To Throw in the Towel or Not?- Opinions Please!

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

Well, I had CNA and LPN experience before graduating as an RN, so I don't know if I am qualified to answer your question. Having said that, I found nursing school to be an extremely anxiety provoking experience, as did my classmates. Not until I had a couple of years of experience on the same unit under my belt did I start to feel like a competent nurse. Of course, now I've switched to the ED and feel like I'm starting all over again. I feel like a total idiot half the time, and get butterflies in my stomach on my way to work. From the feedback I have gotten from other nurses and from this site, this is not at all uncommon. Welcome to nursing!

Rabid Response · Oct 3, 2009

I loved nursing school classes, but I did not love clinicals. It seemed as if all of my fellow students had previous experience working in the medical field, and I had none at all. I always felt at a disadvantage, not knowing the most basic things about what went on in a hospital. I graduated at the top of my class but lacked confidence. I went right into an ICU after graduation because that was my area of greatest interest and I felt I needed to jump at the chance when it was offered. The first year was so difficult that I think I've actually blocked it out of my brain. I was sick with fear and nearly paralyzed by anxiety, but I got through it somehow. The thing that got me through was that I did really want to be a nurse; I just couldn't stand being less than great at it. Eventually the anxiety faded to simple fear and finally to mere extreme cautiousness. I no longer have palpitations while driving to work. I really enjoy my job now.

If you are having second thoughts about being a nurse, you need to ask yourself why. If you think the job is unrewarding in and of itself, then maybe you should look into doing something else. But if you are having doubts because of fear, then I would stick with it. Fear is normal and healthy in a new grad. You can master the clinical aspects of the job with perseverence and practice. I was hired into my unit with 6 other new nurses. A few of them were so confident that I envied them every day. Nothing seemed to faze them. Surprisingly, these were not the nurses who made it through orientation. One of them was careless. Another was oblivious. One was so sure of herself that she would accept no criticism or input from preceptors. Those of us who have survived the last 2+ years were the ones who expressed the most anxiety during orientation. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

Good luck to you.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

My clinicals in school absolutely sucked. I hated it because, they would show us a procedure x1 and expect us to perform it like an expert from then on out, and we were super lucky if we ever got another chance (rural hospital clinicals). I don't know how that's even humanly possible to be proficient after reading from a book. Most learn from trial and error. The anxiety was a nightmare. Still to this day, I couldn't run an IV without some-one taking the time to properly show me. I went straight to a non medical psych until after graduation, feeling incompetent as can be. I absolutely love psych nursing, and love it more each day. Been there over 2yrs now. There are other fields of nursing for you to try before you throw away what you worked so hard to learn. What is it about nursing you are struggling with? I think you just haven't found your niche yet.

shoegalRN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

I am a new Grad without any previous medical experience for the exception as working as a Nurse Intern while in nursing school. Which in my opinion, is totally different than working as a RN.

I HATE being green! But my confidence is getting stronger each night I work. I am lucky to have good preceptors and mentors to take me under their wings and show me the ropes. I am a hands on person, and once I do something once, I usually catch on pretty quick. However, I do ask tons and tons of questions and I often second guess myself, but from my understanding that's a normal feeling as a new grad.

Hang in there! This nursing stuff is NO joke and I've been told it takes atleast a year or two before the anxiety goes away SOME (not completely). I make a goal every night I go to work and that's not to kill anybody. I double and triple check my meds and when even if I do know something, I still get clarification before I do it. I am blessed to be at a teaching hospital that is receptive to new grads.

ShayRN · Oct 3, 2009

The problem with nursing school is you get so much information thrown at you at once, in many different areas. I cannot stand surgery or intensive care. I want to interact with my patients and their families. So those were really tough clinicals for me, as was psych and OB for different reasons. Once you get into the area you will work you will be able to focus your energy on learning that area. Give yourself ONE WHOLE YEAR before you decide your comfortable or not in that area, it truely takes that long. The thing that is wonderful about nursing is that if you don't like what your doing, you can do 1000 other things. I know of women who work home care, go into the homes to draw blood for insurances, work at lawyers offices reviewing charts for malpractice claims. There are so many things you can do as a nurse that doesn't involve bedside nursing.

