Struggling new grad in step down

[kristaebell]

I am a new grad with my first job on a step down unit. I’ve seen and learned a lot in the last two months of orientation (one month left to go), and patients are complicated and require frequent assessing/monitoring. But, the amount of anxiety I have is overwhelming. I don’t sleep the nights before my shifts, and I dread going in each morning. I can’t go on feeling like this, and I can’t help but feeling this unit is not for me. My educator offered OR or cath lab as suggested alternatives, wondering if I may benefit with a unit that is more procedural. That is, if I can even get hired on a different unit. Everyone says it gets better (not easier), but what if it doesn’t get better for me? I feel like such a failure, but I wanted to be transparent. Some people stay to just stick it out. Some people say to prioritize my mental health. Any thoughts? 

[gemswanson90]

The Cath Lab would definitely be more procedural; that might not be a bad idea to switch while you still can.  The operating room is Very Different from a step down unit, yet has quite an amount of stress to it, and there IS a lot of patient monitoring and dealing closely with Surgeons who may or may not be even-tempered. I tried that out for about a year and it was NOT for me. Some nurses love working in the OR and wouldn't want to ever leave, but it is and has to be a Very Regimented environment, and you have zero control or autonomy.  That's Great that you have been offered a few other options!! I would go for it and switch before your anxiety and sleep problems escalate.  Just my two cents.