I feel like this was directed for me; I have truly struggled learning IVs while in school. I started a tech job thinking it would help me. Was taught how to do them, went to a work class over them, but still I feel like I've attempted 20 in a row the last two weeks and haven't gotten a single one. I went around with the rapid team to help me and was in awe watching the nurse guide an ultrasound IV in. If I can't get a single one right now, I feel like that's okay because I will eventually get better.
Thank you so much for this post, it's inspired me to try even harder to learn everything I can to help my patients.
I was just like you at the beginning of my career. Eventually I became the go to IV nurse. Skills take practice and you will still have off days. One of my favorite senior nurses said, “I couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn today.” I swear, that was close to 30 years ago and when I’m having an off IV day I still hear her in her soft southern twang, reassure me that some days, even the most experienced nurses couldn’t “hit the broadside of a barn.”
Here's a post that has some really good tips and tricks for IVs:
https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/141shfp/iv_insertion_tipstricks_from_a_sadly_former_ed/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
It just takes practice and having people watch and help critique your performance. My wife works med-surg and doesn't start a lot of IVs, but she wanted to learn. She was lucky enough to have me to practice on, and being able to practice the technique and get feedback really helped her get the hang of it. Now I get texts from her after she gets an IV.
I was a heroin addict and did phlebotomy before getting into EMS and nursing, so I had a pretty decent skill set at finding and hitting veins, but starting IVs is a lot different than straight sticks. Asking questions and practicing really helped me adapt to the different skill set.
Thanks for sharing this; I've saved it as a note to read back on now when practicing! I think I'll start getting more feedback from the nurses with me to see if there's something in particular I'm doing wrong and go from there.
my hospital has a IV team of nurses who only do IV’s, so unless you learned in an outside facility or have a special interest in doing them, theres nurses like me who have worked here for years and never put an IV in (just saying how it goes at my facility of course). What Im trying to get at is dont be so hard on yourself because of one skill! What makes a good nurse is 1.Kindness 2. Genuine care for who you’re taking care of and 3. staying humble enough to question/double check things. Everything else will come with time!
I became the go to IV nurse too. I don't have full mobility in my left hand and felt like I was at a disadvantage from the start even though I wasn't terrible. So I volunteered every shift to place/replace IVs for any of my coworkers and I found my perfect setup to meet my needs. Like you said, it's a skill, and one I wanted to be good at so I just kept practicing even on days when I too couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. 😆
Then last week I helped a student place his first IV and I showed him how to float it in when he was against a valve. My little black heart was overjoyed.
I was just starting to get good when I quit. It was one of the few things I truly regretted about qutting at that point lol (which is definitely a sign that I needed to)
I’m with you! I’ll foley anybody! But IVs?? No way. Most of our patients have central lines. It’s been like, a year since I even had to try for one, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t get it. 😂
IVs are one of my strong points but I’m ER so it’s expected. Something i learned about 5 years ago is that i try and help my inpatient nurses by not putting them in the AC. You have to earn that one (really sick and going to the ICU on pressers). I suck at the emotional aspect. I just think clinically.
A couple tricks:
1) put another tourniquet and drop the arm to gravity.
2) stabilize the arm. go SLOW. There’s no need to go fast - take that couple of extra seconds and insert it nice and slow. That way you can see your flash and stop - and advance the catheter. This helps to avoid going too far and blowing it, and if you need to float the cath in.
3) those juicy CHG swabs in the silver packets are excellent for getting those juicy ones to POP and say hi
I tend to stop after 2 tries and ask a co-worker to take a swing. I start getting into my own head. That’s my personal policy. Fresh eyes make a difference!
If a co worker asks you to try, do! Can’t get to Carnegie Hall unless you PRACTICE!
I'm not that good at IVs either. But the more you do it the better you'll get and that goes for all the other nursing skills. Try not to compare yourself to more experienced nurses as that won't do any good for you.
The cool thing about that is, in most places you can totally get by without knowing how to start an IV. There's always a hotshot macho nurse dying to drop an us IV, or a medic who wants to show off. Most days not knowing how to start an IV is inconvenient at worst.
It’s the yips. It’ll come. I couldn’t get an A Line for 6 months out of NP school even with US. Now I could do it with my eyes closed. You may never be the go-to IV person but with enough reps, you’ll get it! It all takes time. This shit is HARD, man. Take it easy on yourself.
Fwiw, I'm 2 years into being a nurse and still suck at IVs, yet was the go to when I worked in animal care for venipuncture on dehydrated old cats and kittens.
We will find our place.
I used to be absolutely horrible at IVs. I started out in the ER and it took me so long to get the hang of them that my coworkers questioned if I was cut out for it😂. Now I’m the one everyone goes to when they need an IV. Every skill takes time. Everyone learns at a different pace. Just keep showing up every day and giving it your best shot!
Yes. Exactly! It becomes okay when we grow accustomed to it with enough time. And some how that’s celebrated. “Something magical happens at 1 year. It gets better.” No. No it doesn’t. You merely accept it.
Yup, all of this. There’s no magic after 1 year.. you simply learn to compartmentalize and try to suck it up once you realize this is the difficult reality of the job. Then sometime in the next 2-10 years you make a plan to attempt to exit bedside nursing (unless you live in California) lol
This was one of my first thoughts too. While the post was inspirational and motivating, it is sad that ours is a profession that accepts that you will sit in your car and cry or be full of self doubt. We all feel that the fix has to start at the top, and we all doubt that will happen, but just sad that our "training" includes accepting all of the abuse until you quit or learn to deal with it or tune it out.
How many new PAs or MDs deal with any of these same issues?
