still too slow and lost!!!!!

xluescluesx · Apr 7, 2011

Even though I'm not a nurse, during my most recent job I was just thrown in with minimal training and all my coworkers were so mean to me. No one wanted to help me and they would get frustrated at me for asking questions that they considered to be no brainers. I did cry and wanted to quit, but eventually I learned everything and things got much easier. Even though your job is probably a hundred times more stressful than mine was, I'm sure at only 7 weeks no one expects you to be perfect. It will get better! Give it time. :)

rnhope · Apr 7, 2011

Thanks so much for the encouragement, I hope you are right because I really do love working in the er! I will keep trying and hopefully it will all come together for me soon :crying :crying2:

proudnurseRN · Apr 7, 2011

I just recently precepted someone for my first time, and she was a brand new green-as-green can be new nurse. My only word of advice is this: do not be afraid to ask questions, but really give some thought to what you are asking. My preceptee (is that a word?) called me into a room because she wasn't sure she had the PCA set up right.... she couldn't find the maintenance line. I walk in and the maintenance line is still hooked up to the pt.

Chin up · Apr 7, 2011

Even though I'm not a nurse, during my most recent job I was just thrown in with minimal training and all my coworkers were so mean to me. No one wanted to help me and they would get frustrated at me for asking questions that they considered to be no brainers. I did cry and wanted to quit, but eventually I learned everything and things got much easier. Even though your job is probably a hundred times more stressful than mine was, I'm sure at only 7 weeks no one expects you to be perfect. It will get better! Give it time. :)

Chin up! Seven weeks is not long at all. You need to stop comparing yourself to experienced nurses and stop worrying about what people think of you. Most times, people aren't thinking about us, but, we feel they are. Everyone was new at one time or another and we all start slow. Sometimes, it is a good thing to have someone who is slow and asking us questions, than the fast one, who doesn't need anything. It means you are taking your job seriously. We also have our own clock, that clicks, when everything does fall into place. Once you get it and I think you will, it will not matter five years from now how slowly you think you started. By that time, you will be helping another new nurse, just like yourself.

Please give yourself some credit and give yourself time. I hope experience nurses are encouraging you, and letting you know they are there to help. Dag, it is not even three months, you got another few months before you panic. By then, you will be fine. I am pulling for you. Good luck and please relax. Peace!

rnhope · Apr 7, 2011

OMG thanks so much chin up for the encouragement!! I so needed to hear that, I am trying really hard to be a great er nurse and I know I can do it, encouraging words go such a long way! I need to just get a good system going and stop second guessing myself so much. I also need to just jump right in the next code that comes through the doors! Thanks again I will take a deep breath and face another day. :):)

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 8, 2011

Are you getting feedback -- structured, written, something -- from your preceptor?

rnhope · Apr 8, 2011

yes, my preceptor is extremely nice and an excellent nurse and she is telling me that I am doing great and she assures me she would let me know if I werent. She also lets me know the areas I need improvement. I guess I am just used to hitting the ground running I have never been in a position where it is taking me so long to adjust. Also I have the habbit of comparing myself to others and all the other orientees seem to be doing better than myself and out of our group I am the one with the least experience. I am going to keep giving my all though because it is something I truly want!

EGDnurse · Apr 8, 2011

Hi,

I am a very new nurse (2 years) and there are still things that I am not always sure how to do, or need help with. When I was very overwhelmed and very new, I would try to make a goal of learning 2 or 3 things each day. Then I would practice them the next day with another new nurse, or co-worker that I felt comfortable with. When my orientation period was finished, I found several nurses that I felt very comfortable with on my floor, and would offer my help turning and lifting their patients if they would help me with something that I didn't know how to do. One of my friends from nursing school went right into the ED at my hospital, and she said it is completely different than floor nursing was. The nurses can sometimes be a little bit more harsh on the newer nurses because of the type of situations that are dealt with in the ED versus the floor. Try to keep your chin up, and know that you are going to get to where you need to be, just like your co-workers did when they were new nurses. :yeah:

BrookeeLou_RN · Apr 8, 2011

Please give yourself some well earned credit.. You have made it thru 7 weeks in ER. I could never ever have even attempted that. But have been a RN for long time, but, ER petrifies me. :confused:

Seriously, after 7 weeks if you felt sure of yourself and did not ask lots of questions I would worry about you!!!!

Relax, take some deep breaths...unless your preceptor is reporting problems, you are doing good. You are over thinking. Step back, make a list of all the things you have learned and know how to do..I bet it is fairly long, isn't it?

Nursing is on-the-job training, school does not prepare you for the reality of working as a nurse. Keep at it, study areas that might be confusing you, like meds etc. Keep asking questions, keep learning. You say your preceptor is good, then trust her to guide you. You put forth the effort to be the most receptive learner.

Honestly it will take a long time till you will feel more comfortable, learning a new job is hard, Nursing is hard. But I am betting you will succeed..so go forth and don't make a liar out of me:D

TpaRN17 · Apr 8, 2011

The best piece of advice I ever got as a new ER RN was, "It's not YOUR emergency."

Superficially, it may sound like a crap attitude! However, if you remember that you are NOT the patient and NOT the family, you can take a step back and breathe! You are the nurse, there to make the best of a bad situation.

Your greatest asset? You sound like you want to do a good job! That means you have set the learning curve higher for yourself.

Give yourself time, and a break! Even the most experience, amazing nurses screw up or have a bad night. It goes with the territory! Trust your instincts! They will serve you well! Best of luck!

PS- I cried in the doctors bathroom at least once a week for a year... I am still here! I have adapted... and drink a beer when I get home! I allow myself 15 mins to evaluate the night and then let it go. Only 15! Process, learn, release...

CordaeP · Apr 8, 2011

I am currently trying to get into the nursing program at my school, but I did graduate as a MA when I did my training at a clinic I was so nervous. I did not feel like I knew anything. The hardest part was trying to read the doctor's handwritting. I asked and asked and asked questions constantly. I know that I was bothersome, but I wanted to get it down packed. It paid off I started to catch on because my nerves started to subside. Once you get over your nerves you will catch on a bit more. Don't worry about asking too many questions that is what your trainer is there for. When ever you can take ignitive with helping others with things that you do know.