Zero Confidence and Scared! eeek!!

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Specializes in Trauma/MedSurg.

I am a new grad (graduated May) and part of a 3 month RN residency program (thank God!) I have only worked two shifts so far and they have been really good/busy/interesting/crazy but I never thought I would be this SCARED about starting on my own. I have experience as a CNA and nurse intern and even though I am paired up with a preceptor, I am still so nervous and just waiting to mess up...I know it sounds horrible and I need confidence I am just so scared I am going to make a med error, chart something wrong, or I don't know, do something unintentionally to harm my pt.!! Ahh this sounds so bad but it's the truth:(

I know I need to be confident in my skills and just calm down and not expect the worst but did any other new grads feel like this? I don't know how my nurse will go to the patient's rooms do dressing changes, assessments, listen to complaints/concerns, give meds, give prn meds, and a bunch of other interventions and then sit down and remember to chart them all! A pt. will ask when is it time for his next dose of morphine and she'll say "about 2 hours". I have to constantly look at my paper and see...It is so hard for me to store all this info in my head! Does this change with time?? I feel like the real world is NOTHING like clinicals...they give you ONE patient and when I look back it really is a joke because it doesn't compare AT ALL to having 5 patients! and constant getting admissions and discharges! (I work on a busy trauma floor)

Wow this is a long post and I really appreciate your time for reading it and givinng feedback...any experience RNs have any advice? Or any new grads feel the same?:confused:

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You have described my experience as a new nurse perfectly! I have been at my job for a little more than 7 months now, and things have gotten much better! At first it seems like you can never remember everything that needs to be done, but as time goes by that will change. I have started to think differently, and now I organize things in my mind so I don't rely so much on my papers. I started to recognize patterns and standing orders. I can't pinpoint when this started to happen....it's been a process. And it is still a process! Hang in there, and things will get better! (I hate it when people say that to me, but it really is true!)

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Specializes in ICU.

Dont worry! Confidence will come with time. I started in ICU as a new grad 11 months ago and I felt the same way. My advice is to try to develop a routine that works for you and be as organized as possible. You can carry around a cheat sheet of short where you write pertinent info about each pt. at the start of your shift. With the you will get more comfortable. You will always have days where u feel super confident and days when you feel like you still dont know anything. If you do your best each day you will be fine. Good luck

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Specializes in Psych.

I feel the same way you do! I am doing my best to keep up with everything. I try to chart after each patient so it is fresh in my mind. I work on a busy med-surg floor and we are constantly getting admits and discharges. The discharges I usually know about that morning, but the admits pop up all day, which can be overwhelming....just when I think everything is under control I get 3 new patients!!

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I definitly feel the same! I have been precepting for a month now and Im up to 3 patients,but I feel like I have NO clue what Im doing half the time and Im soo slow! Im constantly nervous when giving meds and Im always forgetting to do things.My preceptor has been great,but I feel like shes picking up my slack.My charting is always behind,I forget to check orders or I spend too much time on one thing which messes me up with another thing.Im scared Im gonna be that nurse everyone hates to work with or receive report from.My preceptor wants me to build myself up to four patients next week,but I dont feel ready.I feel like I havent got the balance between paperwork and procedures,and I feel like I never will.Its like as soon as I step on the unit after receiving report Im looking up labs,meds,assessing,then start giving meds(which takes me forever),checking orders,calling the docs over import info,calling pharmacy for not having a med on the unit which puts me behind,changing tubings,st IV,D/C pt,doing an admission,turning pt,etc....... I can't keep up!sometimes I dont use the bathroom till late afternoon.I watch the other nurses just doing their thing with no prob. I feel like Im never going to get to that point.Trust me,you are not alone!

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Specializes in Oncology/Palliative Care.

Wow, this could be something I wrote...I feel the same way. Never on top of it and always worried I've missed something. Have not figured out a way to keep pt info in my head and to recognize the docs for my pt. My preceptor is so kind and everyone on the unit has been sooo very nice, but deep down I worry that they think I will not make it. Losing sleep is a regular occurrence and the stress is starting to have an effect, so then I worry more....hate this!

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Well, I've been off orientation now a little over a year. I used to feel the same, and sometimes I still feel the same. Yet, most days now I feel relaxed.

You get to a point where you learn to forgive yourself, mostly. So you have to look up when the last dose was --SO WHAT! OH WELL! You just cannot store every single bit of info in your head. It's OK to have to return to look it up. Perfectly ok. No one is really watching you that carefully all day long to see that you aren't committing everything to memory.

Of course, it helps a lot of us to have an organizational tool we use -- a report sheet, or whatever -- but you have to remember to USE IT also. It's no good if you don'T write down the info.

We have boards in the patient's rooms where we will write down the last dose of their pain med, or whatever, and when they can expect the next dose. That has helped me a lot and keeps the pt informed.

On our unit, it is always helpful to know the following on your patient: code status, vitals, lab results, baseline heart rhythm, test results, recent orders and what the orders were from the last shift, and general plan of care. Of course, you should know their history, family situation, etc. I spend about 10 minutes per patient every day looking up this stuff and writing it down so I know it and have it available. The rest of it -- well, I can look it up when I need it.

Start with forgiving yourself for not being perfect -- and go from there! :)

Also, on day shift, when I don't know my patients, I do come in about 1/2 hr early to "study up" on them so I can hit the ground running. It really helps. Also, management will not get on me about coming in early, but they will get on me about staying too late. So, I just create extra time for myself in the a.m. It sucks, but my day runs 100% smoother that way.

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Specializes in GI/ Peds?OB.

Were all feeling this way!! Hang in there! I am doing precepting this semester in a nrsing home and have no idea what is in stored for me. I was told I could have up to 20 pts with up to 50 meds each!!! Yikes! Calgon take me away...... I have a few cheat sheets I could send you. but let me know what area your looking for. I have been collecting.... I am trying to find some to use in a nrsing home.

Take Care!

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Specializes in Psych.

Could you send me copies of your cheat sheets? I am in need of organization!!

Thank you! :loveya:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

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Specializes in GI/ Peds?OB.

Thanks!!!

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:heartbeat*BIG HUGS* first of all.....I AM SOOO IN YOUR BOAT! lol! i have already written a post about how hard it is to keep everything organized and in your brain...or ON your brain sheet. ugh. I feel totally the same. my floor is super busy super unpredictable and when i get slammed with an admit i swear i go blank! remembering what to do with the stack of admission paperwork ON TOP of settling in you pt.! how do the expereinced nurses do it! LOL!:uhoh3:

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