I just want to share my concern, vent and perhaps get advise for those with more experience.
I have been a nurse since Jan 07 untill now working in the ICU. I started there and absolutely love it and feel like a sponge learning evryday. My problem is that I am too anal about everything and I worry alot. I worry about everything in my job. For example, forgetting to document something, or to report an abnormal lab. Even if I do it all. I still question myself if I did the right thing or if I've done enough.
When one of my patients go bad, i worry and feel like it could have done a better job taking care of them even though it's common in ICU for patients to deteriorate. I go home and think about my patients. I worry about malpractice..etc:uhoh3:
My question is: Is this going to end? Is it because I am new?
Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
I think there are degrees of "worrying." I have low level anxiety while I am working most of the time and I'm sure this is fairly common. However, deep anxiety and stress--thinking about it when you are at home, having trouble falling asleep at night, and physical symptoms of stress are very difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis. High levels of stress are not good for your physical or mental well being. Only you know how much stress you are having and whether or not it is tolerable to you. You may want to evaluate if you have found "your" specialty in nursing yet. I have observed that when nurses have found their "niche" they tend to have less stress. I know that some nurses find ICU to be extremely stressful and some not so much. I would encourage you to explore other possibilities or other specialties if you find that your stress level has not reduced after two years of ICU experience.
I think there is a varying degree of worry. I don't think I know everything, BUT I do not come in so overcome with worry that I cannot function and stand on pins and needles when a doctor rounds. I do not obsessively worry because I know I have a good head on my shoulders and if there is something I can't handle or am not as knowledgeable about I know when to ask for help. I don't think it's a crime to be confident as long as your not cocky about it.
A good physician friend of mine once told me that the day I quit being concerned about my patients; and yes, crying when they die, is they day I need to quit nursing and be a bookkeeper or secretary.
Dolce, RN
861 Posts
I think there are degrees of "worrying." I have low level anxiety while I am working most of the time and I'm sure this is fairly common. However, deep anxiety and stress--thinking about it when you are at home, having trouble falling asleep at night, and physical symptoms of stress are very difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis. High levels of stress are not good for your physical or mental well being. Only you know how much stress you are having and whether or not it is tolerable to you. You may want to evaluate if you have found "your" specialty in nursing yet. I have observed that when nurses have found their "niche" they tend to have less stress. I know that some nurses find ICU to be extremely stressful and some not so much. I would encourage you to explore other possibilities or other specialties if you find that your stress level has not reduced after two years of ICU experience.