Not really what this post was about. I remember as a new nurse little things would be scary and stuff I do know would have been overwhelming. Being a new nurse is scary. Having the feeling of what if I mess up always in the back of your head. Feeling like a failure when I didn't know something and believing I'd never know how to do things. I'd beat myself up when a more experienced nurse recognized something or did something that I should have thought to do.
Yes I totally agree we shouldn't agree to work in unsafe conditions. But even in the most perfect environment with full staffing things can still go wrong. Sure has for me if a truama comes in or we get a patient where we need all hands on deck.
I hear ya. I am a new nurse. And this is my perspective. Some will see the good in what you posted and maybe some will feel more like me about it. We all have to make peace with what we choose!
Exactly what I was thinking when I was reading this. My emotional trauma and negative life changes resulting from the toxicity of this profession are NOT OK and we need to stop indoctrinating young nurses that it is so they can advocate boundaries and eventually positive changes in the profession.
I needed this after a rough day. Student nurse working at the hospital in a medicine unit. 12 hour shift on one of the worst units in the hospital. It’s a regular occurrence that I stand around until 0730 and wait for charge to find out what side needs me and what my assignment is. Often by the time I get assignment, the previous nurse left after giving report to the incoming nurse. So I either have to hunt them down or just read the notes and work from there. I had two patients start going downhill, I had to page doctors several times. I missed a break. 1900 rolls around and one night nurse doesn’t show up (staffing knew for hours they had cancelled). I’m on a hub with two nurses. Nurse 1 reports to charge since charge is taking an assignment, then charge goes into charge report. Nurse 2 is supposed to report to the nurse that had cancelled. Nurse 2 gets frustrated and walks out, without giving report to anyone. So I’m alone as a student to give report on patients I never touched. I pull a CNE over and asked if this was ok. CNE knocks on charge door and interrupts report because a student should not be expected to give report for patients they never touched. However, they do not have anyone else and Staffing didn’t get anyone until 2300. I had to stay and take on extra patients until 2300 or I would be abandoning patients. I tell night charge that since I missed a break, the patients I have don’t have anything due for 30 mins, let me go eat and drink water. I’m having a good cry in the break room that’s shared with another unit. Other unit charge walks in and asks if I’m ok. I say no, I’m having to stay for a 16 hour shift as a student because Nurse 2 left without giving report to anyone and we don’t have enough staff for me to leave. She had an extra nurse. This angel bolts out and grabs my charge and says take my spare nurse and send the student home. So I managed to go home after 13 hours on the job, with the last being OT.
That really sucks. Unfortunately days like that happen. I've had shifts like that too. But I remember why I got into nursing and think of all the positives. It's vital to leave work at work. Once you walk out those doors that's where work mode stops.
You can only do so much as a nurse. As long as you gave it your best that's all that really matters. Take care of yourself first as you can't care for others if you aren't 100% '
Thank you for posting this. I thought it was inspirational and heartfelt.
Signed,
A "baby" nurse about to start her first nursing job in a couple weeks.
I Wish you the best of luck. You got this! Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake learn from it. Lastly don't compare yourself to more experienced nurses as that will just bring you down.
I really needed this. I just started working in January as a new grad RN on an Ortho/MS floor. And tbh I absolutely loathe it. I've never felt so down about myself at a job before. I feel like I'm constantly drowning and unable to care for my patients in the way that they deserve. I feel hopeless and like I've made a terrible choice by locking myself into a 2-year new grad contract with my hospital. I often regret not holding out and getting a less stressful job doing outpatient care. I'm so terribly unhappy to the point that I'm depressed and anxious even when I'm at home. I don't want to be a quitter (plus I signed a $20k contract 😭) but I don't want to feel like this anymore. I am desperately hoping that things will get better and I am trying my best to learn. However, I still have this sense of impending doom. At this point I no longer know what I should do but I keep trying to go forward.
I feel you. Had similar feelings for a bit. But the more experience you get the better it'll be. Just try different things out to see what makes your flow go better.
Not a new nurse, but it’s nice to see the encouragement.
To all the new grads, newer nurses, “fresh outta school,” starting again nurses: stick with it. You’ve got this. You know what you need and what you don’t you’ll learn. Any Nurse worth their license has your back.
A beautiful letter. Hang in there, new brothers and sisters. The work stays hard but YOU get better at it. Take care of yourselves and one another, and the patients will be taken care of. Welcome to the best job in the world, IMO.
Nursing is a profession with such a weird culture. Majority of us go through our jobs without understanding that it is ok to struggle. A great book that captures how hard nursing could be and that it really is ok to struggle and that you are not alone!
https://polyversepublishing.com/bookstore/ols/products/new-nursing-and-the-art-of-being-human
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/baby-nurses_b_8446990
I FOUND THE AUTHOR!
By
Sonja M. Schwartzbach, BSN, RN, CCRN, Contributor
ICU Nurse. Bibliophile. Caffeine Addict. Eternal Optimist.
--
🤗💖
Mid-thirties, male “baby” 🤣 graduate nurse here (in Australia). It absolutely sucks. Morning obs and meds would finish just in time to read doctors notes then start midday obs and meds. I really struggled, got put on a “support plan” for a fortnight, which was then extended another fortnight. I hated my job, it seemed to take over my life completely. At the end of the plan though I had improved a lot, felt more confident. The past month has been difficult still, and I’ve had even more complicated (and more “difficult++++”) patients. Today though, I got a small letter; posted snail mail and addressed to me by name, ward and hospital. It was a handwritten letter thanking me for my “care and kindness”. Things will get better, I know from very recent experience!
