How do you get over pre shift anxiety/ work anxiety. New grad nurse working in the ICU.
Pray to Jesus before every night shift in the unit! Ask for blessings for the patients and a quiet night. All the glory to God.
Hello New Grad . . . I understand the anxiety . . . sounds like you are building experience in nursing . . . I am thinking that you are anxious to start practice . . . sometimes a good idea is to embrace others around you . . . ask questions . . . nurses, ancillary staff and even physicians who may be able to provide you with a way to envision your awesomeness . . . after all, you chose nursing . . . listen to patients and families as they can teach . . . become present when nothing else needs to be said . . . be there . . . Be you dear . . . Dr. Brian E. Mendyka, PhD, RNC
Experience will provide the ease you are looking for. Uncomfortable, unfortunately - but normal . A year from now you'll say - what anxiety? - and realize it came & went . ( I worked CVRU - anxiety lessened at 6mth mark, functioning very well at 1 yr, 2yrs - a pro ) Honestly,I would be more concerned if you didn't have some anxiety- it means your invested .
Get a good night sleep. Talk to other nurses. You will become more confident with every passing day. Remember anyone at a new job is going to feel anxiety.
You don't. Assume every patient is going to sue you for anything at any time. That way, you are careful, you double check and review everything before you do it, write it or teach it. The more careful you are, the more you try to learn, the better the nurse you will become. The day you are complacent is the day the patient will be harmed by your negligence. Don't let this answer scare you, let it propel you into being an expert in ICU nursing. You can do it!
Counseling. Meditation. Hobby. Exercise. Deep breathing. Self- affirmations. The mind is a strong force.
There are many apps you can use to calm yourself.
These symptoms can be controlled. Take control of the stress, don’t let it over take you.
Talk to the ICU Director of the unit once you figure out what is stressing you. What is your fear?
Do you need more training, mentoring? Do you feel lack of confidence in a specific skill or many skills needed to build your confidence? Perhaps the ICU is not for you. Give yourself credit. Think about good things you have done that made a difference in the life of your patient, family member or a team member.
With all due respect, when I graduated I had to work med surg, or in a nursing home, for a minimum of 6 months. New grads were not allowed to work in critical care. Honestly, I would not have even thought about it and I was an exemplary student. The theory was to build a foundation, then one can move around and find their niche.
You will find your way. Don’t give up! It is okay to ask for help.
Develop critical thinking skills (this takes time). Center yourself before your shift— I also had a simple paper “brain” in which I wrote down simple notes (one word things with times things had to be done). This lessened the anxiety about missing things!! Always listen to your gut instinct and listen if a patient feels a sense of doom go through your H’s and T’s - keep a close eye on them!
Make peace with the fact you can’t save them all!
Put your big boy or big girl pants on before you go to work.
As I entered the ICU for 12 hr shifts, I would pray: Lord, please help me do my very, very best (and then prepared myself to do my very, very best). That's all anyone can do, that's also all anyone can expect, and 99.9% of the time, everything went well. I received excellent work reviews along with promotion.
I would have a coffee prior to shift and try to relax. I would be patient with a new graduate and go over new material slowly and repeat as needed.
