Anxiety as a nurse reddit

I never thought I'd feel so many of the same emotions that strangers on Reddit do, but alas here I am. I've been a nurse for almost 8 years now. You will reevaluate how you give patients what they want/ask for vs what they "need" and what is helpful for their treatment. For context, I’ve been an LPN since 2012, and I got my RN in 2016. I have been on antidepressants and betablockers for 2 years and I've had CBT for my social anxiety. So from this feeling I start thinking "What was I thinking, why did I think I should change 6. • 1 min. I’m in my second year of nursing school and I received a C in med surg 1. No one is dying in my clinic and on the off chance i think someone could die, i call 911 and send them out. I am only 3 weeks in on a med/surg unit A lot of nursing students have to figure out how to stop thinking like an aide and think like a nurse. I’ve only been a nurse for exactly a year and I’ve been working as an ICU nurse. Due to having anxiety, I am so nervous that learning all these new health topics will trigger me into a spiral and I won’t be able to complete school. Today was my first day as a nursing student. Like anything it gets easier with time and experience. Same unfortunately. Lives are in your hands and mistakes can hurt people. The main source of anxiety for me is doing 3 essays, 1 presentation and a placement on a dementia ward at the same time and deadlines within 3 weeks of each other. Take deep breaths after every 10 or so questions. A sport: Lots of people do CrossFit. I ended up seeing a doctor for anti-anxiety medications but I still had/have a hard time with the social aspect of life at times. Anxiety is awful! Sending you a big hug I feel like giving up. Overall though, it’s manageable. I am a primary care PNP too. Giving out medications is obviously a big one but I would consider the one-to-one interactions you have with the patients as the most important. Farese enjoys using creative art to help reduce her nursing anxiety and stress levels. 5 hours, my alarm is set to go off in another 4 hours and I’m still wide awake just anticipating a bad day. Nursing has honestly ruined me - physically and mentally. I have no issues communicating with patients, I’ve had nothing but good feedback from them. Clinicals were hell. Each person handles things a bit differently and what works for someone else may not work for you. I’ve been a nurse for 5 years and it’s getting worse every day. But do remember. New Grad. ADMIN MOD. I just want to know. I work in 5. I’ve always struggled with testing anxiety, but i’ve never failed before like I am this semester. shoulder hug and a smile. However, I have pretty bad social anxiety in certain situations, and being physically close to patients while I stick them or take their pulse in one of those. ) Also, find a catharsis. I’m supposed to wake up in less than 4 hours to get ready for clinical but I am filled with so much dread and anxiety every time I lay down I feel like I’m going to have a panic attack. 2. And when your dealing with your first patient having a panic attack you will understand! 1. I work 3 12hr day shifts, on a med-surg tele ortho floor. Before I hear from older nurses that it's because I'm a new grad, please save those comments to yourself. You'll go crazy if you don't. Nursing is far worse than nursing school, especially if you don't like clinicals, are an introvert, struggle with mental health, or enjoy basic human rights like peeing and drinking water when you feel like it. It really depends on how you deal with stress and manage your anxiety. Consider seeing a licensed family marriage therapist or a licensed clinical social worker and ask for a couple sessions of therapy just to get a feel for it. Our instructor had stethoscopes, thermometers, O2 sensors and bp cuffs for us to use in class. Her creative outlets are photography, writing, and teaching poetry. Multiple fights a day where nurses/security officers have to intervene. I am a new grad nurse. 10. My first clinical placement was in a general medical ward and the nurses were all very nice and helpful. Get up and do something to release all your pent up adrenaline. Graduated 3 weeks ago and am suffering from really bad, overconsuming, crippling anxiety. If you're on the mobile website or the official Reddit app, you can find the sidebar under About. Confidence is biiiiiiig and while it’s not expected of you to be overall confident at your first job, you do have to carry an heir of confidence in your skills in order to provide effective/timely care as well as making the pt feel Medical - adjective of or relating to the science or practice of medicine: Advice - noun an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc. Hi, newly returning to Reddit after a ten-ish year period away because I need help and community. Nursing can be hard, but it can also be rewarding. Even if it’s only for two minutes. Both are low stress both mentally and physically. abc7777777. Lingering creates anxiety about trying to get everything right. 