Support Stickie for New nurses who are not coping

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I have read through lot of threads recently regarding new nurses who feel they are struggling and not coping with being an new RN. So I thought it would be good to start a support thread where all new nurses could post about their feelings and experiences. You are not alone, all new nurses feel this way and if they dont I would be extreemly concerned.

I was LOVING my job as a new grad during orientation and even the first month off orientation... but lately it has been so depressing (I'm on an oncology floor), and also there is a big issue with nursing assistants disrespecting new RNs. I worked full-time to put myself through nursing school, and I have worked many different jobs... just because I am young and a new nurse, I still deserve just as much respect as I give to other people. I appreciate the input and experience of nursing assistants who have been on the floor for years... and I know that I can learn from them. But at the same time, I am the RN, I have the education of a bachelor's degree behind me, and it is not appropriate for nursing assistants to be rude to me- especially in front of patients. I am hesitant to bring this to the manager's attention but it is getting ridiculous. I am very disheartened at what nursing has become also... it is so task-oriented, and there is little to no time to talk to a newly diagnosed cancer patient about how they are coping. It's such a shame...

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Specializes in Peds and Well baby.

You have brought up a subject that not many will bring up. ALL nurses have problems with SOME nursing assistants. It is like sharks with the new fish. If your boss is worth his/her salt they will handle the problem (and I bet it will not be a surprise to them) to keep you and take some of the stress off of you. At first it will get worse, backstabbing, talking about you, not backing you up when you need help. But don't stop. If ANYONE, a nurse, a doctor or a NA makes your job more difficult or dangerous then they are wrong and the situation needs to be addressed. Eventually they will realize that it is unhealthy to pick on you and will move on to the next new nurse. You have a license to protect, they do not. I love to say, "It's my license, I have the school loans, and you will do what I ask of you. I can do your job, you cannot do mine. If you have a problem with that then talk to our boss, otherwise just do what you were hired to do." You are not their friend. They are taught in school that the RN will delegate jobs to them. I see nurses all the time trying to make friends by enabling those bad workers to not work. That is not doing anyone a favor; in the long run it will hurt the NA. And frankly, the nurses look foolish. You have a job to do that is vitally important, protect that job. :nurse::yeah:

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I'm having a hard time dealing with my job. The stress and frustration is almost unbearable and I feel so overwhelmed at times that it makes me cry. Part of the frustration is with the management. My job started off in a new grad program offered by the hospital system which is designed to ease the transition of new grad to new nurse. After 6 weeks in the program and working on a cardiac floor, they placed me in a permanent position at a different hospital on a ortho/neuro surgical floor that also takes clean med/surg pts. I have had 6 weeks of orientation on the floor, however the first 3 were with another new grad. My educator decided to take me off orientation last week stating that I have had my 12 weeks. My educator is including the 6 weeks at the other hospital on the cardiac floor into my orientation. I had no clue they were taking me off orientation. No one has talked to me about the decision. I asked my manager if I could have another week or two and she, rather rudely, told me I could not, I have had 12 weeks on the floor and should be able to handle it on my own. My problem with this is that when I went to meet the manager in october before I started on the floor I was told that my orientation could last as long as january 1 if I felt as though I needed it and that we would have weekly meetings to discuss my progress. We have had only 2 meetings to discuss my progress and that was a month ago. I feel that if they are going to take me off orientation they need to let me know in advance, not on the night I work. I have bad anxiety and this situation is not helping it at all. My manager wants to have a meeting with me on monday to discuss this. I know they will not give me any more orientation, despite what I was told in the begining. I understand that you never feel totally comfortable on your own for a while. At this point I don't even want more orientation because it seems like too much trouble to get it. It just has me so frustrated that the managers have completely changed their minds and did not include me in any decision making about me. I know as soon as I get my required 6 months in that I will want to transfer somewhere else. I'm just having a hard time dealing with all of this and it has me really frustrated. Thank you for letting me rant.

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Specializes in CCU.

I understand your rant. I actually wasn't taken seriously when I asked for more orientation time. Working as a new grad in the ICU is already stressful enough with the steep learning curve involved. I heard the highest probability of new grads losing their license is in the ICU. My unit is very cliquey. I noticed certain individuals got more orientation time and better assignments so that did it for me. Ive decided after 6 more months I will be transferring to somewhere else. Trying my best to stick with the first job for at least 1 yr so I wont have too difficult of a time transferring. The closer I get to my 3 twelves in a row the more depressed and cranky i get. I never wanted ICU as a new grad but just took whatever job I could get and now I see why this unit hires so many of us. I plan on contacting EAP, maybe that will help.

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Feel horrible, and frustrated. I don't go home crying (yet) but I am definitely feeling like I am never going to get the hang of this. I am starting week 4 tomorrow, and I should be up to 4 patients but I am going to have to take 3 again this week because I am not ready for 4 yet. This is week 4 of orientation and there is always something that comes up that makes you late, or forget about something that you needed to do for one of your patients. I absolutely hate this new nurse phase and can't wait for it to be over. I am on a very busy med-surg unit. I still love what I do, but I just wish I could get the hang of it faster that I am thus far.

