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?
Wow, this takes me back to my first two weeks. You are very right...they stink. It was very scary, I was scary! I am in week 10 now and as one wise RN said, my response to the stress is better. The job is still the same, but I got better at dealing with it. All the best in your adjustment period.
shlru0404
25 Posts
Wow, this takes me back to my first two weeks. You are very right...they stink. It was very scary, I was scary! I am in week 10 now and as one wise RN said, my response to the stress is better. The job is still the same, but I got better at dealing with it. All the best in your adjustment period.