3. I used to work on PCU, and it was on the third floor. After 17 years. I questioned my career choice and just felt so scared. It’s my second semester and it’s 1:30am. If what you need isn't on the sidebar, try using search. Venting. My social anxiety was so bad that I failed clinical one semester and had to retake it. Currently in block 2 and sitting at a 73% proctored. However, now only two months in, I've been struggling keeping myself afloat. Try not to add any layers of stress or pressure. Yes it’s important and your nursing journey rides on it, but do not give that exam more power than it needs. Many had mental health issues, and from my perspective, this job tends to draw people with depression/anxiety and the stress and odd sleep schedule of the job triggers something within people rather than the notion that nursing “makes” people have depression/anxiety. What helped me read actually getting a job in healthcare. My anxiety was peaking no matter what role I tried. Thank you so much ️ I've only been a nurse for a month so every mistake I make feels so enormous and I come running here. The anxiety doesn’t go away but how you perceive it and react will help you overcome the anxiety. I have always wanted to become a nurse and I finally enrolled in school. She’d force me to get in front of the class. Just as the title says. sweetlily_13. Basically, I'm in pre-nursing, and will be entering nursing school in 2021. . I got a job as a patient care tech while in nursing school, so the repetition of interacting with multiple patients a shift wore down some of that nervousness. My husband says Im hard on myself. I began a prescription for anxiety a while back, and i know its helped me so far. New nurse with terrible anxiety. I recently graduated nursing school, and after three years of working full time while being in school full time I can only speak for myself, but I have never once cried or had an extreme breakdown over school, and that's saying a lot because I have persistent anxiety. Patients and families are relying on your expertise to get them through a rough patch. I can say the same thing. First Day of Class Anxiety. New nurse, feeling like a want to quit nursing for good. I struggled to get into any nursing programs. Currently in LVN. I had a routine of walking up the stairs to get to my unit and when I got to the second floor my anxiety kicks in and I start to dry heave. Let's begin with the social anxiety aspect of everything. I hated "being in the way" and the nurses weren't always very helpful or welcoming. I get increasingly anxious before work wondering what unit I’m going to be working on. I liked my job, felt like I knew what I was doing, I This exam is not a death sentence. Here are some helpful searches links: clinical tips, studying tips, and tips on staying organized. Anyone else go through this? Background: I graduated with my BSN in December 2012 and got my first nursing job in a new grad program at a well known hospital. Just talking out loud to someone about your thoughts throughout the week can have such an improvement on your life. I feel like I can do better but my drive has diminished. Dec 17, 2020 · Here are a few tips for novice nurses to help decrease anxiety: Get rest at least 6-8 hours rest at night: this will allow your mind and body to reset each day. 1 Share. Award. I feel nervous and simulated all the time. And after a semester of dealing with that, therapy and some SSRIs and prn propranolol, I don’t really feel anxiety anymore. I have performance anxiety and anxiety itself. Psych nurses in Ireland have pretty varied roles depending on the setting you work in. I'm now in a surgical ward and the nurses just ignore me, or everything is just a big inconvenience that I do, or can't do. Keep your head up. I don't even recognize myself anymore. It does get easier with time. This will definitely ease your anxiety about clinicals. Even though I passed, It has given me such anxiety about continuing with schooling. Now I’m admin sup and pick up in outpatient PACU. It’ll get better with time and if the anxiety you’re feeling is too much to handle, seek treatment. Ever since I started my first ever nursing job one year ago, I have had crippling anxiety when it comes to work. She forced me to speak. I am completely overwhelmed. Nursing school is a huge commitment and a heavy load to carry. I had shadowed there a few times, so I got a small sense of what to expect. I am 24 years old and recently graduated with my four-year university nursing degree, which actually took me five years as I had to repeat a nursing course. Fast forward to now: in a week and half I’ll be starting nursing school and I’m literally having an I’m going through nursing school now with SA and it’s difficult sometimes being in a cohort with a limited amount of people you’d have to ensure you get along with over the next 2 years. I feel like I’m going insane. Take it one day at a time. I so appreciate any nurse taking care of our girl, but our previous nurses would send us updates through the app, know what