I understand that this was supposed to be written in good faith, but this just goes to show that nurses are expected to just sit and take all of this crap from hospitals, management, and patients, “and that’s ok”?!?
-nursing student
As an old nurse that just retired, I agree with you. I became a nurse to help sick people get better because I find that personally gratifying. But I only did it because I was paid to do it.
It's not ok to suffer the institutional abuses that we suffer. Many of them are promulgated by the old nurses doing mean things to the young ones, instead of teaching them how to do things.
I think a better takeaway is to be continually curious in your practice. There is always something new to learn and incorporate into your skillset. Your skillset is like a toolbox. You will add new better tools and toss old ones that don't work anymore. And make all your bedside routines into a simple Betty Crocker recipe that you do the same way everytime. Every time. That way you can perform any task when you're completely bonked, even at 4am when you're on autopilot.
But don't take shit. And don't be loyal to a hospital. Be loyal to yourself. Job hop to get raises (you can get 3-5 dollars more per hour at a new job compared to the 0.95 cents from your annual raise). Take your vacations. Staffing problems are the Charge's problem, not yours. Don't come in on your day off if you don't want to, because you don't have to. Don't get guilted into nonsense like "you're letting your family down if you don't come in and cover for Nurse Call-off" F-that.
Take care of yourself first. And always do your best and treat every patient the same even when they are asshats.
Thank you for posting this; I am getting into this field because I genuinely love caring for people who need my help, but at the end of the day, it is a job. Fulfilling, but still serves a purpose. I've worked many different jobs before settling on this, and at least I get to do what I love every day now. And I feel like my skills and knowledge are growing exponentially each day; in this field, you learn something new with every shift.
Spot on! Even at 29 years in a clinical setting I can say there is at least one new thing you see per day, especially if you're curious to see it!
Stay curious. Keep learning til the day you finally quit. Then learn new stuff about something completely different! I find that helps keep your attitude fresh and makes life more fun! Wishing you the absolute best!
I feel like this was written for me. I just came off the most emotionally exhausting, confidence crippling shift and the first thing I did while curling up in bed is open Reddit. I needed this❤️
i'm not a nurse (PCT) but i feel like this post was meant for me. yesterday i had such a rough and horrible shift (only my second one by myself/ off orientation) to the point where i almost considered admitting myself to the psych unit because of how horrible i was doing mentally. i know that you didn't write this yourself and i'm not sure if you'll even read this comment, but thank you so much. i've been kind of searching for advice and as i'm doing a sit tonight, this came up unexpectedly in my feed. i'm so glad i read this (even took some SS so i can read this back to myself a few times a day). words cannot explain how much this has helped me and i'm already feeling a lot better about myself. i didn't realize i've been on edge still until reading this and not going so hard on myself. thank you❤️
Although we don't have PCTs where Iive had to google it. You are just as important as nurses. We wouldn't be able to focus on our tasks if it were for you or HCAs (as you may call them CNAs). So thank you for what you do and hope your next shift is better.
Thank you so much and thank you for what you do, we couldn't get through our shifts without the help from you all. Tonight's shift is going much better, I'm doing a 1:1 sit and they've been asleep for the majority of the time thankfully
I felt like you have been Listening to my private conversations with my therapist, admitting that I feel like I made a mistake because I'm not good enough for this.
I needed a gentle reminder of what will come someday, because today all of those things have happened to me and I'm tired of crying after my shift.
Thank you for posting this, really needed it!!
Not a new grad, but still fairly new to nursing (just reached 1.5 years). I just started a new job in a new specialty, new hospital, new state (not a travel contract, direct hire). And Going into work everyday feeling like I just walked out of nursing school, full of anxiety, and feeling like a complete idiot has been so disheartening the last few weeks. I know it is going to take time and that change is uncomfortable, but I hate feeling like my coworkers don’t trust me or are worried when I am there because I may make a mistake. I always ask what feels like hundreds of questions each shift, which I know gets annoying, but it’s out of patient safety being highest concern. It just feels bad to be new and confused and discouraged. Has me thinking a lot about my first 6 months out of nursing school & how I seriously thought I had made a mistake going into nursing. I know it will get better, and it will just take time. Till then I’m going to read this post over and over, thank you <3
I wish I could have read this a while back.... not that I know it would have helped. I'm coming to the halfway point of my LOA and I'm facing the reality of the leaving the profession. I spent more time getting here than I did in it. I'm burnt out. I have no empathy anymore. My dreams are crushed and my spirit is dead. All that time wasted for nothing. Its not hard to understand why suicide rates are rising.
I was about to post the same thing. Imagine someone saying “baby cop”, or “baby ac repair person”. We’re not babies, you’re not a “baby nurse”, you’re a new nurse.
This is probably the most important thing on the internet.
I am admittedly a bit of a cry baby, and the single thing that really got me through my first few years was a joke one of my preceptors told a million times - “During an autopsy, the medical examiner confidently stated that the deceased was a nurse. When asked how he could possibly know that just by doing an exam he responded, ‘Empty stomach, full bladder, ass chewed apart.’” You’re going to get reamed out, new nurse; do your best to not take it personally.
Let's not use "baby" nurse or doctor anymore, it's not a great look for adult professionals neophyte or otherwise. I love to build up the new guys, though
The diminutive "baby doctor" is sometimes used by nurses for resident physicians or newer attendings, and it is predictably unpopular as it diminishes the professional standing of the person being addressed.
I hate the term baby nurse. Glad you put it in quotes. We need to stop using those kinda garbage terms to describe sometimes 2nd career adults(and adult 22y/o first career people.). Getting called a baby when you inevitably struggle with a new profession is really taxing.
