What have I gotten myself into.....?

Nurses New Nurse

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I'm a nuclear medicine tech at heart. I lost my job due to the economy and couldn't find another position near my son so, I recently graduated with my RN degree. I need to ask you other nurses something. When you first started (esp. those of you that went to a busy med-surg floor) did any of you feel so overwhelmed that you questioned what you had gotten yourself into? I don't think anyone can prepare you verbally for how you will feel as a new nurse on a busy med-surg floor. Even with a 16yr background in nuclear medicine, I am stressed and questioning my choice of this career. I am second guessing whether or not I have the ability to care for numerous patients at one time (they are giving me 3 right now and my head is spinning....hahahaaaa). Please tell me that I'm not alone and that this is normal to feel this way. I want to succeed and be a darn good nurse....but my first few days on this floor have me wondering if I'm into something that just is not for me. I'm scared that I won't catch on and be able to remember all that is necessary to care for this type of workload. Help!

.....Lisa

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Completely normal.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surge, Ortho.

Organization is definitely the key.

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Lgood,

I don't think it really depends what unit you start out on- I think we all feel that overwhelming sense of OMG!! How am I going to do this and did I make a mistake. Relax, take a deep breath and think.

You need to get into a habit of organization. If you don't have a sheet you use to make a list- get one, make one, borrow one..whatever. Get into the habit of writing a "to do list". If your patient has serial H&H's Q 4..write down, 8,12,4 (or whatever time they are..and check them off as you get results)

Whatever your facilities charting is make a to do list for that too. Like head to toe (8am..or pm..depending on night or day), Pain 8,12,4...Plan of care- NIC/NOC(or whatever you use there)...you get the point.

See what time you have meds due...write them down and check them off when you give them...PS.just a side note here...take it from an ICU nurse who goes to the rapid responses...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...check BP's before you give meds, Check Potassium levels before you give K+, and make sure there's a decent FSBS and the patient is eating before you give insulin.

And always check your labs/xrays at the first of your shift!!

Once you get into the habit of things...you'll get to the point where you won't need it.

you've done the hard part! You're a nurse!!

Just my :twocents:....Hope it helps

I love this! Great, practical advice and a reminder of what I saw the nurses doing when I was in clinicals. It's been almost 7 months since that time and I am just now to the point of speaking with HR departments about job offers, so this is a great refresher! Thanks!

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Yes, I felt overwhelmed for a few months when I started. I still sometimes feel that way almost 2 years later. Have had nurses with 20+ years experience tell me that feeling never went away. ( but did decrease with prescription drugs)................. It is very stressful . Wait until you have 6 patients, get to play charge and train someone else.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Lisa - You are completely normal. I have heard it said that if a new nurse DOESN'T feel that way, there's a problem. It gets better, just very gradually over time. There is no quick way out of the anxiety! Hang in there. There is excellent advice on this post.

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Just stick it out, you'll find your flow. Also, keep in mind what works for other nurses won't necessarily work for you. My preceptor really pushed the "worksheet" with every pt's room number, diet, allergies, spaces for labs and VS, etc. She got very mad at me when I wouldn't use it, cause she said "everyone" uses it. Well, I just use a blank piece of printer that I fold in 3 segments and scribble notes on. It looks like gibberish to everyone else, but it works for me.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
I'm a nuclear medicine tech at heart. I lost my job due to the economy and couldn't find another position near my son so, I recently graduated with my RN degree. I need to ask you other nurses something. When you first started (esp. those of you that went to a busy med-surg floor) did any of you feel so overwhelmed that you questioned what you had gotten yourself into? I don't think anyone can prepare you verbally for how you will feel as a new nurse on a busy med-surg floor. Even with a 16yr background in nuclear medicine, I am stressed and questioning my choice of this career. I am second guessing whether or not I have the ability to care for numerous patients at one time (they are giving me 3 right now and my head is spinning....hahahaaaa). Please tell me that I'm not alone and that this is normal to feel this way. I want to succeed and be a darn good nurse....but my first few days on this floor have me wondering if I'm into something that just is not for me. I'm scared that I won't catch on and be able to remember all that is necessary to care for this type of workload. Help!

.....Lisa

I don't think i can stress enough how different nursing is then people expect. when i started nursing school, i thought my life as a nurse will be AMAZING. i will be an awesome nurse, i will love my job, i will make great money and everything will be rainbows and butterflys.

And then............i started by journey as a nurse on a step-down unit. and YIKES, let me tell you. it is opposite of what i thought nursing would be. I dread going to work, i hate complaining families and patients. I hate the demands on a nurse, i hate the hours. I don't mind 12 hour shifts because i only work 3days/week. however; i HATE that i rotate...days here, nights here, few days here, couple nights here. i wish i was just one or the other. I asked to be just one or the other and "No. Because we don't want you to get out of practice with the other shift." Yea...ok. whatever!

However; i will add that i am starting to feel much more comfortable with things. After about a year things really started to get better. I handled situations much better, not alot of patients freaked me out. Before i'd be taking care of a spinal cord injury, ventilator dependent, trach cares q4 hours etc. That freaked me out, now im like "BRING IT ON!!!" haha. Anyway, things DO get better but it still isn't rainbows and butterflys.

i can deal with going to work...and i can put up with patients but by day 3 i am sooo ready to be done! End of my rant :)

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For me at least, it still gets very overwhelming at times. BUT. so many things have happened OVER AND OVER AGAIN. that you get much faster at them and know how to deal with it, what will happen etc.

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Specializes in PCU/Telemetry.

Create a good "report sheet" w/ places for labs, test results, diet/activity orders, blood sugars, past medical history, etc, etc. This make giving & giving report very easy. It will also make it much easier to stay organized throughout the day b/c you'll know exactly where to look on your sheet for the information you need. Fill it out at the beginning of ever shift. Write down all of your meds for the day or at least what times they are due so you know what your "schedule" for the day will be like. Learn to group tasks while in each pt's room. Carry as many suppliers as possible in the pockets of your scrubs or on your med cart or whatever. It will save you a boatload of time.

All of these things have helped me over my first year as an RN to really become organized & efficient. Good luck!

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