I'm a new grad RN, and am 2 weeks into orientation to my unit, a step-down ICU. Will have 4 pts. No CNA's, pass all meals, beds, baths, etc. Great preceptors, but I feel so incompetent! I have forgotten nearly everything i learned in school and am constantly worried that something will happen to one of my patients, an I won't know what to do or have seen it coming. I am struggling with everything, meds, machines, assessments. I feel like I just can't handle the stress, and fear I can't catch up in time! And I want to talk to my boss about it, but am unsure if I should. I do have anxiety that leaves me unable to focus. Over the weekend (not working) my bp shot up to 147/94... my day off when I was trying to relax! I usually run absolutely normal if not lower. All day I could feel pulsations in my head like a vessel is about to blow. I think my body is telling me to quit... And we tell our patients to avoid stress :)
I think I need to change careers, but I dont know where to start. Right now, I don't look forward to going to work AT ALL! I hated nursing school, thought it would "Get better" in the real world. I feel like I've aged 10 years in the past 2.
Is there anything else that I can switch over to as an unexperienced nurse that is less stressful?
