Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Sparky — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:16:32 GMT

Bongo...I'm really glad you had a good weekend....Its always nice to be able to relax and forget about things......I wish I could do that this weekend...I'm working easter and I'm worrying about it a bit.

Thank you for your comment too....still stressing a little but ok

Hope your having great week xxx

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

bongo — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:11:20 GMT

Thanks for your reply sparky, Ive had a great weekend at a wedding this weekend so have been able to relax and forget about things, I have to go back to work tomoz and just can't get motivated!!!

hope you are feeling a bit more positive, please let me know if I can help in any way.

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Sparky — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:09:39 GMT

Aww bongo.....I'm sorry about what happened......I've had that before where I've cried before....its so unhappy when we get like that...mine was during a tutorial with my boss/assessor.

I completely understand what you feel like.....and have felt exactly the same as you...I really hope your feeling better soon.....we can stick it together!!

xxxx

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Louise B — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:03:06 GMT

Hi Sparky,

Hang on in there! I know its tough and I know it hugely stressful when a practice is short staffed but the fact that you all still like each other and get on speaks volumes of positive things about the underlying team spirit. Lots of teams that are not close knit fall apart when the stress is piled on - the fact that your practice's team hasn't suggests that on the whole you are working in a nice practice so try to tough it out. Some of the pressure will lift once your exams are over too.

Good luck.

*hugs*

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

bongo — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:45:47 GMT

Hi sparky, It sounds like I'm at about the same stage of training as you and am feeling very similar. Maybe its that feeling of being so nearly there but having the hurdle of exams etc to get over! I've been doubting my abilities as a nurse this week and feel like i'm struggling with college work ie, cant understand it much and the other day at work I completely broke down in tears to the point where I literally couldn't breathe. I have a few days off now and have been to congress today, although that was a struggle!!

I hope that you start to feel better soon!!

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Sparky — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:30:07 GMT

Thanks guys, I'm glad others were feeling or have felt like this before. And although in the nicest possible way people are suffering or feeling the same as me now.....and I mean that in the nicest way....not that its great that people are feeling crap just I'm not alone.

To be honest yesterday was quite bad, just felt like crying all day.....pretty bad, no one was nasty or anything, I was in theatre all day and just felt like crying....how sad of me, must be hormones I think and just yesterday I was like why am I even doing this.

I'm just finishing off a book, so will start a new one soon....one that is more upbeat and makes me smile rather then makes me lower lol.......and went to a rubgy match which made me feel good even though it was bloody freezing! (also lots of nice blokes to oogle at )

Anyways, Thanks guys, I really really appreciate your comments! I love you all

xxxxxx!

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Dodo bird — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:29:53 GMT

hi sparky

I've been nursing for the last 24ish years (inbetween having 2 kids) and I totally sympathise with you - i still have days where nothing goes right and feel a novice !! Hold on in there girl remember the good days outweigh the bad xx Kathy

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Mac Feather — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:10:32 GMT

Hobbies wise I love drawing- its prob one of the few things I can do where I totally switch off.

I think the man will appear when you least expect it- certainly true for me!

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Mac Feather — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:07:56 GMT

Hi Sparky,

I can empathise with the hormones ( see the thread p.m.t), they can really cloud your views of everything. I certainly feel useless/wortless at that time of the month. Im in the process of trying to sort myself out.

I agree with STRVN when she says the job is a learning curve- ive been in the job for 20yr and there are always new things that crop up, I guess its all part of team work, we all help each other.

And the staffing issue has prob affected us all in practice, you try your best and sometimes there arent enough hours in the day. You can only do what you can do, you cant be everywhere doing everything, so you gotta look after yourself.

Hope youre ok.

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:40:35 GMT

Hi /sparky,

I only just noticed this thread, so sorry for the late reply.

I and many others on here have probably felt exactly the same way as you do..... and saying that is not to undermine what you are feeling. just to let you know that we have all been there in practice.

As you are studying at the mo everything seems ten fold and so much more of a hill to climb, stick with it, you can see the light at the end of a very long tunnel, and I know a bit of nerves are proabably playing a part in the way you are feeling..... also possibly "I dont know enough I feel like a fraud so to speak??" I know I still feel like that at times and I have been qualified for 5 yrs, so you are not alone........ this job is a learning curve, and we learn many new things every day, so never be afraidd to ask and never be afraid to look stupid either,it's all part and parcel of the job.

What I will say it's one lucky practice to have a dedicated person like you.

Good luck and stick with it.

Sandra

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Sparky — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:20:10 GMT

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your kind words, I do really think it is just hormones, because I'm not normally bothered by pay or anything like that. Just this last little while I've not wanted to carry on and just feel quite dum sometimes.

Button....I really hope that you continue your ana and go into vn'ing-I found it really hard when I started and I still do....and yes I've had times where I though I was ok then want to run out crying...weird huh?

