Struggling With New Job

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Hi, I just wanted to ask some questions and relieve my anxiety a bit around my new job. I’ve been a nurse for a year in rehab. Turned into a horrible job by the end, but I got my experience and got into a hospital. Acute care  float. I love it so far, but sometimes I feel so lost. I was so used to my old job and being on top of everything. I’m very detail oriented and I write everything down, and usually it saves me. But I’m not sure if it’s the new job or having to float and taking new patients everyday, but I feel like at the end of the shift I haven’t “run a tight ship” if that makes sense.

last night I was in peds for the first time and let my anxiety overwhelm me. I didn’t look into certain things that had been left over from the shift before, I never got a response back from a provider I needed. It’s a much bigger hospital than I’m used to and when I don’t hear back, it’s hard to know what to do next besides continue to page. The oncoming nurse held me a accountable for these things and I felt utterly incompetent. I’ve only been off a very short orientation for a few weeks, and sometimes I feel like I miss things I shouldn’t and don’t tie up lose ends I should. My patients are safe and I know that’s most important, but how can I do better and shake this feeling? I want to be confident and have everything in order! I don’t want to feel like a bad nurse 
Any advice would be welcome!

Specializes in rehab/float.

I can tell you after being in this new position for 9 months now I'm feeling much better ! I feel alot more confident about my skills and knowledge and ability to care for all types of patients. I think being a float requires a specific set up skills especially being able to think on your feet and being okay with being "an outsider" but also being confident. People have gotten to know me a little bit so that has helped, the ones who know me and know how I work have come to treat me as a peer rather than a "newbie" which helps alot. But I still go to units where they are very careful around me and watching me more or hesitant to trust me. I used to take more of an offense to it but now I understand it more of them being protective of their patients and unit. Which is endearing in a way. I truthfully have never had a day at this hospital as bad as the days I had at rehab. Nothing compares to the chaos and totally lack of safety at a rehab. I would definitely suggest getting to know people more and asking questions! I was very quiet and reserved my first few months but the more I reach out the better I feel. Also, be that person who offers help to others. Even with just turning a patient. It helps establish a report with others and they will come to trust you. Just don't be hard on yourself! I was so anxious the first few months, couldn't even sleep well, and it wasn't worth it. We are all on a learning curve and it is impossible to know everything from the beginning. Trust that the work you put in to learn will be worth it. Hope that helps ! 

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.
On 5/6/2022 at 10:28 AM, lizdimi54873 said:

I can tell you after being in this new position for 9 months now I'm feeling much better ! I feel alot more confident about my skills and knowledge and ability to care for all types of patients. I think being a float requires a specific set up skills especially being able to think on your feet and being okay with being "an outsider" but also being confident. People have gotten to know me a little bit so that has helped, the ones who know me and know how I work have come to treat me as a peer rather than a "newbie" which helps alot. But I still go to units where they are very careful around me and watching me more or hesitant to trust me. I used to take more of an offense to it but now I understand it more of them being protective of their patients and unit. Which is endearing in a way. I truthfully have never had a day at this hospital as bad as the days I had at rehab. Nothing compares to the chaos and totally lack of safety at a rehab. I would definitely suggest getting to know people more and asking questions! I was very quiet and reserved my first few months but the more I reach out the better I feel. Also, be that person who offers help to others. Even with just turning a patient. It helps establish a report with others and they will come to trust you. Just don't be hard on yourself! I was so anxious the first few months, couldn't even sleep well, and it wasn't worth it. We are all on a learning curve and it is impossible to know everything from the beginning. Trust that the work you put in to learn will be worth it. Hope that helps ! 

It's definitely a learning curve for me. I still don't know when to call the doctor or what, at my other job if we need to doctor we cal the house sup and he comes and check the patient. It is really difficult also there are things I've never encountered yet and I'm quite scared and anxious to ask

 

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Specializes in ER.
13 hours ago, Dani_Mila said:

It is really difficult also there are things I've never encountered yet and I'm quite scared and anxious to ask

 

Never hesitate to ask advice from someone more experienced than you, or from someone who has done something that you have not done.

I have had a lot of experience in nursing but I will always ask for advice if I am unsure of something. There is no shame in that.

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