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I'm having a hard time dealing with my job. The stress and frustration is almost unbearable and I feel so overwhelmed at times that it makes me cry. Part of the frustration is with the management. My job started off in a new grad program offered by the hospital system which is designed to ease the transition of new grad to new nurse. After 6 weeks in the program and working on a cardiac floor, they placed me in a permanent position at a different hospital on a ortho/neuro surgical floor that also takes clean med/surg pts. I have had 6 weeks of orientation on the floor, however the first 3 were with another new grad. My educator decided to take me off orientation last week stating that I have had my 12 weeks. My educator is including the 6 weeks at the other hospital on the cardiac floor into my orientation. I had no clue they were taking me off orientation. No one has talked to me about the decision. I asked my manager if I could have another week or two and she, rather rudely, told me I could not, I have had 12 weeks on the floor and should be able to handle it on my own. My problem with this is that when I went to meet the manager in october before I started on the floor I was told that my orientation could last as long as january 1 if I felt as though I needed it and that we would have weekly meetings to discuss my progress. We have had only 2 meetings to discuss my progress and that was a month ago. I feel that if they are going to take me off orientation they need to let me know in advance, not on the night I work. I have bad anxiety and this situation is not helping it at all. My manager wants to have a meeting with me on monday to discuss this. I know they will not give me any more orientation, despite what I was told in the begining. I understand that you never feel totally comfortable on your own for a while. At this point I don't even want more orientation because it seems like too much trouble to get it. It just has me so frustrated that the managers have completely changed their minds and did not include me in any decision making about me. I know as soon as I get my required 6 months in that I will want to transfer somewhere else. I'm just having a hard time dealing with all of this and it has me really frustrated. Thank you for letting me rant.

Sounds like Piscesgirl was orienting at PMC. I went through the same thing. Sounds like some hospitals are just all about the bean counters. The bottom line is that you can refuse to take on the full responsibility of the patient load. You know, like we all do, that we risk our jobs by doing so. It's a better alternative than taking on the load and then messing up and risking your license. You can bet that the hospital won't stand behind you if you mess up. I'll be praying for you.

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Thanks everyone, for this thread. I am a new grad on a hectic Telemetry unit, about 2 months into orientation and will be on my own (yikes!) by the first week of Jan. I am terrified, overwhelmed and frustrated. Yesterday I came home and cried uncontrollably for about an hour. For the reasons that have all been talked about: making stupid little mistakes, forgetting to do things, being talked down to by other nurses, working overtime to finish charting and having ***** doctors snap at me. It is all adding up and I am questioning my ability to ever be a good nurse. I do think it will get better but I too wish I could just fast forward past this learning curve into the "experienced" RN role because I can't think of a worse place to be :( Thanks for the support!

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Specializes in Peds and Well baby.

If you look up the word "expert" or "expertise" you will find that studies consider someone an expert after 10 YEARS or 10,000 hrs at their field. I read in a Nursing Journal that you become comfortable at nursing around 2 yrs. I am at that point. I know when a pt is in distress, I know what to do about it, but still have much to learn. Those two years were hard. I thought about quitting, made mistakes, got on the wrong side of doctors (always the difficult ones), was the brunt of comments on my ability as a nurse etc.

I have met or heard about nurses that have made mistakes that have killed patients. Always double check your meds especially if you are not totally positive that the dose is correct. I have gone to another nurse many times and asked, "Here are the figures, please check if they are correct." (never ask without figuring it out yourself first."

Keep a "brain sheet" for each pt. (There are links on this website for the best brain sheets on all disciplines) When a pt requests something or you see an intervention that needs to be done, WRITE it down. Fill the sheet out with titration rates, drip rates, doctor's orders, dosage, allergies, all that good nursing info. Then check it every hour.

Keep your charting short and to the point right now. No one wants to read a nurses opinion anyway.

Good luck, never thought I would make it but I have and you will also

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I am a new grad on a med/surg ortho floor, my preceptor since day one has been of no help now they tell me i will be on my own by the end of the month so my total orientation would have been a month. i dread going to work days before my shift. i cry all the way there and all the way home. im not new to nursing at all i was a medical asst for 10 years and LPN for 2 years before becoming an RN. But i feel so lost i cant understand why nurses forget what it was like to be a new grad. needs some words of encouragement bad i feel like leaving the profession altogether and anyone that knows me knows i love being a nurse

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Do not feel discouraged if you are NOT feeling comfortable in 6 months. I know of new nurses that would have to pull over on the way to work and throw up....me? Diarrhea-chronic. (don't mean to be graphic--just honest) It took me 10 years (!!) before one day I was not scared and having diarrhea prior to my shift. I finally felt like I really knew what I was doing! I actually looked forward to going in to work. Now, 17 years later, I feel truly comfortable,happy and like I do make a difference. Then I get fired. Life stinks ;-)

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If you are having a terrible time in the hospital, maybe try LTC. I graduated took a year off then took my boards then got a job. Yes I def would do it differently if I could do it over. I got hired at an established and respected long term care home as a casual rn. It is a great option because I work three different floors. I have residents with dementia, obesity, and acute pts who will be going home. I have tube feedings, ivs, behaviors and have to have great time management. I dont feel as though I am taking the easy way out by working in a nursing home. I have around 30 residents to tend to and at night the number doubles. I have found everyone to be very helpful and it to be a rewarding experience!

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Hi there. Just got a job. I am really excited but afraid to make a mistake like a med error or just screw up. I am also nervous about having like 5 to 8 patients. This is my first job and am really excited but afraid too. Any advice or comfort please!??? I love nursing and know I can do this but just afraid to make an error. Please help.

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