Support Stickie for New nurses who are not coping

Nurse_Doom_RN · Oct 18, 2009

I graduated May 2008 as an RN and started on a very busy cardiac floor on day shift. I felt like I was drowning for the first 3-4 months! By my 6th month or so I was able to complete my work by the end of shift but like many of you I felt like I wasn't giving the best patient care. I watched the other nurses on the floor to get my timing down, I asked tons of questions (and I still do!!) and things got better/easier day by day. Each and every one of you will get through this! This is what you have always wanted to do, enjoy your little successes! Talk to your friends..your co workers. Let them know what you are stressing about...you will find that you are not the only one!! Our job is hard, it is stressfull, but it is also rewarding. Do not be afraid of asking questions..we are not suppose to know everything. I am a critical care nurse and work with both new grads and seasoned 20-30 year nurses..we constantly bounce ideas off of each other. The min. you think you have all the answers is the min. you need to retire! I learn something new everyday many times it is one of you, the new grads with all of your brand new information that teaches me something! I am proud of each and everyone of you!! We are all here for you!!

Nurse_Doom_RN · Oct 18, 2009

I graduated May 2008 as an RN and started on a very busy cardiac floor on day shift. I felt like I was drowning for the first 3-4 months! By my 6th month or so I was able to complete my work by the end of shift but like many of you I felt like I wasn't giving the best patient care. I watched the other nurses on the floor to get my timing down, I asked tons of questions (and I still do!!) and things got better/easier day by day. Each and every one of you will get through this! This is what you have always wanted to do, enjoy your little successes! Talk to your friends..your co workers. Let them know what you are stressing about...you will find that you are not the only one!! Our job is hard, it is stressfull, but it is also rewarding. Do not be afraid of asking questions..we are not suppose to know everything. I am a critical care nurse and work with both new grads and seasoned 20-30 year nurses..we constantly bounce ideas off of each other. The min. you think you have all the answers is the min. you need to retire! I learn something new everyday many times it is one of you, the new grads with all of your brand new information that teaches me something! I am proud of each and everyone of you!! We are all here for you!!

motivated2nurse · Oct 18, 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)!!

You know what, u are not the only one, as i feel the same way........................... :cry:

Mahage, LPN · Oct 18, 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)!!

Hey, I think you are probably doing great. It is too bad the anxiety can be so severe. Mine comes out differently, makes me forgetful. That was not good and is not good on the job, but I am now working on not letting my anxiety level rise above a 5 out of 10. I stop and take a lot of deep breaths and remind myself that anxiety isn't getting the job done, quicker or better and ask myself what I need to do right at that moment. I can get it under control. I found that the first 8 months were the roughest and somewhere between 6 and 8 months I started having more good nights than bad. I love my job even with the rough times. I was not lucky enough to have a good preceptor to work with consistently. I had several and some of them were really really good and others were jerks. I am coming up on two years now and pretty much feel I can hold my own. I have not been asked to train as charge and that is sort of an ego buster when newer nurses than I have been asked, but I suppose it is about my anxiety. That is all right because it is not something that I really feel ready to do, but like I said it is an ego buster. I do like my job a lot! It is very fulfilling and I have proven to myself that I can make it on one of the hardest units in the large teaching hospital where I work . We take care of 3 very sick people, many vents and trachs and all monitored. I am doing clinical instruction for student nurses and I love it. I am starting to put out feelers for jobs on other floors and in other hospitals as our census is very very low. I also have found that I have an interest in working with end stage cancer patients so I am looking for hospice opportunities.

Keep on, you will get past you anxiety. If you didn't care which is key here, you wouldn't have the anxiety. Keep doing what you do best.

Mahage

HappydayRn · Oct 28, 2009

Ug I just had the worst night! I'm a brand new grad on my 5th day (out of six) of orientation at a LTC. I work the 10-6 NOC shift and have 60 pts under my care. Last night I was so behind on my med pass that I had the nurse help me do one hall.

Everyone wanted pain meds or had a fever and needed tylenol. My charting was late and I'm sure it was horrible. While trying to flush a NG and Peg I managed to nail myself and the paitent soaking both of us. I had a pt on continous feed and was so behind the bottle was flat empty when day got there. I didn't cap the IV that I had taken off so the day shift was upset ( in the hospital we usually just got new tubing yikes did I feel stupid for that one).

All the oxycodone in the Ekits was out for my new admit who was in 10/10 pain and I had to tell him there was nothing I could do till seven, (called pharmacy and ordered it since it had been forgotten during admit). Anyway the list goes on and on. I just feel like an incompentent nurse and I'm convinced that day shift must hate me and talk about me behind my back.