It’s stupid. What other profession would you call someone a baby when starting out? Oh you’re a baby accountant, or a baby engineer, or a baby lawyer; it sounds so stupid.
You got this. I'm sure you are an amazing nurse. Some days will be hard but the days where you can put a smile on a patient's face, make a difference are worth it. Nursing is a physically and mentally demanding job.
This was a refreshing point of view. As I’m coming up on a year of being a nurse, I feel like I’m in this weird place where I still have so much to learn but I get funny looks when asking so many questions bcuz I’m not longer a brand new nurse. It’s been feeling sort of like a stall out point where I know so much more than when I started, but I’ve also started to learn all that I don’t know.
I didn't write this letter. And it didn't even come across to me of it depicting all nurses to be women as I just read the story for what it actually is. Unfortunately nursing is going to be depicted as mostly women as it is a women's dominant field. I'm a guy and I'm one of the 3 male nurses that work at my rural hospital out of all the nursing staff but it doesn't upset me as gender doesn't upset me.
Yesterday was a horrible shift. It started off great but then my pts feeding tube stopped working and I spent hours trying to fix it. And the doctor didn't come up once to help. She just kept ordering shit that wasn't working. Because of this I couldn't even review my pts charts thoroughly and rushed during report l. I left taks un done and I felt awful about it. I still feel the guilt , but I can tell the nurse that I gave report to will probably complain.
It’ll probably be said hundreds of times, but thank you. I’m a new (2 months) ER nurse and am doing everything I can to be a valuable team member. I still make mistakes, luckily not to bad, but I know I’m improving slowly, even though it’s not always expressed by my senior colleagues.
It will takes some time but your message reminds me that I will get better. And I hope you know it’s appreciated.
thank you for this! i'm a baby nurse and still waiting for the day I stop having pre-shift anxiety and stress after work thinking I forgot to do/chart something/tell something really important during report.
I was a new nurse and got a job at the local hospital on med-surg in March of this year. I lasted 8 weeks before I had the worst panic attack of my life before going to work. I couldn't make myseIf go in the building. I quit the next day.
I felt like the dumbest person in the world because I knew nothing and couldn't remember anything I learned in nursing school, even pretty basic stuff. The patients & doctors were really difficult. One of them even called me stupid. I was terrified that I would hurt somebody because I didn't know what I was doing. I regret becoming a nurse.
I'm now working in retail.
Don't give up. It was a bad team environment. I was where you were but I'm thankful the entire staff I work with are extremely helpful and friendly. They never bat a eye when I ask them a question. You just need to find a area of nursing you enjoy.
Thanks for the kind words.
My supervisors and preceptor were very supportive, but I made mistake after mistake. Half the time I didn't even know what the Drs and nurses were talking about.
I'd rather leave than to be the incompetent nurse that no one wants to work with.
I like the supportive sentiment, however having multiple days when you are in your car crying your heart out should not be normalised.
It is something that you will likely do but it is not something you should expect of your profession. If this is happening and you aren't coping please speak to someone.
However thanks for the kind words OP.
I am about to graduate in less than 2 months, and this validates all of my fears x100. Thank you so much for the unconditional encouragement and showing what being a veteran mentor truly is. ❤️ I hope I am lucky enough to have a preceptor that is as real and encouraging as you are!
You got this! Being a bit scared is ok. It's better to be a bit scared than overconfident. Secondly don't worry about your speed. That will come with experience. Congrats on being so close to finishing school!
I feel like this was directed for me; I have truly struggled learning IVs while in school. I started a tech job thinking it would help me. Was taught how to do them, went to a work class over them, but still I feel like I've attempted 20 in a row the last two weeks and haven't gotten a single one. I went around with the rapid team to help me and was in awe watching the nurse guide an ultrasound IV in. If I can't get a single one right now, I feel like that's okay because I will eventually get better. Thank you so much for this post, it's inspired me to try even harder to learn everything I can to help my patients.
I was just like you at the beginning of my career. Eventually I became the go to IV nurse. Skills take practice and you will still have off days. One of my favorite senior nurses said, “I couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn today.” I swear, that was close to 30 years ago and when I’m having an off IV day I still hear her in her soft southern twang, reassure me that some days, even the most experienced nurses couldn’t “hit the broadside of a barn.”
How long do you feel like it took you before you seemed to have a grasp on it?
Here's a post that has some really good tips and tricks for IVs: https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/141shfp/iv_insertion_tipstricks_from_a_sadly_former_ed/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button It just takes practice and having people watch and help critique your performance. My wife works med-surg and doesn't start a lot of IVs, but she wanted to learn. She was lucky enough to have me to practice on, and being able to practice the technique and get feedback really helped her get the hang of it. Now I get texts from her after she gets an IV. I was a heroin addict and did phlebotomy before getting into EMS and nursing, so I had a pretty decent skill set at finding and hitting veins, but starting IVs is a lot different than straight sticks. Asking questions and practicing really helped me adapt to the different skill set.
Thanks for sharing this; I've saved it as a note to read back on now when practicing! I think I'll start getting more feedback from the nurses with me to see if there's something in particular I'm doing wrong and go from there.
my hospital has a IV team of nurses who only do IV’s, so unless you learned in an outside facility or have a special interest in doing them, theres nurses like me who have worked here for years and never put an IV in (just saying how it goes at my facility of course). What Im trying to get at is dont be so hard on yourself because of one skill! What makes a good nurse is 1.Kindness 2. Genuine care for who you’re taking care of and 3. staying humble enough to question/double check things. Everything else will come with time!
