Turned a Corner at Six Months In:)

[DenraSam]

Started my first job as an RN last September in an SNF with a 17 patient assignment - evening shift. In the beginning I was super anxious to the point of nausea before each shift. Heart racing, light-headed, turn the car around kind of anxiety. FSBGs, G-tubes, IV antibiotics, dressing changes and wound vacs... Afraid that everyone would find out that I was an imposter and didn't belong there. Often had to stay hours late to chart, especially after a night with one/two admissions or something out of the ordinary like sending a resident to the ED or a fall event (Or a resident found on the floor after sending another to the ED:( I sometimes left feeling like a failure.

So - the good news is that it gets better. With six months under my belt, this profession seems doable. There's less anxiety, though still some butterflies with the new situations that always will pop up. I am learning and am beginning to believe that I can really do this thing.

And so can you. It takes time, I guess.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Thank you so much for sharing this information. We COBs are always telling newly licensed nurses that "It gets better" and advising them to tough it out during those first crucial months.... It's so nice to have some validation.

Congratulations on making over the hump.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I keep telling new nurses it takes time; thanks for the validation!