as Saunders and Kaplan. Other than that my school doesn't offer much else.

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Thanks everyone for the love and support, I will keep you guys updated on how everything goes

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