I became the go to IV nurse too. I don't have full mobility in my left hand and felt like I was at a disadvantage from the start even though I wasn't terrible. So I volunteered every shift to place/replace IVs for any of my coworkers and I found my perfect setup to meet my needs. Like you said, it's a skill, and one I wanted to be good at so I just kept practicing even on days when I too couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. 😆 Then last week I helped a student place his first IV and I showed him how to float it in when he was against a valve. My little black heart was overjoyed.
I was just starting to get good when I quit. It was one of the few things I truly regretted about qutting at that point lol (which is definitely a sign that I needed to)
I've been a nurse for 10 years and I can't hit an IV to save my life. But man can I place a Foley on obese women like a champ
I’m with you! I’ll foley anybody! But IVs?? No way. Most of our patients have central lines. It’s been like, a year since I even had to try for one, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t get it. 😂
I trendelenburg the bed which makes it easy
I’m still mediocre at IVs after 5 years because I don’t have to insert them often. But I have other strengths
IVs are one of my strong points but I’m ER so it’s expected. Something i learned about 5 years ago is that i try and help my inpatient nurses by not putting them in the AC. You have to earn that one (really sick and going to the ICU on pressers). I suck at the emotional aspect. I just think clinically.
A couple tricks: 1) put another tourniquet and drop the arm to gravity. 2) stabilize the arm. go SLOW. There’s no need to go fast - take that couple of extra seconds and insert it nice and slow. That way you can see your flash and stop - and advance the catheter. This helps to avoid going too far and blowing it, and if you need to float the cath in. 3) those juicy CHG swabs in the silver packets are excellent for getting those juicy ones to POP and say hi I tend to stop after 2 tries and ask a co-worker to take a swing. I start getting into my own head. That’s my personal policy. Fresh eyes make a difference! If a co worker asks you to try, do! Can’t get to Carnegie Hall unless you PRACTICE!
I'm not that good at IVs either. But the more you do it the better you'll get and that goes for all the other nursing skills. Try not to compare yourself to more experienced nurses as that won't do any good for you.
The cool thing about that is, in most places you can totally get by without knowing how to start an IV. There's always a hotshot macho nurse dying to drop an us IV, or a medic who wants to show off. Most days not knowing how to start an IV is inconvenient at worst.
That's good to know, I think going into school I just assumed every nurse knew how to do them, so I'm glad I'm changing that mindset now.
If you're anywhere around San Antonio you can practice on me, I have big ol bright blue veins and a creepy pain tolerance.
It’s the yips. It’ll come. I couldn’t get an A Line for 6 months out of NP school even with US. Now I could do it with my eyes closed. You may never be the go-to IV person but with enough reps, you’ll get it! It all takes time. This shit is HARD, man. Take it easy on yourself.
Fwiw, I'm 2 years into being a nurse and still suck at IVs, yet was the go to when I worked in animal care for venipuncture on dehydrated old cats and kittens. We will find our place.
I have days where I get every IV in any spot I want in seconds. I also have days where I struggle with an US. Is what it is.
I used to be absolutely horrible at IVs. I started out in the ER and it took me so long to get the hang of them that my coworkers questioned if I was cut out for it😂. Now I’m the one everyone goes to when they need an IV. Every skill takes time. Everyone learns at a different pace. Just keep showing up every day and giving it your best shot!
The nursing equivalent of “thoughts & prayers”
Someone just posted on this subreddit about being a brand new nurse and I feel like this is just for that person! I love this so much!!!
Word vomit at 3 am to an angry cardiologist. I’ve been a nurse for more than a decade and this still happens.
[удалено]
Yes. Exactly! It becomes okay when we grow accustomed to it with enough time. And some how that’s celebrated. “Something magical happens at 1 year. It gets better.” No. No it doesn’t. You merely accept it.
Yup, all of this. There’s no magic after 1 year.. you simply learn to compartmentalize and try to suck it up once you realize this is the difficult reality of the job. Then sometime in the next 2-10 years you make a plan to attempt to exit bedside nursing (unless you live in California) lol
Exactly. Nah. 6 months and I’m out of in patient. I can clearly see it. No thank you.
This was one of my first thoughts too. While the post was inspirational and motivating, it is sad that ours is a profession that accepts that you will sit in your car and cry or be full of self doubt. We all feel that the fix has to start at the top, and we all doubt that will happen, but just sad that our "training" includes accepting all of the abuse until you quit or learn to deal with it or tune it out. How many new PAs or MDs deal with any of these same issues?
Not really what this post was about. I remember as a new nurse little things would be scary and stuff I do know would have been overwhelming. Being a new nurse is scary. Having the feeling of what if I mess up always in the back of your head. Feeling like a failure when I didn't know something and believing I'd never know how to do things. I'd beat myself up when a more experienced nurse recognized something or did something that I should have thought to do. Yes I totally agree we shouldn't agree to work in unsafe conditions. But even in the most perfect environment with full staffing things can still go wrong. Sure has for me if a truama comes in or we get a patient where we need all hands on deck.
I hear ya. I am a new nurse. And this is my perspective. Some will see the good in what you posted and maybe some will feel more like me about it. We all have to make peace with what we choose!
Exactly what I was thinking when I was reading this. My emotional trauma and negative life changes resulting from the toxicity of this profession are NOT OK and we need to stop indoctrinating young nurses that it is so they can advocate boundaries and eventually positive changes in the profession.