our girl likes after a bit of their shift, talk to her, etc…and now that’s not happening. I love the science behind everything, and I know I'm certainly capable of passing the coursework and the NCLEX. She was just downgraded from 1:1 to 2:1 care and I feel like the quality/attention of the nurses immediately went down. That being said, I will say it gets easier—-at least for me, it had gotten easier as well as for most of my nursing colleagues. Fine motor tremor - your Dr might prescribe beta-blockers which would assist. Nursing school can really be a super bummer. I already deal with anxiety and depression and I’m afraid However that success rate doesn't imply 50% of people failed/dropped out. Completely normal. My first job was where I did the majority of my clinical hours, so maybe I didn’t have terrible anxiety, but that first winter/sick season was brutal. It shouldn’t be crippling anxiety but it should make you question yourself and ask questions when you are unsure. How a good psych nurse can deescalate a situation can be amazing to watch. I get all my breaks, feel confident in my job, and enjoy them. Pre shift anxiety always occurred even until year 3 (I’m currently on year 10 🤙🏾). Try implementing box breathing 1x a week at night before going to bed for 1 minute. Don’t worry if ER isn’t your thing, get some experience there and move to a different speciality. I just wasn’t cut out for it any more. I still have pretty bad depression so I take meds for that. Mar 3, 2023 · 10. I spend 90% of my day in my office making calls about stuff pts are requesting. I am very competent and communicate well with my patients and my mentor tells me so. Low pay, being treated like crap, the new CDC guidelines, unsafe ratios, lack of PPE, etc. Thanks for taking the time to comment! I have major anxiety, to the point that I would make myself sick. They were chosen / stepped up for it because they were good at what they do and you can learn from them. Also, two things this subreddit and r/Nurse have taught me: 1) don’t spend the time beforehand (whether it be the next few years or the summer before) trying to hardcore review or get an academic upper hand. If I was still in ICU, I couldn’t do it. I’ve just started my preceptorship and I’m finding that little things like charting, basic assessment, giving shots, and doing other basic things like inserting a Foley is pretty overwhelming and gives me significant Nursing school anxiety. Rant. I was bipolar, and had been misdiagnosed as depression/anxiety (think about it- that's bipolar) for 14 of those 17 yrs. I have health anxiety/gad and ocd. I started nursing school last year at 32 years old. Hello! I’m a second semester nursing student in an accelerated program. I was told i could possibly file for disability due to my Anxiety being worsened while i was in the military. I’ve been diagnosed and medicated and in therapy for anxiety and depression for 6 years, though and I have slowly discovered that anxiety will peak, and subside (eventually!) New ER nurse feel like I’m failing anxiety. Our union contract expired and there’s no word on raises. You will be more empathetic and conscientious once you learn to control your anxiety. Practice your assessment and other skills at home. Better than ok! We’re always learning and no nurse knows everything! My first lab class, the beginning of nursing school, we had a lab class to practice manual vitals. Raised kids, already did college previously, dealt with stressful situations etc. I also have an ESA to help with my anxiety. Don't get me wrong I love being a nurse and caring for my patients. As well as finding ways to reduce your anxiety such as deep breathing exercises and meditation. If you are a nurse or work in healthcare can you please share if it has caused bad health anxiety? I eventually decided on nursing literally due to a friend who said she believed that it would be a good choice for me, the job stability and decent earnings. I need a 76% to pass. I am sure I missed things, especially during busy days. There’s a niche for everyone in nursing if you look. If you do want a job in acute care, consider applying for part time or PRN positions, as having a full time job that exacerbates anxiety/depression can be crippling. You’ll be in a 2 person escalatory anxiety loop and not even aware of it. Did the application, submitted any and all forms that was asked for, submitted my files from my therapist, and did my psych eval. I’m just sooo nervous that learning all these things will trigger me into a spiral and I won’t be able to complete school. I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and passive suicidal ideation for as long as I can remember. Talking to more experienced nurses always helps me feel better, unfortunately where I'm at I'm frequently the only nurse on the floor (residential treatment). 