Stressed, overwhelmed and need listening ears

[raleighgirl]

I knew in nursing school that this was my calling. I hadn't been passionate about anything for a long time, until nursing school. It was like one of those epiphany moments where you know you are in the right place. I knew after nursing school I wanted a job in adult hem/oncology. When it came time to apply for jobs, I was desperate! I had attended school out of state and was worried I wouldn't be able to get a job back home. Then news came, The unit I interviewed for( and subsequently accepted the job offer) was said to be a GI surgical and oncology surgical floor. I thought YAYY! It'll be similar to my nursing school hem/onc experience. WRONG! I learned during my first week of orientation that we take a slew of other patient populations as well. Transplant, trauma, flaps, gen med and gen surg. just to name a few. Needless to say I am learning so much, and it is a great learning floor that exposes me to more than I could've imagined.

However, now, I am starting to question my decision.

I am feeling completely overwhelmed and had a breakdown yesterday when I got home. It was just one of those days where I couldn't stay ahead to save my life, **** "hit the fan" so to speak every 2-4 hours like clockwork for each patient I was assigned. My preceptor kept asking if I was ok, and I'd nod and say "No, I'm fine, I got it". I try to remain so calm and collected on the surface but on the inside I was screaming, crying, praying for the 12 hours to pass. I haven't really grasped the whole idea of asking for help, it may just be me but I feel like I have something to prove and I don't want them to question why they hired me. My preceptor was amazing and even though I tried to play it off she knew I was drowning and she stepped in to help. I'm terrified because starting next week I am on my own and my manager and preceptors kind of brushed it off and said I'm right on track when I mentioned extending my orientation for 1 week. Not only that, I'm having a hard time enjoying my patient population. I am super sensitive to smells (isn't that ironic seeing as how I'm working with GI pts), and my first SBO patient with fecal vomitus almost made me pass out. I've been told I will adjust to these wonderful smells. The learning and experience is great but I've already been considering transferring to another unit ASAP.

I am looking for any kind of advice, suggestions that my fellow nurses may have experienced. I am worried about getting burned out, not being able to manage my stress, or getting to the point where I dread work. I am trying to remain optimistic but I'm running out of steam quickly.

Please help?!

-Stress Monger RN

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

It is very possible that they are giving you the most challenging patients, while you still have the safety net of a preceptor, in order to give you as much exposure as possible before you are on your own. So be proud of yourself one, because they think you can handle it and two, for surviving the trial by fire. Ask your preceptor is there anything that I could have done better or differently. Mentally prepare yourself for your next shift by figuring out immediately who is the sickest and prioritize your shift in that manner. If you have two urgent situations, use your good judgement and ask for help.

Go buy some Vicks vapor rub and put a tiny dab in your mask to block the smell. Tell the patient you might have a cold.

This will all get better. Think about have far you have come in a such a short time. You can do this.