Comments on: Finding Allies at Work

By: sara

sara — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:56:32 +0000

help i am seen as cocky and a know it all and this couldnt be further from my truth. i am a new grad and work in long term care, its been two months and ive been moved around because nobody wants me, this is not a pity party, i truly am loving and open and am seeking to change what i must be emoting. Ive been told i have a quality that gets under peoples skin and i dont see it so i dont know how to stop and let people get to see ME

By: Valentina

Valentina — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:26:14 +0000

You have so gloriously voiced my internal feelings as a new nurse (1.5yrs) in pediatric ICU, and now that I have finally gotten over the almost paralyzing fear of what might happen on my shift, I am constantly doubting myself in situations. When a patient craps out on me and I react, I can be told I did a good job by all of my colleagues, but I still feel inadequate somehow. I am fortunate enough to have STRONG support of my fellow RN’s, but I’ve been experiencing low self-confidence in my abilities that’s been unprecedented in any other job I’ve ever had. I kick myself for days about not anticipating quickly enough, or not knowing how to do a certain task…or feeling too emotional about a patient. I think it stems from the fact that being a nurse is EXTREMELY difficult and takes alot of time to fine tune notwithstanding factors such as exhaustion, stress, language barriers, etc. I don’t think anyone knows how hard it is to be a new nurse until you find yourself hunkered down in the madness of it all. I can personally attest that I appreciate the support I have from my colleagues, but I acknowledge that I need to believe in myself and give myself constant pep talks to bring myself up. SOLDIER ON NEW NURSES!!!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:38:16 +0000

This article was sent to me by the very nurse I was FINALLY able to confide in about how scared I am and how inadequate I feel. I have worked as a patient care tech for 4 years in the ER and graduated from RN school last spring. I didn’t think the ED would be as hard as it is because I was familiar with the flow and all, but it has been very much challenging. How the new grads who haven’t worked ED previously are surviving, i don’t know because I feel I’m just barely hanging on. Of course, like the article said, there will be those colleagues who will view my feelings about the care I give as a weakness, but the vast majority of the people I work with are understanding and willing to help with the adjustment process in that 1st year of nursing. I am so glad to work with such awesome people.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Being a student nurse in an ADN program, this totally hits home with me. I’m having these fears and anxieties already during my clinicals. Sometimes I feel plain stupid and wonder if I can really handle this job. I know I love nursing and love working with people. But there’s so much responsibility. People’s lives are in my hands and that’s a really scary thought. I’ve already seen how unsupportive the staff can be. It’s very discouraging. I wonder what will happen when I graduate and my instructor is not there to ask questions. Who will I be able go to?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:01:24 +0000

I’m so glad I subscribed to this site b/c from time to time I’ll check out what article relates to me. One thing that hits me was the article, “Nurse Know-Nothing”. I’ve been a RN for a year & 1/2.

An incident happened when I ask a seasoned nurse a simple question it had nothing to do with patient safety nor bedside care. The reply given to me was, “who trained you?” It’s hard to find a comfort zone when you are not getting the support to need.

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:43:58 +0000

Wow!! This is exactly how I feel! I ask myself everyday I work, do you really think you know what you are doing? What are you doing here? I do talk but am not a very good conversationalist. I feel like I get lost even in my own conversation so I just clam up most of the time. Something I need to get over but not sure really how to strike up the conversation and again don’t always want to look like “Nurse Know-Nothing”. I’m not afraid to ask questions and so I don’t know how to do things, patient safety, but to talk about it later, I definitely feel like the big dummy and maybe it’s something I should already know.

By: Amy Morton-Miller

Amy Morton-Miller — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:43:02 +0000

Glad you found the article helpful. Good luck with your nursing adventures. Take care…and hang in there!

—Amy

By: Caroline Collins

Caroline Collins — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 21:32:44 +0000

Thank you for this article – I couldn’t have come across it at a better time!

I can draw so many parallels to your descriptions, especially the comments about ‘Nurse Know-Nothing’, ‘negative internal dialogue’ and ‘feelings of inadequacy’.

I shall do my best to take your advice and try to ‘connect’ with my more experienced colleagues as well as to ’share’ with my peer group.

For the record, I am a recently qualified ‘mature’ Nurse (40ish!) in the UK – you see, fears cross all boundaries!

By: Diane Alvy

Diane Alvy — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:55:36 +0000

Amy

I loved your article and your mission to help students during their first years. I too had challenges when I went to nursing school and began working.

I live in California and have written a resolution which incorporates support groups within all nursing programs here in California. California has the worst nursing shortage across the United States. 50% of the nurses are trained elsewhere.

Would like to contact you to run ideas across if possible. I’ve become a member of the American Nurse’s Association and will present my resolution to their general assembly early next month. They’ve accepted a number of my previous articles

Sounds like we share same missions. Would like to connect with you if possible. I love this website. I wonder if many students know about it.

Sincerely
Diane Alvy RN
dalvy@earthlink.net