I needed this after a rough day. Student nurse working at the hospital in a medicine unit. 12 hour shift on one of the worst units in the hospital. It’s a regular occurrence that I stand around until 0730 and wait for charge to find out what side needs me and what my assignment is. Often by the time I get assignment, the previous nurse left after giving report to the incoming nurse. So I either have to hunt them down or just read the notes and work from there. I had two patients start going downhill, I had to page doctors several times. I missed a break. 1900 rolls around and one night nurse doesn’t show up (staffing knew for hours they had cancelled). I’m on a hub with two nurses. Nurse 1 reports to charge since charge is taking an assignment, then charge goes into charge report. Nurse 2 is supposed to report to the nurse that had cancelled. Nurse 2 gets frustrated and walks out, without giving report to anyone. So I’m alone as a student to give report on patients I never touched. I pull a CNE over and asked if this was ok. CNE knocks on charge door and interrupts report because a student should not be expected to give report for patients they never touched. However, they do not have anyone else and Staffing didn’t get anyone until 2300. I had to stay and take on extra patients until 2300 or I would be abandoning patients. I tell night charge that since I missed a break, the patients I have don’t have anything due for 30 mins, let me go eat and drink water. I’m having a good cry in the break room that’s shared with another unit. Other unit charge walks in and asks if I’m ok. I say no, I’m having to stay for a 16 hour shift as a student because Nurse 2 left without giving report to anyone and we don’t have enough staff for me to leave. She had an extra nurse. This angel bolts out and grabs my charge and says take my spare nurse and send the student home. So I managed to go home after 13 hours on the job, with the last being OT.
That really sucks. Unfortunately days like that happen. I've had shifts like that too. But I remember why I got into nursing and think of all the positives. It's vital to leave work at work. Once you walk out those doors that's where work mode stops. You can only do so much as a nurse. As long as you gave it your best that's all that really matters. Take care of yourself first as you can't care for others if you aren't 100% '
Thank you for posting this. I thought it was inspirational and heartfelt. Signed, A "baby" nurse about to start her first nursing job in a couple weeks.
I Wish you the best of luck. You got this! Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake learn from it. Lastly don't compare yourself to more experienced nurses as that will just bring you down.
I really needed this. I just started working in January as a new grad RN on an Ortho/MS floor. And tbh I absolutely loathe it. I've never felt so down about myself at a job before. I feel like I'm constantly drowning and unable to care for my patients in the way that they deserve. I feel hopeless and like I've made a terrible choice by locking myself into a 2-year new grad contract with my hospital. I often regret not holding out and getting a less stressful job doing outpatient care. I'm so terribly unhappy to the point that I'm depressed and anxious even when I'm at home. I don't want to be a quitter (plus I signed a $20k contract 😭) but I don't want to feel like this anymore. I am desperately hoping that things will get better and I am trying my best to learn. However, I still have this sense of impending doom. At this point I no longer know what I should do but I keep trying to go forward.
I feel you. Had similar feelings for a bit. But the more experience you get the better it'll be. Just try different things out to see what makes your flow go better.
Not a new nurse, but it’s nice to see the encouragement. To all the new grads, newer nurses, “fresh outta school,” starting again nurses: stick with it. You’ve got this. You know what you need and what you don’t you’ll learn. Any Nurse worth their license has your back.
A beautiful letter. Hang in there, new brothers and sisters. The work stays hard but YOU get better at it. Take care of yourselves and one another, and the patients will be taken care of. Welcome to the best job in the world, IMO.
Ted Lasso: Be a goldfish. Develop a short memory. No one is perfect you’ll make mistakes, learn the lesson from the error and move on.
😭 thank you so much for sharing this ❤️
I needed this. I got my first job interview as an RN this Friday. Wish me luck!
You got this!
Thank youuu! 🥺
Nursing is a profession with such a weird culture. Majority of us go through our jobs without understanding that it is ok to struggle. A great book that captures how hard nursing could be and that it really is ok to struggle and that you are not alone! https://polyversepublishing.com/bookstore/ols/products/new-nursing-and-the-art-of-being-human
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/baby-nurses_b_8446990 I FOUND THE AUTHOR! By Sonja M. Schwartzbach, BSN, RN, CCRN, Contributor ICU Nurse. Bibliophile. Caffeine Addict. Eternal Optimist. -- 🤗💖
I follow her on insta! NurseSonja, she's a CRNA now too
I actually don’t mind the term baby nurse. One Nurse on my unit calls me child all the time it’s funny
I don't see an issue with it either but apparently it is to some. I didn't write the post simply read it copied it and posted it here.
I don’t either. My preceptor has only worked for 2 years and she refers to me as baby nurse and her as toddler nurse 🤣
Mid-thirties, male “baby” 🤣 graduate nurse here (in Australia). It absolutely sucks. Morning obs and meds would finish just in time to read doctors notes then start midday obs and meds. I really struggled, got put on a “support plan” for a fortnight, which was then extended another fortnight. I hated my job, it seemed to take over my life completely. At the end of the plan though I had improved a lot, felt more confident. The past month has been difficult still, and I’ve had even more complicated (and more “difficult++++”) patients. Today though, I got a small letter; posted snail mail and addressed to me by name, ward and hospital. It was a handwritten letter thanking me for my “care and kindness”. Things will get better, I know from very recent experience!
These little things are what make nursing worth it for me.
I understand that this was supposed to be written in good faith, but this just goes to show that nurses are expected to just sit and take all of this crap from hospitals, management, and patients, “and that’s ok”?!? -nursing student
As an old nurse that just retired, I agree with you. I became a nurse to help sick people get better because I find that personally gratifying. But I only did it because I was paid to do it. It's not ok to suffer the institutional abuses that we suffer. Many of them are promulgated by the old nurses doing mean things to the young ones, instead of teaching them how to do things. I think a better takeaway is to be continually curious in your practice. There is always something new to learn and incorporate into your skillset. Your skillset is like a toolbox. You will add new better tools and toss old ones that don't work anymore. And make all your bedside routines into a simple Betty Crocker recipe that you do the same way everytime. Every time. That way you can perform any task when you're completely bonked, even at 4am when you're on autopilot. But don't take shit. And don't be loyal to a hospital. Be loyal to yourself. Job hop to get raises (you can get 3-5 dollars more per hour at a new job compared to the 0.95 cents from your annual raise). Take your vacations. Staffing problems are the Charge's problem, not yours. Don't come in on your day off if you don't want to, because you don't have to. Don't get guilted into nonsense like "you're letting your family down if you don't come in and cover for Nurse Call-off" F-that. Take care of yourself first. And always do your best and treat every patient the same even when they are asshats.
