Scared to death I am going to lose my license

Published

This is my 1st year in nursing, actually 1 year will be January. I am scared to death every day I go to work and on all the days I have off because I am terrified I have made an error. I have nightmares that I am going to be reported to the BON and lose my license. I stayed in the unit where I had been secretary for years and even though that knowledge has been beneficial, I feel like I am still the secretary-answering phones, doing my own orders, etc.. I feel like I am not smart enough to be a nurse. I leave late almost every shift I work. When I give report to some nurses, they roll their eyes and then I give report to some nurses who won't shut up while I am giving report because they interrupt me complaining about the assignment. I get so frustrated. Is this going to get better? What should I do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

it's always tough when you come out of nursing school and start working, we were always told that you only really start learning when you qualify.

Even now after 20 years I get periods that I worry about what I have done, am I going to get a phone call to tell me about my mistakes, am I going to go into work and get summoned to my managers office because of something I have done. It does get better and you learn to cope with your workload, colleagues and get better at dealing with these things that you find difficult at the moment, some of them you may never overcome but you learn to deal with them a little better.

Hang in there, questioning and reflecting is a good thing, especially when you are just starting to build confidence in your practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just finished year one.....I catch myself pretty regularly asking if that was the best way to do things....I find myself talking to my mentors more now than I did on orientation for problem solving and "doing things better.".....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in emergency room, general med/surg, ortho.

I have been told many times it takes about a year or year and a half before you get a rhythm, but you never feel like you know it all. always use your support staff. as for as the med error. it will happen, I can't tell you anyone that I work with that has not had one. I am a first year and have had mine. I will tell you will will never forget and and only learn from it. I still have my license and was not reported. I believe they know that it will happen and that you should be givin a chance to learn from it. don't go home stressing about it, you made it this far. everyday is a new day. you can do it!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

Sounds like regular first stress heavily compounded by your unit being too familiar with you as "tolerantgirl the secretary" and not "tolerantgirl the RN". Maybe another unit would be better for your first year?

Tait

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health/School Nursing/Corrections.

Please familiarize yourself with the public health code, once you read it and know what constitutes a violation, you will be more comfortable and your fear of "losing your license" will decrease dramatically.

As far as your peers challenging you in report, the only thing that will ease that pain is your own self confidence and assertion which comes with experience/knowledge. Try to condense your report by passing on info in SBAR format ie; Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.....and stick to it. I stop reporting off if the team is not listening, silence speaks loudly. It helps to deter gossip and side conversations and brings the team back to focus. You'll learn not to allow badgering~its a form of workplace violence and causes a hostile environment. We must stop eating our young!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Be familiar with your state's NPA. Be familiar with your facility Policy and Procedure. Get (malpractice).

This is quite common to feel the way you do. But, you are going to have to try and get a handle on "dwelling" on this every day; day in and day out. Unfortunately, that is when you set yourself up to make mistakes if you dwell on this.

And, I agree with previous posters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the Wellstone Quote....what a wonderful guy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I completely understand the fear, we all have it sometimes. I got a call from my work once after a shift and thought I was going to have a heart attack. I called them back right away and panicked for the next hour thinking of the 800 things it could be, threw up twice. They call me back....and....

Apparently someone had called the Dr. during my shift for my patient and said my patient had a run of V. Tach. Dr. comes in the next day and it's artifact (which I had already confirmed upon review and wrote in my notes). So they wanted to see if it was me that called...I said no, and they could review my notes.

So the big huge fuss that made me so upset turned out to be nothing, because some other employee (nurse I guess???) decided to takeover my patient and make a call for no reason.

But yes, everyday I get home I dread that "possible" phone call.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab.

Is that how most of us find out if we made a mistake? From a phone call? I'm just asking because I have a similar situation as the original poster. Most days I have gotten to the point where I can come home and relax on my days off. But right now I'm stressing over something I could have forgotten to do two days ago during my shift. Just curious to see if most of us find out when we go back to work or if they find out from a phone call. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Tele, ICU.

It's always nerve-racking to start a new job and there are always gonna be people who make you feel stupid or not good enough so don't do that to yourself! I mean, I did and still do, but we shouldn't! :jester:

Just never get to where you think you know everything and always ask questions!

Chin up!

xoxo

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What you have is a lack of self confidence and assertiveness. If someone needs to know the information you are trying to communicate, and they are busy jacking their jaw or not paying attention, then it's time for you to tell them to be quiet and listen up to what you have to say. If you are still doing your secretary job, then it's time to go to your superiors and tell them you are no longer a secretary, you are a nurse, and they need to hire a new secretary or else pay you for both jobs.

All you have to do is act assertively in a situation where a lot of people can see you.. after that, you will get lots more respect from everyone. So if it's not natural for you to be assertive, you don't have to be that way all the time. :)

Also, worry and stress causes you to make mistakes. Worrying about making mistakes actually increases your chances of making one. You graduated from school and passed the NCLEX. You may be new, but you are qualified to do your job.

I also like the idea of reviewing exactly what constitutes a violation that can make you lose your license. It might help put you at ease.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion