What next?

[RNGUY92]

I graduated May 2014 with a BSN Got a job at a large teaching hospital 6 months later. I was there about 2 months. I was always anxious and my preceptor and my manger reminded me almost daily that I wasn't doing good enough because I wasn't showing enough confidence and not good at multi-tasking. They said they "liked me" and was "very caring" but then they basically asked me to resign. I was relieved to leave although disappointed. Now I have been at a rehabilitation place with acute patients. I am anxious except if I am the same cart but now that I'm off orientation that's not really going to happen. I'm tired of being anxious and just thought if I kept at nursing it would get better. I thought I would feel fulfilled with a nursing job but I'm just tired and I don't know what to do. Could nursing just not be for me? I want to know what else I could do but it seems like I don't have any opportunities unless I have 1 year experience.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I thought I would feel fulfilled with a nursing job but I'm just tired and I don't know what to do.

Welcome!

Perhaps you are looking for fulfillment through a nursing job when it's best to attain fulfillment in your personal life. Perhaps you are placing work on an undeserved pedestal. Perhaps you have generalized anxiety that is serious enough to require treatment. Who knows.

The common thread between the two jobs is your self-report of feeling anxious all the time. This is just some food for thought and an avenue you may wish to further explore.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

"Basically" asking you to resign is not asking you to resign. It can open the door to specific re-education opportunities. Learn to advocate for yourself. "Can we discuss specifics, and perhaps a timelined, goal oriented improvement plan?" "I would like to be mentored by a nurse who excels at multi-tasking. Is that possible?"

When someone says you do not multi-task well, then you need to ask how you can multi-task better. Confidence comes in time and experience.

I love paper brain sheets (many examples under the search feature of AN) as a way of staying organized and to be able to prioritize--both of which will lead to multi-tasking well.

If your anxiety is becoming an issue, you could see a counselor about this who may be able to give you some coping skills to help you.

Best wishes!