Support Stickie for New nurses who are not coping

lacunawestward · Aug 25, 2009

I am technically not in my first year but only by a few months. I have started out working night shift on a neurology unit and it is a great place to work and I work with wonderful people. However there are nights when I feel like I just can't do it and can't be a safe nurse. Lately, there are more of these nights than there are not. I had ten patients last night and we were also preparing for a possible joint commission/CMS visit. I *know* I left with some things not done (nothing huge... just signing IV checks, etc). We usually have 8 patients tops, team nursing. I want to look at other options such as home health or a nursing home, but I am the type to feel guilty because I know they are understaffed and me leaving would not help, but I feel like I can't do this for much longer without burning out or maybe putting someone at risk. I am really hating my job and getting sick to my stomach when I think about going back.

sparketteinok · Aug 25, 2009

lacuna, what do you think about team nursing? Do you feel that you could do a better job if the system was total care nursing?

Mustang Sally · Aug 25, 2009

I graduated in May and I work on an extremely busy 29-bed M/S unit. I had 6 weeks of unhelpful orientation and my first day on my own, they slammed me with 6 pts! Fortunately House interveined and took 2 away from me. But here is my situation: I just had 5 pts, 2 total care, and an admit that needed blood. It was a mess of a day! I have only been on my own for 2 weeks and my boss called this morning and I'm going back on orientation. I feel so stupid! So...

1. Should I feel as bad as I do about it? (I've cried all morning!)

2. Does it get better and how long before it does?

Any advice/encouragement is appreciated! THanks

lacunawestward · Aug 25, 2009

lacuna, what do you think about team nursing? Do you feel that you could do a better job if the system was total care nursing?

I got pulled once to a place where they did total care and I ended up with 7 on primary. That's how many I was used to having on team leading (on a good night anyway).

rmejia97 · Aug 26, 2009

I graduated in May and I work on an extremely busy 29-bed M/S unit. I had 6 weeks of unhelpful orientation and my first day on my own, they slammed me with 6 pts! I have only been on my own for 2 weeks and my boss called this morning and I'm going back on orientation. I feel so stupid! So...
1. Should I feel as bad as I do about it? (I've cried all morning!)
2. Does it get better and how long before it does?
Any advice/encouragement is appreciated! THanks

I can totally relate. I'm on my third week of orientation (i get 4mo +/- depending how fast I pick up), but it's been a little overwhelming. I started giving patient care to 2-3 pts by my second day of orientation and my preceptor was making me call drs for orders the same day. I didn't feel ready for nearly that much on my second day. Needless to say I talked to my mngr last week to communicate some of my thoughts/feelings and to look into the possibility of getting a new preceptor. My mngr was very open and seemed very understanding. I've talked to other new grads that recently completed their orientation and their experiences have been much different than mine. Example, some shadowed their preceptor for a month before they actually took pt's on their own and were explained policy/procedure for certain things like transfers, admissions, etc before they did any themselves. I did an admission on my 3rd day of orientation and of course, it was a mess! Although, initially, I felt guilty about asking for another preceptor because she is nice and seems to be agood nurse....by the end of today's shift, I feel I did the right thing.

If you do no feel fully comfortable with how they teach you in orientation, say something because once you're on your own it will only be worse since other nurses and physicians will expect you to know the basics. I love nursing and I would love nothing more than to feel like i am giving good nursing care to my patients but most of all feel they are safe in my hands. I keep telling myself this and keep hoping it gets better because i would hate to turn my back on something I have worked so hard for. I know this may not shed light on your situation, but I hope you know you are not alone and you are not the only new nurse who feels incompetent. Stay positive and i hope things get better for you! :nurse:

pepperanne7 · Aug 28, 2009

Hi, I am one of those new grads struggling. I think it has been harder for me because, I was a tech, and I am now an RN. I feel as though expectations for me as an RN were set sky high, so with these expectations I feel like all I do is fail!! HELP!! What do I do? How do I set boundaries and separate myself from my former role on my unit? :confused:

roseynurse345 · Aug 29, 2009

Actually, its great to read these threads. I was lucky enough to have facility that gave me close to 3 months orientation. This week was the first time I was on my own. I have to carry 7-9 pts a night on Med-Surg, I received 4 transfers the first night, which I thought was bad. The second night, I only received two, however one was an outside admit. Being my second time, doing an outside admit, I had no idea what I was doing. I wasted alot of time. I had no idea how to put the chart together, and who to call at night to draw blood and start an iv. The extra stress was the pt was going to OR in the morning. Then I had a pt pull out her trach:crying2:. I have experience as tech and LPN(another specialty), I do feel the bar was set high for me because of my experience. I felt my pt's care suffered, because of poor time management skills. Also, I feel I don't know anything at times, I feel my assessments are pretty poor at times. I just pray it gets better for me. I know a lot of nurses go through hell in the beginning.

sparketteinok · Aug 29, 2009

my hospital does team nursing except each team consisting of one RN and one LPN takes 12 patients every day. We used to be total care and then they switched to team a few months ago and now it's h-e-double-hockey-sticks. Most everyone hates their job and each other, some are taking it out on patients, and everyone feels very overwhelmed. About half of RNs have left already, and many more are making plans.

Managment's response to how everyone feels: our way or the highway.

motivated2nurse · Sep 6, 2009

I promise you things will get better, the 6 month mark is when things fall into place and one day you will sit somewhere and suddenly you realise 'I actually know what I am doing' and a lovely peace will come over you. You are not far away now.

I cannot wait for this moment!

Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2009

Thanks so much for starting this thread. I started in IMCU on May 19th and passed my boards on June 30th. I'm working 7p to 7a and 7a to 7p, flipping every other week. I have so many shifts when I just want to not come back! It's an awful feeling, especially since being an RN is all I ever wanted to do. With all the paperwork, I don't think I give my patients nearly the time they need. Does anyone else feel that way and will it get better?

I know this is an old post; however, it has brought relief to my psyche to know I'm not the only one feeling this way. How in the world am I supposed to do everything at once and chart at the same time? ARGGGGHHHH. I was so bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed my first few shifts. Now, I'm in tears at times. I'm hoping it is just "growing pains". :cry:

jksh21 · Sep 16, 2009

I graduated #1 in the ASN program on my campus, passed the boards with only the minimum number of questions, and got a job straight out of school. I thought that I was so prepared and knew exactly what I was doing, and now, 3 months into my life as a new RN - I have hit rock bottom. I have learned that school only barely prepares you for what you experience as an RN in the real world and that being head of the class and acing your tests means nothing anymore. About a month into working on an orthopedic/med-surg overflow floor, I began to develop severe anxiety issues. During a typical week in which I work 3-4 days a week, I have severe panic attacks at least 2 of those days. The attacks occur before, during, or after work. I, like alot of people on here, feel like I make mistakes. Even experienced nurses make mistakes. I have never made any error that may effect the well-being of my patients. There is no specific trigger. I just panic. I guess it's the thought of making a mistake, or the thought that I am not good enough to take care of people - I don't know. Thank you all for this forum; It is very nice to see that other people feel as out of place and as terrified as I do. I do believe that it is getting better, little by little (I can actually make it all the way home from work going about 20 breaths per minute and regular, even, unlabored breathing as opposed to a few weeks ago)!!

jeslynhatRN · Oct 6, 2009

I graduated from nursing school in May, got a job at a hospital in July and am almost done with my precepting. My preceptor is really great, she's the same age as I am but has been a nurse for 5 years. I am so depressed working! I feel like crying before I go in... once I actually get to work, I'm okay, but it's the going in that I have a hard time with. I am up to 5 patients now (under my preceptors eye) and I told her the other day, I just don't feel like I know what I'm doing in the grand scheme of things... I question almost everything I do. She says that I am doing great and that I ask all the right questions... I just feel like my head is barely above water and at any moment I'm going to go under. There has only been one day (that was really, REALLY bad) in which we only had 4 pts, and it was one catastrophe after another with all four of them that the two of us taking care of these pts couldn't even manage to keep up! She was on the verge of tears and so was I. I know I lack confidence in my abilities, but I feel depressed enough that I think I may ask my doc to be put back on anti-depressants (I was on them years ago).

I guess what I need is reassurance that things will get better and that I'm not just a pill pusher (because that's all it feels like I do around the clock...).