2) Lots of mentally ill people are amazing nurses. I have always struggled with talking to people and all throughout elementary, middle, and high school I was known as the quiet girl and people would always ask me why I didn’t talk or why I was Any nurses here have first-hand experience with GAD, or another anxiety disorder? I'm seriously considering the nursing profession and I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Presented as lightheadedness near syncope at 1st. Nursing school is no joke. Just try to remember that you made it this far somehow. When I first started this job, I was working 4-5 8hr evening shifts a week. New nurse want to quit, mental health down the drain. Currently about halfway through this my program and the anxiety is real due to one particular clinical instructor for everyone who deals with this individual. Another piece of advice I would give that helps alleviate some anxiety is to just be prepared. I then chose to move to the hospital's ICU. The working world of nursing is probably worse hell, if you were wondering. I had this one professor who I think saw my potential. Nursing program is stressful. And that little feeling in the pit of your stomach might become your friend— it might let you know when a patient is getting worse or developing a new problem. parttimemedic. New Grad ER Nurse: Anxiety is killing me!! Hello everyone! I am a new grad nurse who graduated in May of this year with my BSN, I took the NCLEX in mid June, and started working as a new grad ER nurse in a nurse residency program the first week of July. Yes, being a real nurse will be stressful but being a student is so stressful and detrimental to my mental health since it consumes so much of my life and my mind. Anxiety keeping me awake the night before clinical every week. By the time I moved from the floor 1 Year ICU Nurse - Anxiety. hey y’all! I’m a current senior nursing student and am precepting on a small city ICU unit. Been a nurses 2 years now and a tech for like 4ish. com i work for the va as a “pact rn care manager” in a primary care clinic. So, I highly highly recommend you get a tech/CNA job at the hospital so you get comfortable being in a hospital environment. Period. Nurse with social anxiety My whole life I’ve had really bad social anxiety and when I was little my anxiety was so bad that I had selective mutism. Graduated December 2019, recently quit the profession. new grad nurse - depressed + anxious + confused + sad. Having anxiety about nursing school. Most of the 50% that didn't pass simply retook a course and moved on meaning they still graduated/succeeded. I was only able to start when I got my easy jobs. I hate it when things are up in the air. A new nurse with some healthy fear and anxiety about being a nurse and caring for people understands the importance of the job. Now here I am accepted into a BSN program this fall. I thought that I had worked hard these past two years while completing prerequisite classes and maintaining a high GPA, and that I was as prepared It sounds like a lot of stress and anxiety in your current role. You're going to experience weird pains, tingling, numbness, shortness of breath, etc. Anxiety as a New ICU Nurse with Floor Experience. The thing I usually see is fewer nurse aids but it'll depend on your work location I do not feel like working nights has had a negative impact on my mental health. Refocus your attention on your current task and away from the feelings of discomfort. Start small in not engaging in compulsions and allowing the uncomfortable feeling. I hope you can find something that brings you more peace—whether as a nurse or something else. Lately I’ve been feeling a bit discouraged because of all the bad things I hear about nursing rn. I have only been on the unit for 1 1/2 months and I feel like my anxiety and fear of failure However, as I got accepted a few months ago, i started to think about how my social anxiety ( I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist) and performance anxiety will get in the way and make me fail especially that I have to go in for labs and clinicals at the hospital. I look in the mirror and I look like a whole different person. As an icu nurse with social anxiety you just eventually put up a wall and do your job. The road to be a nurse can be bumpy and everyone experiences different bumps. 1. I was more like this in nursing school but as it stands, many new grads feel the same was as you. At mine a couple nurses have visible self injury scars and several have admitted to having anxiety. Enjoy the free time before you undertake such a big task. I already have worked in the aesthetic field for years and I am hoping to become an aesthetic RN after graduating. I have lots of friends who also work nights which helps but with my friends who work days (or those who aren't nurses) I just schedule hangouts with them far in advance. It's stressful and our brains short circuit. Be patient with yourself, it takes time before you start feeling like you belong on the ICU team. I have normal nerves regarding being a new nurse and everything, however, my social anxiety is a big struggle. I still have mild anxiety occasionally, but it’s not anything like it was when I was in nursing. If you feel