Luckily I called my mom and she walked me through some tips to help me (she's a newer RN herself), makes me wish someone like her was orienting me.

new_oldRN · Oct 28, 2009

I cannot even imagine trying to care for 60 patients! You deserve kudos just for that :yeah: . Sounds like you did an excellent job under those circumstances. You didn't lose anyone and days can just help pick up a little. Hang in there and listen to your Mom, you'll be OK! remember, it takes about 6 months to fall into a routine and start feeling comfortable in your job. Good luck and don't give up.:redbeathe

mlok · Nov 22, 2009

I just graduated from school in May, passed the Nclex-RN in June and got my first job October. I have been at this facility for less than a month and recently got off orientation. I always feel a lot of anxiety when I'm working... and even when I'm home on my days off because I think about the next few days and *hope* and *pray* that the upcoming days will go smoothly. As I'm thinking about it right now, my heart is pounding.

lovethepeople · Nov 22, 2009

I just graduated from school in May, passed the Nclex-RN in June and got my first job October. I have been at this facility for less than a month and recently got off orientation. I always feel a lot of anxiety when I'm working... and even when I'm home on my days off because I think about the next few days and *hope* and *pray* that the upcoming days will go smoothly. As I'm thinking about it right now, my heart is pounding.

I can completely relate! Even though I know it doesn't help to worry, the med surg floor I'm on is so disorganized and overwhelming (even the nurses who have been there for years say so) that I am just always stressed out. I have a couple of days off and try to think positive again for a new day...but there I am again falling behind on charting and everything is tugging every which way. I can only offer that I am sure it must get easier and as a new nurse most people experience this to some degree. I am trying to meditate, exercise, eat well and do all I can to make it easier on my nervous system! It's important to have those effective coping mechanisms in place, even when they fall apart so easily once you hit the floor. Good luck to you and all of us...

HappydayRn · Nov 25, 2009

Guess who left the crazy SNF and is now on the floor of *gasp* a hospital (yes!!!!). Today was my first day on the floor and I felt like a little newbie nursing student following my preceptor around like a puppy. I was so nervous and scared ( no idea why) I swear I could not remember basic things. I felt so scattered and disorganized, I made my own brain tonight and I'm resolved to got to work a little early to read up on my pts. Wish me luck for tomorrow.

pRepariNgME2009 · Nov 30, 2009

Thank you for posting this thread. I am a new RN. I became licensed in April and started working in July. I work in a LTAC facility. We have avery good mixture of patients. A lot of our patients come to us for vent weaning and IV antibiotics and wound care.

All of the nurses there have at least 4 or more years of experience under there belt. As a matter of fact, I am the second new grad the hospital has ever hired in the 10 years of their existence.

For the most part, I love being with my patients and I wouldnt trade anything for them, but, However, some of my co-workers are a little anal. They say nursing is 24 hours. It is a 24 hour job and we should work as a team. Okay, I agree with that but, if you dont get to do some thing thats assigned in your shift such as a dressing change thats due once daily you get written up. We have a charge RN that comes to work looking for mistakes other nurses made through out the day so she can write them up. Once, I made a mistake and she chastised me about the mistake and made me feel even worse about what I did. I feel like nurses are always trying to show how smart they are or it is always competition amongst nurses. Why is that? Why are you judged on how fast you get your work done and being off on time and not by how well you take care of your patients? You know like getting to really know your patients. Listening to needs and spending a little time with them but not to much time to where you get behind, Also, advocating for your patients? I feel like all the things learned in school was such a waste. And what's with the title thing? Some times I feel as if I am treated differently because I have my RN and the LPNs that are there have a chip on their shoulder. Will someone explain what this nursing thing is all about. Because I thought it was about taking care of people but, I am not getting that feeling as new RN. I apologize for not having a flowing subject matter all these thoughts are just coming to me as I type because I have so much to say and so much frustration built up inside of me.

I feel very overwhelmed and I need some advice. I saw a quote on this site that I think all nurses should go by. "THE LEARNING DOSENT BEGIN UNTIL AFTER YOU BECOME LICENSED." I couldn't agree more.

calypte · Dec 12, 2009

Thank you for this thread. I had an awful day today. I got chewed out by an older RN for missing something that I shouldn't have missed (with no tragic consequences, by the way, but still, something i should have been on top of). I told her "yes, i should have performed such and such an intervention after making such and such an observation" (to make a long story short) and that I was embarrassed that I'd overlooked something that seemed so obvious later!

She said "you should be embarrassed". And continued on to make sure I felt ashamed. I can't stop thinking about the shift now. She really rattled me (this was midshift) and now I'm not sure if I got everything done or passed on what I missed to the next shift... I know that anything I missed was minor/not life-threatening. For example, I know that as I was leaving I remembered at the very last minute that I had meant to put Mr. so-and-so in a fresh brief before I left. I talked with his daughter on the way out and told her that if she wanted she could help him, (the family has been very involved in care) but I didn't let the oncoming shift know...

Such a minor thing, that probably got done by the daughter. But I'm terrified of getting there tomorrow and having someone basically say "you didn't do a good job".

All I want is to leave feeling that I did the best I could for my patients, and I felt like I really failed today.

I got some great support from a couple of staff members, who informed me that the older nurse had a particular personality that leant itself to criticism like that.

But I still cried so much when I came home, and I don't want to go back... I feel sometimes like this is just too much, I don't want to have to come home every day and question myself and analyze whether or not I did a good job

Student2Registered · Dec 16, 2009

*hugs* to you calypte and all the posters on the thread. I can relate! I have had so many of those "from the depth of your gut" cries since I became an RN. I'm a couple of weeks away from the 6 month mark and yes, the tears have become less but this new grad thing is still the most stressful thing I have experienced. Oh boy do I hope it gets better soon.