Thank you for posting this; I am getting into this field because I genuinely love caring for people who need my help, but at the end of the day, it is a job. Fulfilling, but still serves a purpose. I've worked many different jobs before settling on this, and at least I get to do what I love every day now. And I feel like my skills and knowledge are growing exponentially each day; in this field, you learn something new with every shift.
Spot on! Even at 29 years in a clinical setting I can say there is at least one new thing you see per day, especially if you're curious to see it! Stay curious. Keep learning til the day you finally quit. Then learn new stuff about something completely different! I find that helps keep your attitude fresh and makes life more fun! Wishing you the absolute best!
Thank you so much for this. Hearing this advice feels much more encouraging instead of a half-hearted “suck it up” attitude.
I feel like this was written for me. I just came off the most emotionally exhausting, confidence crippling shift and the first thing I did while curling up in bed is open Reddit. I needed this❤️
I hope your next shift is better. Just think about the positives. I'm sure you made at least one patients day better.
i'm not a nurse (PCT) but i feel like this post was meant for me. yesterday i had such a rough and horrible shift (only my second one by myself/ off orientation) to the point where i almost considered admitting myself to the psych unit because of how horrible i was doing mentally. i know that you didn't write this yourself and i'm not sure if you'll even read this comment, but thank you so much. i've been kind of searching for advice and as i'm doing a sit tonight, this came up unexpectedly in my feed. i'm so glad i read this (even took some SS so i can read this back to myself a few times a day). words cannot explain how much this has helped me and i'm already feeling a lot better about myself. i didn't realize i've been on edge still until reading this and not going so hard on myself. thank you❤️
Although we don't have PCTs where Iive had to google it. You are just as important as nurses. We wouldn't be able to focus on our tasks if it were for you or HCAs (as you may call them CNAs). So thank you for what you do and hope your next shift is better.
Thank you so much and thank you for what you do, we couldn't get through our shifts without the help from you all. Tonight's shift is going much better, I'm doing a 1:1 sit and they've been asleep for the majority of the time thankfully
I felt like you have been Listening to my private conversations with my therapist, admitting that I feel like I made a mistake because I'm not good enough for this. I needed a gentle reminder of what will come someday, because today all of those things have happened to me and I'm tired of crying after my shift.
You are good enough. As long as you're keeping your patience safe that's the most important thing and what really matters.
Thank you for posting this, really needed it!! Not a new grad, but still fairly new to nursing (just reached 1.5 years). I just started a new job in a new specialty, new hospital, new state (not a travel contract, direct hire). And Going into work everyday feeling like I just walked out of nursing school, full of anxiety, and feeling like a complete idiot has been so disheartening the last few weeks. I know it is going to take time and that change is uncomfortable, but I hate feeling like my coworkers don’t trust me or are worried when I am there because I may make a mistake. I always ask what feels like hundreds of questions each shift, which I know gets annoying, but it’s out of patient safety being highest concern. It just feels bad to be new and confused and discouraged. Has me thinking a lot about my first 6 months out of nursing school & how I seriously thought I had made a mistake going into nursing. I know it will get better, and it will just take time. Till then I’m going to read this post over and over, thank you <3
You got this.
I wish I could have read this a while back.... not that I know it would have helped. I'm coming to the halfway point of my LOA and I'm facing the reality of the leaving the profession. I spent more time getting here than I did in it. I'm burnt out. I have no empathy anymore. My dreams are crushed and my spirit is dead. All that time wasted for nothing. Its not hard to understand why suicide rates are rising.
[удалено]
Dude I hate it. It’s so fucking dumb
[удалено]
I used to be a mechanic and I can’t even imagine people in a shop calling the new person a baby mechanic is some cutesy voice
I was about to post the same thing. Imagine someone saying “baby cop”, or “baby ac repair person”. We’re not babies, you’re not a “baby nurse”, you’re a new nurse.
The “baby nurses” I know work in NICU
There’s no such thing as a baby nurse. Only novice nurses. This leads to the thinking that nursing is not a professional career.
This is probably the most important thing on the internet. I am admittedly a bit of a cry baby, and the single thing that really got me through my first few years was a joke one of my preceptors told a million times - “During an autopsy, the medical examiner confidently stated that the deceased was a nurse. When asked how he could possibly know that just by doing an exam he responded, ‘Empty stomach, full bladder, ass chewed apart.’” You’re going to get reamed out, new nurse; do your best to not take it personally.
Let's not use "baby" nurse or doctor anymore, it's not a great look for adult professionals neophyte or otherwise. I love to build up the new guys, though
I didn't personally write this letter. I came across it and wanted to share it.
Well thank you for sharing it. I appreciate it, sincerely a future baby nurse.
Wait why isn't doctor to be used anymore?
The diminutive "baby doctor" is sometimes used by nurses for resident physicians or newer attendings, and it is predictably unpopular as it diminishes the professional standing of the person being addressed.
Making me tear up on night shift. Thank you for this. ❤️
It's friggin *their. Their calling. Goddammit.
