Starting to get really depressed as a new grad

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 9

Please reach out to your leadership and education team - they can help guide you through this and look at what they can do to help you succeed.

If your employer offers an employee assistance program, this may be something you want to reach out to as well - they will have resources to help you through your stress.

allnurses Guide · Sep 9

I did LDRP as a new grad and I am sorry you are having such a hard time. There's a lot to learn and you are responsible for two lives (Sometimes more) so the stress is huge. The difference for me is that my facility sent me for 8 weeks of classroom training before I ever laid hand on a patient.

Rose gave you some excellent advice. Is there at least one preceptor that you connect well with? See if your leadership and education team can have you spend more time with them.

Good luck to you

hppygr8ful

CoffeeScrubsAndRubberGloves, BSN, RN · Sep 10

This is where communication is going to be your friend. I would first start by approaching her and telling her your issues. If you are getting mixed signals it's best to just ask.
"hey I noticed you did this or that, I was wondering the rational for my own professional growth.” If you're still meeting a lot of resistance from that preceptor, sometimes they aren't a good match. If there is someone you learn more from speak up.

hey, I'd like to spend a few days with "person" orienting. I feel like her teaching style is better suited for my style of learning.

mudita · Sep 11

hppygr8ful said:

I did LDRP as a new grad and I am sorry you are having such a hard time. There's a lot to learn and you are responsible for two lives (Sometimes more) so the stress is huge. The difference for me is that my facility sent me for 8 weeks of classroom training before I ever laid hand on a patient.

Rose gave you some excellent advice. Is there at least one preceptor that you connect well with? See if your leadership and education team can have you spend more time with them.

Good luck to you

hppygr8ful

This is amazing and such a great idea! I started off as a new grad in L&D and it's rough. The orientation included AWHONN POEP training in concurrence with our shifts. Dedicated classroom time before hand would have probably built my confidence significantly, however. L&D is a difficult specialty, coming in with a solid knowledge base is important. I was lucky that my nursing school OB instructor prepared me in basic EFM and drills in most common emergency scenarios. Some of my new grad peers didn't have this and really struggled at the outset.

To the original poster, I hope you are able to get some support. If management can not accommodate, it's very possible that this facility is not right for you. I know how hard it can be to get your dream position and then move on - I did exactly that. I too was feeling intense anxiety and slipping into depression for the first time in my life. I had major anxiety before every shift, so much that I would typically not be able to sleep. This got worse when I moved to nights. On the whole the unit was supportive, but there were a few nurses and providers that I dreaded working with.

As others have suggested, see if you might be able to switch to a different preceptor. I know another nurse in my cohort was able to do this, and it improved her experience significantly. It's important to be with a preceptor who understands your style of learning and who promotes safety (good on you for checking your meds!). I'm not sure if it's worth talking to your current preceptor, it sounds like her heart isn't in teaching and it's concerning she's rushing you to pass medications. You will gain efficiency in time, but checking meds and lines especially is so important (if you unit doesn't have stickers to indicate lines for pitocin and magnesium, I suggest you look into them). There are a million little tasks the L&D nurse is responsible for completing, and prioritization is very important when developing efficiency. This takes time and practice, and I hope you find a preceptor who can support you in this.

I'll put it out there that it's also possible to leave if this isn't the right fit for you. L&D is intense, and if your unit isn't able to work well together, it's going to be a hard place long term.

Ultimately, I left my dream L&D position for something that fit my home/family life better. I couldn't be happier with my decision. The beautiful thing about nursing is there are so many different avenues available, you can feel trapped, but you rarely are. I really enjoy my job now, my work colleagues and patients. Other nurses I oriented with have moved to post partum and other facilities in L&D - by all reports they are much happier. So, while you don't want to throw away an opportunity, movement is possible!