Scared to work :(

AngelaLPN08 · Aug 27, 2008

Congrats on passing your boards!

When I went on my one and only interview I was asked a question on how to prioritize my patients, another question on what to do if we had people call in sick...I think they asked me another question but nothing that was difficult. Good Luck with your job search! Be honest and sincere with your answers and I'm sure you'll do great!

scotscarol · Aug 28, 2008

When I started out as a new nurse (5yrs ago), I was very fortunate to have a manager that made sure I had enough orientation and felt comfortable. I work with a great group of nurses that were very helpful. Just remember there are no stupid questions, it is much better to ask that wish you did.

Good luck. You'll do fine.

josinda421 · Aug 28, 2008

:up:GIRL, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. JUST WENT FOR A INTERVIEW TODAY AND WAS ASKED IF I FELT COMFORTABLE DOING A HEAD TO TOE ACCESSMENT. AND LORD KNOWS I'M NOT AT ALL COMFORTABLE AND NEITHER DO I REMEMBER HOW TO DO ONE. I FELT SO STUPID BY TELLING HER I WASN'T COMFORTABLE, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD KNOW THIS STRAIGHT OFF THE BATE.ANYWAY, IT WAS A SUPRISE INTERVIEW, I WASN'T EXPECTING IT. I'M A BIT FEARFUL JUST LIKE YOU, I ALMOST WANT TO GO BACK TO MY COMFORT ZONE BEING A NURSE TECH. ANYWAY....WE'LL GET OVER IT A ONLY ANOTHER CHALLENGE WE MUST HURDLE OVER. GOOD LUCK

kat7ap · Aug 28, 2008

Well... nursing is all about stepping out of your comfort zone. Just keep in mind that not everyone knows everything and that every nurse had to start at some point. You will always be learning new things on the job and even experienced nurses need help and have to ask their co-workers questions sometimes. It's good to be assertive and ask for help if you are unsure about things, that's how you learn. You are going to have times when you feel clueless especially at first, but it does get easier. Keep your old textbooks and drugbook handy so you can look things up. Good luck!

jackrook · Aug 28, 2008

just remember....youre in a "leadership" position now and the patients will do as you say for the most part. be confident in what you know how to do. and nobody will get mad at you if you dont know how to do somehting and ask for help/ would you rather do a foley cath and overinflate the balloon and cause the pt lots of pain? or have the charge nurse do it the right way to make things easier?

alshiels26 · Aug 28, 2008

Trust, this feeling is ever so natural, at least I think so. I've only been an LPN since February of 2007, and trust I still feel feerful, at times. The first LPN job I took was with a nursing agency, and I was thrown to the wolves and would'nt recommend this for any new nurse. The best advice that I can give is to let you know everyone feels that way in the beginning; they may appear confident outwardly, but no one want to make mistakes or worse, hurt someone. In my experience (very little) I would recommend being up front with your hiring manager about your experience in school and your concerns. Make sure that you get a full orientation, and even if its shorter than you would like ask for more time. If a facility does not want to thoroughly orientate you and make sure you are comfortable doing your job, you should'nt work for them anyway, because your license will be the one at stake. I think a larger hospital of some sort is best because most nursing homes suck. I know how you feel, that's why I'm back in school for RN because I found out how little I really know. All LPNs do in nursing homes are push pill on elderly people. I can't stand nursing homes. I love the work, but hate the job. :twocents:

lpnflorida · Aug 28, 2008

Jab, what you are feeling is normal. I feel the same way everytime I come up against a new environment . I have been doing this for 30 years. I ask about what I don't know. I am confident in what I do know. And on those days I don't know the difference I fake my confidence until I figure out what I do or don't know. Sometimes we just don't know what we don't know until we come upon it. Not enough good things can be said of the individuals we approach with our questions who take the time to answer us and validate we CAN DO IT.

good luck in this most special of careers called nursing.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Aug 29, 2008

Each time I step into a new environment, I am uneasy, and I had my license from 2006 (not a long time, I know...). I decided to take small steps, though and get out there. My job paid my way thru school to become an LPN, so, I was hired at the same place I worked for years. I am familiar with the people, so that wasn't so bad...I even got hired for the same clinic I worked at as an aide. To get other experiences, I decided to work in home care, as a vaccine nurse, and finally got the courage to work med-surg per diem. I am doing med-surg at the same hospital I work for but get paid through the agency (it's even more money!). I am still working with familar people who are showing me the ropes up there. Each day I go, I get nervous at first, because I don't know what floor I will be working on, who I will be working with, or the types of situations I will encounter. But, I know that I have to be in it to win it.

You'll get there. You just have to get over that hump. Think about it; did you feel the same way in school...how would you do it, would you pass NCLEX, etc... and you made it. Sometimes, we have to look at our past successes to see that we can climb other obstacles. Good luck!

Butterflybee · Aug 29, 2008

OMG I just posted this very same thing. Im afraid too. Just want you to know youre not alone. Now i will go read the replies to your post.

3sodapop · Aug 29, 2008

I'm in the same boat too.

Thank you for posting this.

I just passed the NCLEX-PN and have had a couple NH interviews, but I'm really nervous about that first time when I'm responsible... I've heard the horror stories about understaffing and lack of orientation. My clinical instructors said not to worry about it, and that I'll be fine when the time comes to do such things as trach care, foley insertion, med passes, whatever; but I'm still shaking in my nursemates, and wondering how I got myself into this! :uhoh3:

On the other hand, it's natural to feel nervous about new situations. I guess if we're savvy enough make it through nursing school and NCLEX then I suppose we should trust in ourselves not to act like total screw-ups.

Good luck to you.:icon_hug:

hiddenheart · Sep 3, 2008

No matter what job you start, you will always feel this way, in the nursing field they usually have someone with you for the first few weeks, I can honestly tell you that I was scared to death, (I was 40 when I graduated and never worked in health care). As a new nurse, I felt really stupid, there were things that I didn't get a chance to do in clinicals and when I started, my preceptor had to teach me. This is normal. I also precept (teach) new nurses sometimes on our floor, everyone that I precepted was scared too. just be up front with your preceptor, tell her that there are some things that you will need help with and that you are nervous. DON'T go there acting like a know it all!!!! Be humble, respectful and be sure you let them know you appreciate them.