anxious just stick to the facts and the case, the small talk will come naturally. Had my 2nd panic attack in like May and didn’t connect the anxiety dots until about July. That first year is really rough but it sounds like you’ll be a great learner and a great nurse. Your first year of being a nurse is probably going to be one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. I've had maybe 10-15 days across a year where I felt fairly stressed, but never anything unmanageable. Reply. Here are some nursing roles that I have been told could carry a “relatively lower” stress level (after at least a consummate 2+ years of hospital nursing experience): telehealth RN, home health nursing, private duty nursing, PCP office nursing, school nursing, and (maybe) case management. If you’ve done everything you need to before clinical (any paperwork, practicing skills, gathering pens, clipboard, scissors, penlight, goggles, whatever) then that helps so much too. There are tools that can be developed along with additional adjuncts such as medications which may help. As nursing is typically considered a high stress profession, I'd be very curious to hear anyone's experience managing the role with an anxiety disorder, especially GAD. As of 5/9/24 the subreddit has voted that all 'negative' posts (complaints, rants, vents etc) must be seeking feedback / advice. One nurse was almost choked to death, one was out for more than 3 months with a concussion and neurological issues after being hit so hard, and many other examples. I started while in pharmacy school before switching to nursing during the quarantine. It is an exam and you will do well. Engage in Creativity or Writing. We don’t get paid for placement so it’s like Just a useless feeling. Everyday i have something to fear for the care and treatment I have done for patients. When you engage in journaling or other types of writing, it can also move your emotions away from reactivity and anxiety. Do your best to not feel bad for asking questions and working with your preceptor. If that chatty facade isn’t happening, your silent concentration can raise patient’s anxiety which then raises your anxiety in turn. I'm sure there are plenty of high-anxiety nurses out there that have successful careers. I have severe anxiety before every shift and it is consuming my every second. I have 1 more med-surg exam, HESI and the final. You don’t need to be doing a full workout at this point, just something to help you use the jitters and adrenaline you’re getting for something productive. Try looking for a job with a similar title. Through careful analysis of WHY I was nursing, how it affected me emotionally and of the physically things that I need to avoid in a career in order to stay well, I decided to remove myself from nursing altogether. There are aspects and units of nursing that are high-stress due to the nature of the work and the fact that you are actively responsible for someones life. I oriented on day shift with a preceptor for 2 months and everything was great. Anxiety will manifest in bizarre ways. anxiety and preceptorship. It can (if you are paying attention) teach you a tremendous amount about yourself and how you interact with patients. 5. I was constantly running behind in clinic which meant hours of charting at home later. I’m a new grad on a MOU. My advice (aside from following closely with your provider) is to avoid night shift entirely and to entertain the idea of getting a job in an outpatient setting. true. Hey Everyone! When I first got accepted into nursing school, It was the happiest feeling i ever felt. Good luck you’re gonna be great!! 4. Eat right, try to exercise, and get some well deserved and much needed sleep. Pace yourself, but don’t linger on every question. You're way inside your own head and digging deeper. Don’t let clinicals discourage you! You’re there to learn and you’re not gonna be perfect. Also, with additional ed: (maybe) informatics Getting a therapist will also help a lot. The first 6 months to a year are the worst. My clinical professor this semester is Pre shift anxiety. You get plenty of time to interact with patients (especially as a student). My anxiety has gotten so much better and I think this has a lot to do with the fact that with a 1:1 preceptor you can ask all the questions you want and you get that learning experience that you should have had in nursing school. I feel like I’m such a slow learner. Never really had a issue in my life before this pandemic. It was so bad that I had panic attacks everyday. Norovirus is running rampant on my unit and I am panicked just thinking about going into work, possibly getting a patient with Noro, or just eating in the contaminated break room. My biggest struggle is my test anxiety when I meet with my teacher going over my exams I am able to answer the questions correctly verbal. Example: check lab value only twice instead of three times. Throw in practical assessments in there to and you’ve got a complete s&*t show. There are no accommodations for anxiety in real nursing, even if