When do the bad dreams stop?

MBA2RN, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2009

Hi Jeff, I'm a new grad with nine months on a med-surg/stroke floor and I've just recently moved beyond the bad dreams phase. For the first eight months I would startle awake each night, thinking that I heard patient call-bells and bed alarms going off. But in the last month, I seem to have turned the corner. I'm feeling more confident on the floor, I'm managing my time better, and I've actually started taking breaks (not just working through). And the bad dreams have stopped. Maybe it's true what the experienced nurses have been telling me about new grads finding their groove sometime in the six to nine month period.

We lost another new grad on my floor last week. She just couldn't handle the workload, the pace and the pressure. She told me that she couldn't sleep. That makes four dropouts from a new grad class of 14. Just hold on, keep learning and you'll find your groove. :) Us new grads just have survive through this first year, then everything is gravy (I'm hoping).

MauraRN · Dec 26, 2009

I was an LPN for 3 yrs in LTC/sub-acute care. Never had bad dreams but was physically exhausted by the 24 pt load. Now I am an RN in a hospital acute rehab, having bad dreams, and the whole new nurse horror. And I actually have a good grip on the work. The biggest change for me is the personalities of my new co-workers. In the LTC, we were a great bunch of friends, helped one another with work and non-work stuff. This new group are very snobby, cliquey types on day shift. I cant wait to go on evenings where the decent nurses work. They seem like a nice bunch, help one another, include others in their conversations. Hope it gets better for all of us.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2009

Jeff, hang in. You'll find your groove.

:)