Bellydance lessons sound great....and I love spangly stuff too!!!

And the man thing...well a rugby player would do wonderfully lol....and thanks for the compliment....lovely thoughful lady...how sweet of you :)

Thank you button and the other guys saskiavn and toad

xxxxxx

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Emma Dillon — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:25:18 GMT

If its any consilation I think we all feel like that from time to time especially when you're starting out. Every practice I've worked at nurses have had rough patches. When I first started me and the other trainee used to call each other nearly every night, saying oh my god how am I ever going to learn all this and get good at it? I am nearly qualified now and its been 4 years since I started nursing and I still feel like a total novice.

In fact the other day the 1st year trainee at my new place asked if I ever felt a bit shaky about stuff, like when you think you are just starting to get the hang of it all a new thing gets thrown into the mix and suddenly you feel like you are new to it all again. Or you feel like you're getting to grips with an aspect of the job and feel a little confidence growing but then you balls up a simple task and you feel like you have started over.

Have faith, its a tough job and yes the pay is rubbish at most places, but the job is unique and once you qualify there are options to bump up the lowly wage. Its a hell of a lot of information to remember and skill to learn and if my head nurse after 10/15 years says she's still learning now, then I guess to a certain extent you always have areas that you are a novice in.

Hope you feel a bit better about it all soon. Trust me most practices don't suffer fools gladly so if no one is complaining about you then chances are you are a blood good nurse. :)

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:18:44 GMT

Sorry to hear that Sparky. Weird as I posted something last night too - I've only just started as an ANA (will do SVN next year) and I'm finding it hard. I can't seem to do anyting right and I find it scary. I've been sort of ok but as soon as I spent the day working with only my assessor (who may I add is lovely) I've freaked out. She's brilliant at her job and I guess quite to the point which I think I am taking to heart. I felt like running out and crying yesterday but reading your post has made me think that maybe it's because it's the time of the month too!

I do have very strong doubts about whether I can do this at all but will stick it out a bit longer. I hope you can stick it out too as you've done so well to get as far as you have. Getting a hobby is a great idea, something that you love where you can switch off and not even think about work (it's hard I know). A good book is a great idea or, I know this sounds mad - how about bellydance lessons or something like that? I started them and love them. They are so much fun and you get to dress up in spangly stuff.

You will find a man when you least expect it too (I did) - you sound like a lovely thoughtful lady so you'll get snapped up soon.

*hugs* xx

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Saskia Quinn — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:11:50 GMT

Sparky, of course I understand the pressure you must be feeling about the staffing situation. Sometimes it can be hard to get new staff.

But, please understand - you can only do so much - you are not a robot. It sounds to me like you are a very loyal, hard working and caring member of staff and I hope they recognise and appreciate you for that

If you can find the time to yourself to do the things you enjoy -( me, dog and i-pod is a perfect combination - that should do wonders for the soul!!) your work life can only flourish as a result.

If you give yourself enough time out to do the things that are enjoyable to you and help you relax, maybe the work pressures wont seem so bad as you will be relaxed and more 'able' (for want of a better word) to cope and deal with them.

I really do wish you luck and you hang in there girl the stormy ride has to end sometime

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Sparky — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:01:36 GMT

Thank you for my hugs....much appreciated.

Even if the staffing situation isn't my fault, it isn't my bosses or my head nurses either...its been really hard to find people to come work and we've been let down so much with people saying they will come and then cancel.....I feel so awful for my boss and head nurse....I know its hard on them especially my head nurse who works so hard, I just feel like I need to help even more, to push more to make the gap of not having that nurse there smaller.

I do like to read, when I'm not working lol, and I like to take the dog for a long walk when I finish early where its just me, him and my ipod, I like that-I always feel better after that...sometimes I wish I could do that at work go for a long walk

Thanks for the hugs again and the advice.....much appreciated,

Re: Just a need a little reassurance I think...

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:52:00 GMT

aw Sparky, I am sorry you are feeling like that

I feel you possibly need a break and some time to get your thoughts together. When we have that awful time in the month, we get very emotional and probably think into things which we wouldnt normally do. For what its worth, I have been a QVN for 10 years now and I get upset every month with my pay packet

The staffing situation at work is not your problem, its not up to you to offer to work more. I know you obviously will have to work harder etc when you are short staffed, but its up to the boss to employ more staff.

I recommend you get yourself a hobby. Do you enjoy reading? Why not have at least 3 evenings per week where you get to do what you like? Get into a good book, now that the evenings have brightened up - go for a nice long walk, take the dogs, have a long hot soak in the bath or even arrange to go and visit a friend?

I think you are in need of some spoiling my girl Treat yourself to something nice and make sure and forget about work for a few evenings in the week doing the things you enjoy!

Here, have some hugs!! You deserve them!!

Paula xx