Minnie2006 · Oct 3, 2009

Good advice from all above. I too am new and feeling the same. Just wish everyone would remember how they felt in the beginning!

NeoNurseTX, RN · Oct 4, 2009

You sound EXACTLY like me. I hated clinicals and they made me pretty anxious. My first year of nursing was horrible. However, I moved to another hospital and now I'm quite happy with my job. No more anxiety before work..I just get up and go. Not every shift is peachy and I still get nervous when I have babies with issues I'm not familiar with, but that's how you learn. Keep at it. You may need to find your niche.

(I also had no CNA or prior nursing exp.)

diane227, LPN, RN · Oct 4, 2009

For me it was a natural job and came natural to me. Clinical rotations were easy and I slid easily into my first job. I never studied and never read any required reading. It all seemed so common sense to me. I went to class and took good notes. I made decent grades. I worked part time as a CNA during school so that was probably the reason it was easier for me to make the transition into the RN role. The only thing I had trouble with at first was starting IV's but after about 6 months I was OK and after I moved to the ED I got good real fast.

dreamingRN · Oct 26, 2009

My clinicals in school absolutely sucked. I hated it because, they would show us a procedure x1 and expect us to perform it like an expert from then on out, and we were super lucky if we ever got another chance (rural hospital clinicals). I don't know how that's even humanly possible to be proficient after reading from a book. Most learn from trial and error. The anxiety was a nightmare. Still to this day, I couldn't run an IV without some-one taking the time to properly show me. I went straight to a non medical psych until after graduation, feeling incompetent as can be. I absolutely love psych nursing, and love it more each day. Been there over 2yrs now. There are other fields of nursing for you to try before you throw away what you worked so hard to learn. What is it about nursing you are struggling with? I think you just haven't found your niche yet.

Firstly, Thank you for the reply, Tanzanite! I would say that I struggle with anxiety when it comes to assessment and really knowing what to do in a given situation. I guess my main fear is that I will get on the floor and completely freeze and end up killing a patient because I couldn't act. When it comes down to it, I'm scared to fail...fail myself and my patient.

dreamingRN · Oct 27, 2009

You sound EXACTLY like me. I hated clinicals and they made me pretty anxious. My first year of nursing was horrible. However, I moved to another hospital and now I'm quite happy with my job. No more anxiety before work..I just get up and go. Not every shift is peachy and I still get nervous when I have babies with issues I'm not familiar with, but that's how you learn. Keep at it. You may need to find your niche.
(I also had no CNA or prior nursing exp.)

NeoNurseTX, Thank you for the great reply! Do you mind me asking what made you decide to leave your first place of employment? I would like to know since many people say to stick it out for the first year at the first place you are employed. Thanks!

diane227, LPN, RN · Oct 27, 2009

Don't quit. Seek out professional nurses with more experience and ask if they would mind being a reference person for you. Let staff members know you need more practice with X and to please call you when that task becomes available so that you can do it. You WILL fail at some things. It is a given. We all did and sometimes we still do. Don't be so hard on yourself. Everyone has to start somewhere. I was very lucky. When I was a senior in nursing school I worked part time as a CNA in a very large hospital in the Texas Medical Center and I rotated to all areas of the hospital including the critical care areas. I reached out to the charge nurses of these areas and they allowed me to do a lot of things, even pass meds with them supervising me during the med pass. This is how I learned to give IM injections. I took care of ICU patients of the charge nurse who had other duties. It really helped me. But the key was that I was VERY assertive with letting people know what I needed to learn and they would help me find those learning opportunities. If you will use that same tactic, I am sure that others will support you. Good luck.