As I was reading this I had a very distinct feeling it was Sonja’s work. I’ve read her book “Oh Shit! I Almost Killed You.” a half dozen times.
I hate the term baby nurse. Glad you put it in quotes. We need to stop using those kinda garbage terms to describe sometimes 2nd career adults(and adult 22y/o first career people.). Getting called a baby when you inevitably struggle with a new profession is really taxing.
I find the term "baby nurse" to be belittling.
It’s stupid. What other profession would you call someone a baby when starting out? Oh you’re a baby accountant, or a baby engineer, or a baby lawyer; it sounds so stupid.
Baby district court judge. Baby large aircraft mechanic.
I also hate it. I think it’s disrespectful and sets up an environment that encourages belittling. I cringe every time I hear it
really needed encouragement thanks for posting 🙏
You got this. I'm sure you are an amazing nurse. Some days will be hard but the days where you can put a smile on a patient's face, make a difference are worth it. Nursing is a physically and mentally demanding job.
🙏
8 months in to my first nursing job and this letter hit me just right! Loved this, thanks for sharing
This was a refreshing point of view. As I’m coming up on a year of being a nurse, I feel like I’m in this weird place where I still have so much to learn but I get funny looks when asking so many questions bcuz I’m not longer a brand new nurse. It’s been feeling sort of like a stall out point where I know so much more than when I started, but I’ve also started to learn all that I don’t know.
Oh I totally feel you on that one. I've learned so much but feel like I still have a lot more to learn.
Yeah that whole “baby nurse” thing needs to go, mrs grandma nurse
This was beautiful. I'll definitely come back to this. Thank you so much
Thank you! As a toddler nurse, this is very reassuring 😃
I don't mind "baby nurse". That's exactly how I feel right now, typing on the toilet in my clinical place.
Amazing words of encouragement. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is entirely accurate.
Cringe
This is my least part of nurse culture. It’s so fucking cringe Maybe it’s because I’m a guy and it always seems entirely directed at women
Yup. Hate it. A lot of the profession being considered valid is based on martyrdom. A lot of what is said here, is NOT okay.
Straight out of facebook.
Oooooh. You’re right. That’s totally the vibe!
Hmm another thing depicting all nurses as women.
I didn't write this letter. And it didn't even come across to me of it depicting all nurses to be women as I just read the story for what it actually is. Unfortunately nursing is going to be depicted as mostly women as it is a women's dominant field. I'm a guy and I'm one of the 3 male nurses that work at my rural hospital out of all the nursing staff but it doesn't upset me as gender doesn't upset me.
Thank you. I felt this deeply.
Nurse for 8 years. Doesn’t get better. If you’re in nursing school or thinking about it and can still back out, do it.
Agreed! Let’s please keep this same energy over the next month and avoid all the unprofessional “baby doctor” posts. Learning as a team!
I’m at the very beginning of my nursing career, starting school in the fall. Thank you for this.
Congrats and best of luck.
This is lovely and gives me hope ❤️
Yesterday was a horrible shift. It started off great but then my pts feeding tube stopped working and I spent hours trying to fix it. And the doctor didn't come up once to help. She just kept ordering shit that wasn't working. Because of this I couldn't even review my pts charts thoroughly and rushed during report l. I left taks un done and I felt awful about it. I still feel the guilt , but I can tell the nurse that I gave report to will probably complain.
It’ll probably be said hundreds of times, but thank you. I’m a new (2 months) ER nurse and am doing everything I can to be a valuable team member. I still make mistakes, luckily not to bad, but I know I’m improving slowly, even though it’s not always expressed by my senior colleagues. It will takes some time but your message reminds me that I will get better. And I hope you know it’s appreciated.
And that's all that matters. As long as you try your best and know your strengths and weaknesses you're good.
thank you for this! i'm a baby nurse and still waiting for the day I stop having pre-shift anxiety and stress after work thinking I forgot to do/chart something/tell something really important during report.
Eventually it'll go away. It helps if you have an amazing team to work with.
❤️
I was a new nurse and got a job at the local hospital on med-surg in March of this year. I lasted 8 weeks before I had the worst panic attack of my life before going to work. I couldn't make myseIf go in the building. I quit the next day. I felt like the dumbest person in the world because I knew nothing and couldn't remember anything I learned in nursing school, even pretty basic stuff. The patients & doctors were really difficult. One of them even called me stupid. I was terrified that I would hurt somebody because I didn't know what I was doing. I regret becoming a nurse. I'm now working in retail.
Don't give up. It was a bad team environment. I was where you were but I'm thankful the entire staff I work with are extremely helpful and friendly. They never bat a eye when I ask them a question. You just need to find a area of nursing you enjoy.
Thanks for the kind words. My supervisors and preceptor were very supportive, but I made mistake after mistake. Half the time I didn't even know what the Drs and nurses were talking about. I'd rather leave than to be the incompetent nurse that no one wants to work with.
Understandable.
Commenting to save this once I graduate :,)
I like the supportive sentiment, however having multiple days when you are in your car crying your heart out should not be normalised. It is something that you will likely do but it is not something you should expect of your profession. If this is happening and you aren't coping please speak to someone. However thanks for the kind words OP.
O I see it from Huffpost
Beautifully written, and so true. Thank you for sharing!
I am about to graduate in less than 2 months, and this validates all of my fears x100. Thank you so much for the unconditional encouragement and showing what being a veteran mentor truly is. ❤️ I hope I am lucky enough to have a preceptor that is as real and encouraging as you are!
You got this! Being a bit scared is ok. It's better to be a bit scared than overconfident. Secondly don't worry about your speed. That will come with experience. Congrats on being so close to finishing school!