WORRIED NEW GRAD

AmyRN1227 · Mar 5, 2001

Hi all-

I am in a 2-year program and will be graduating in May. I feel less confident now than ever and I'm not sure why. I feel like when I get out into the field I will not have enough knowledge/skill to do my job right. I also made a medication error last week at clinical which I think shot my confidence right out of the water... We are learning IV insertion now and I just feel so clumsy and nervous---will this get better with practice??? I just feel like I don't know if I could really do this. Did anyone else feel this way and how long did it take you to feel comfortable being a nurse.

Any advice would be appreciated!!!

THANKS!

sheripa · Mar 6, 2001

Hello, we all have the same experience at some point in time and don't you let anyone tell you anything different. Everyone makes mistakes. Just be more careful and take your time. Don't forget to double check everything before you give it. You have gone through school and made it this far because you are capable. Hold your head up, poke your chest out and know that you are capable. If you don't you will only hender yourself. I thought I had made a med. error in nursing school and I cried my tears out.I was lucky I had a preceptor that was great and she sat me down and talked to me about it and told me we are human, we need to be extra careful because we are dealing with lives but don't forget you are a human being and we are not perfect. Good luck.

sheripa · Mar 6, 2001

Hello, we all have the same experience at some point in time and don't you let anyone tell you anything different. Everyone makes mistakes. Just be more careful and take your time. Don't forget to double check everything before you give it. You have gone through school and made it this far because you are capable. Hold your head up, poke your chest out and know that you are capable. If you don't you will only hender yourself. I thought I had made a med. error in nursing school and I cried my tears out.I was lucky I had a preceptor that was great and she sat me down and talked to me about it and told me we are human, we need to be extra careful because we are dealing with lives but don't forget you are a human being and we are not perfect. Good luck.

fergus51 · Mar 6, 2001

I really feel for you. It wasn't that long ago that I was stressing myself out about everything in clinical. It isn't just you- it's pretty much every student I have ever known. It took me about 5 months and a lot of crying fits before I felt really comfortable as a nurse.

Some days when you're just starting are horrible, but I bet you haven't killed anyone yet and in a couple of years you'll laugh about how nervous you were as a student. Take my advice and BREATHE! I used to get so nervous my hands would shake so bad I couldn't put in an IV to save my life. I just needed to breathe and take a second to tell myself that it's normal to be nervous and my instructors (as evil as they seemed at the time) wouldn't ask me to do anything they didn't feel I could do.

fergus51 · Mar 6, 2001

I really feel for you. It wasn't that long ago that I was stressing myself out about everything in clinical. It isn't just you- it's pretty much every student I have ever known. It took me about 5 months and a lot of crying fits before I felt really comfortable as a nurse.

Some days when you're just starting are horrible, but I bet you haven't killed anyone yet and in a couple of years you'll laugh about how nervous you were as a student. Take my advice and BREATHE! I used to get so nervous my hands would shake so bad I couldn't put in an IV to save my life. I just needed to breathe and take a second to tell myself that it's normal to be nervous and my instructors (as evil as they seemed at the time) wouldn't ask me to do anything they didn't feel I could do.

mustangsheba · Mar 6, 2001

As Sheripa said, take your time. We make errors when we're tired and distracted. When you're giving meds, focus all your attention on just that. If a patient questions the medication for any reason, double check the MAR and the order. If it has just been added to the MAR, check the order. The thing that helped me most when I was just learning to start IV's was to go through the procedure in my mind several times every night before going to sleep. I also take a long time finding a good vein and use hot packs excessively. Gravity helps a lot too -hang those arms over the edge of the bed and sit on the floor if you have to. And again, focus like a karate expert. Try to do one thing at a time, do it well, and then move on. That is much easier said than done, but it's the basis of prioritizing. You will get better and you will do fine because you care. In a year's time, you will be able to help a student nurse get through what you're going through now. Remember this feeling, but don't hang on to it. Best wishes.

mustangsheba · Mar 6, 2001

As Sheripa said, take your time. We make errors when we're tired and distracted. When you're giving meds, focus all your attention on just that. If a patient questions the medication for any reason, double check the MAR and the order. If it has just been added to the MAR, check the order. The thing that helped me most when I was just learning to start IV's was to go through the procedure in my mind several times every night before going to sleep. I also take a long time finding a good vein and use hot packs excessively. Gravity helps a lot too -hang those arms over the edge of the bed and sit on the floor if you have to. And again, focus like a karate expert. Try to do one thing at a time, do it well, and then move on. That is much easier said than done, but it's the basis of prioritizing. You will get better and you will do fine because you care. In a year's time, you will be able to help a student nurse get through what you're going through now. Remember this feeling, but don't hang on to it. Best wishes.

3651bht · Mar 6, 2001

Amy,

Remember when you first learned to drive? Scared weren't you? Took some time right? If you weren't worried I'd be worried. You'll do fine.... TTFN

3651bht · Mar 6, 2001

Amy,

Remember when you first learned to drive? Scared weren't you? Took some time right? If you weren't worried I'd be worried. You'll do fine.... TTFN

Navy Nurse · Mar 6, 2001

Hey don't worry by the time you start your job and get to put up with the sleepless nights, depression, poor pay, eating disorders, homocidal thoughts, lawsuits, and the list goes on, you will forget about your student days completely.

Navy Nurse · Mar 6, 2001

Hey don't worry by the time you start your job and get to put up with the sleepless nights, depression, poor pay, eating disorders, homocidal thoughts, lawsuits, and the list goes on, you will forget about your student days completely.