you have them (or should have them) in school. My anxiety is with Listen, it seems like you get good grades so passing exams probably wont be your main cause of anxiety. It depends on the workplace. . I don’t know what I’m looking for in this post other than encouraging words and reassurance. Hey everyone, I’m currently a pre-nursing student who just applied to a few BSN programs. ago. I used to get ready to go out somewhere but not be able to leave the house, at least not right away. We recommend this megapost for new students or anyone looking for nursing school resources. I hopped on an SSRI and briefly did therapy d/t my nursing-exacerbated anxiety, and it helped. You have your own strengths. Planning your day in advance: this will decrease your level of anxiety by having a prepared and organized day, thus giving you some control in what is to come. So I found a few old, archived posts by nursing student talking about anxiety I'm sure this is a super common topic but… New RN suffering from crippling anxiety prior to work. Some tips I can give you are 1) Get a planner 2) Set aside study time and stick to it 3) Make a friend - even if it's just one person (the friends I've made have really gotten me through my program). I would sit on the end of my bed, purse in hand, keys in the other, and just sit. You need to figure out what's really going on and get that worked out before anything else, be it from counseling, meds, whatever. Just from reading your post, I feel that this may merit attention and tending by a professional. On the second day, they sent me home because my hands were visibly shaking out of control. 20 votes, 24 comments. My anxiety is at the highest it’s ever been. if anything your anxiety will make you a better nurse. Hi guys! I need some advice, and appreciate all outputa I can get. maynomayne. This is a conversation for you and your provider. To whoever stumbles upon this - hi. I can still pass the class, and I have met with my instructors, ect to create an academic plan moving forward and pin point my struggles. Try usajobs. this is my third week on the floor and so far, I’m loving my patients and being a nurse. Walk around the block, take a stretch break at work. I worked mainly long-term care ,Teavel psych, travel corrections, clinic and travel clinic. You WILL be ok. But seriously, I haven't called off due to an anxiety attack since I started weight lifting. They came back 3 weeks later with a 70% rating. Fast forward to now on my 3rd week of nursing school in an accelerated BSN program If you can effectively manage your symptoms (read-coping, therapy, medication help, etc) then hopefully you'll thrive as a nurse. I guess it's just my confidence. I am an older student - one of the "second career folks" in most nursing classes. Anxiety ridden new grad nurse seeking advice. : Thus, as the rule is written, you are denied from opining or recommending a course of action or conduct as it pertains to the science or practice of medicine. After reading so many posts sharing my same thoughts/feelings, I thought it was my turn to share. Also, nursing is stressful- long hours and such. Health Anxiety as a nurse I have always dealt with health anxiety, but since starting work as a nurse, I’ve had many more flare ups than usual. (And with each new job/unit, the first few months are the worst. So this is probably so dumb, but does anyone else have anxiety just being a nurse? It was drilled into our heads that we'd get into trouble and risk our license for the smallest mistakes and now I'm constantly worrying for no reason, even though I'm doing everything correctly and practicing how I was taught. But this is my first critical care position. However, the hours were horrible, mandatory overtime was very common, and it was dangerous. The long and short answer is cardio and lifting heavy things as often as necessary. They took away my anxiety med (clonazepam) after I tried to overdose on it but at least I don’t have panic attacks now. 7. As for mean patients, just remember they’re in a stressful environment/situation as well which can lead to their irritability. I feel like I barely know what’s going on around me. • 3 yr. I feel like the compassion is slowly dwindling and I hate that. I think that helps a lot. I usually end up calling and asking, no matter how hard I try not to. I started out on a floor, where I stayed for just over 2 years. Oddly enough, I don’t even care what unit I’m working on. Kind words only please : ( i need assurance. She constantly put me in embarrassing situations. I can barely eat and all I do is cry or rage. Just looking for a little hope because it feels impossible thinking I can pass… Sounds like anxiety is the biggest issue here, and it stems from something deeper than your nursing ability. Posts that do not ask for help resolving the situation will be removed and redirected to the weekly rants post. They may think they know all about nursing but many don’t understand the critical thinking nurses do that the aide may be unaware of. im tf ji vf xl dx cj pg vv cy