1 year experience, feel like i'm getting worse

**CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 5, 2018

One of my workplaces had a code blue class you could take. (Granted, it mostly went over all the things you could find in the million shelves of the code cart). Does your hospital have an RRT or Code team? Maybe you could ask to shadow them for a shift or two, to get a better feel for what they're looking for.

Sometimes I try to look at my own patients with "fresh eyes" (forget medical history, just look at the patient and see problems) - pain, breathing, just look 'sick'. Work on more focused assessments of what is actually wrong with them.

Sour Lemon · Dec 5, 2018

So I have a little over a year of experience as a nurse at this point. However, instead of feeling more confident as a nurse I feel like I'm noticing fewer things about my patients at times. And feel like I'm getting to be a worse nurse instead of a better one. I also want to be better at handling rapid responses/code blues. I am calm at the time but I can't seem to get myself to be a leader in those situations so I was wondering if anyone has any advice regarding either of these topics or if anyone has felt this way? May I just need to slow down and get more experience I'm not sure. Thanks!!

What sort of unit are you working on? Most don't have so many codes and rapid responses within a year that they become code "leaders".

What other ways do you feel like you're worse?

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2018

It is possible that you have reached that point in your learning where you are noticing your own deficiencies. This doesn't mean you are getting worse, it means that you are getting better because you are noticing what you don't know and need to improve.

melschmidt28 · Dec 5, 2018

I work on an ortho/neuro unit so I don't get too many rapids or codes but I want to be able to delegate and participate more in the rapids when I do have to call them. But I probably just need more experience I guess. And then otherwise I feel like I'm forgetting to do the smaller things that I used to remember to do when I was a new grad. Like check for MRSA screenings on certain admissions, double checking the nurses set up certain precautions and such

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2018

It is possible that you have reached that point in your learning where you are noticing your own deficiencies. This doesn't mean you are getting worse, it means that you are getting better because you are noticing what you don't know and need to improve.

This was my thought as well. OP, do you have a former preceptor or a nurse that you trust and work with frequently whom you could ask for feedback on your current practice?

cleback · Dec 5, 2018

Could it be that you're also getting more complex patients, so you don't have as much time for the other things you were on top of as a freah new grad?

melschmidt28 · Dec 5, 2018

I can try to ask her! I also keep overthinking everything I do and wondering if I could have done something better or different and I hate it. Any thoughts on this too?

melschmidt28 · Dec 5, 2018

I could be getting the more complex patients now that's a good point. As a new grad they usually tried to give you the easier ones so maybe I just need to reapproach my patients as if I was a new grad again and remember all of the little things

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2018

I could be getting the more complex patients now that's a good point. As a new grad they usually tried to give you the easier ones so maybe I just need to reapproach my patients as if I was a new grad again and remember all of the little things

That's the spirit! You're probably not getting worse. You're in the ortho/neuro unit...and that's a beat down. Moments of peril followed by days of the same routine (at least that's how it was when I floated down to that floor once. I could be wrong). Do you LIKE it? You've reached the beginning point of competence. Perhaps there's something else you want to do?