Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

RomyF — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 00:34:04 GMT

Hi, yes, it is something I am treated for, it just seems to have flared up big time lately!

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

enigmaticat-uk — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:28:52 GMT

Have you been to your doctor as anxiety doesn't necessarily have to be caused by something but may be a condition you suffer from which you might need help to manage.

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

CVernon RVN — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:51:11 GMT

You are conscientious, and you are worrying about doing the best for your patients..... You are already really good at this! Never be afraid to ask a colleague to double check something, never be afraid to ask for help or clarification, every day is a school day in this job, the day you think you know it all is the day you should quit...

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

RomyF — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:44:00 GMT

Oh... Thank you. I just want to be really good at this because I'm enjoying it so much and the people in the industry have been so kind and amazing.

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

CVernon RVN — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:37:31 GMT

They won't think less of you, knowing and acknowledging your limitations is something to be proud of! I would much rather double check than try and wing it! You sound like an amazing conscientious nurse, and the sort of person I would love to have as a colleague xx

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

RomyF — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:26:19 GMT

Thank you everyone for your well thought out replies.

I am studying at WINTEC and we get a huge amount of practical as partvof our training so I don't believe anything is lacking there at all.

i have had some time to think and I believe it's probably more a personality trait of mine than anything else. Probably the fact that i have relapsed significantply with my other issues is a huge contributing factor. I don't feel good about myself all round, so of course I'm going to question all my abilities.

its a good idea I think to talk to whatever nurses I am working with and explain how anxious I am about doing things just right and how hard I am on myself so they know my hesitation is not to do with not wanting to do things and totally to do with my self confidence and fear of failure.

I just don't want anyone thinking less of me for it....!

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

CVernon RVN — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 20:28:06 GMT

Hi RomyF

I am an RVN but have just returned to practice after a break of 5 years, and I am finding it difficult to have confidence in myself and my decisions. I am very lucky to be in a practice that was aware of my break, and offered to 'hold my hand' whenever need be, and am slowly starting to regain my confidence. I really do think that I would be a bit of a gibbering wreck if it wasn't for my colleagues being so helpful and supportive.

Have you spoken to your HN about how you're feeling? They may well be unaware and be glad to offer you support.

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

Celine — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 11:15:53 GMT

Hi RomyF, welcome to the VN forum from Kiwi nurse working in the UK.

Did you study at Unitec? I was in the first cohort to do the diploma there

I think I know how you're feeling. And I think it might be to do with the way the training is done in NZ vs how the training is in the UK, if the way you did it is the same as me (Classes every day with 2-3 week placements 3-4 times a year?) At the end of my course I still felt like a student, and as I hadn't had any one specific clinic to do all my placements in (we weren't allowed to) I hadn't gotten into the swing of working as part of the team in a busy practice or really how to do anything without being directed / asked to do so. Felt very out of my depth then to be proclaimed "Qualified" and let loose and probably looked like I had zero initiative (or common sense!) I do feel the way they train most of the nurses in the UK as working in practice full-time with a day weekly at a training college produces a much more capable vet nurse, I've been amazed at the confidence and capability in the student nurses I've worked with here.

None of that probably helps the way you're feeling but just wanted to say, you're not alone in feeling that way and I think a fair few of my classmates felt the same. There's nothing wrong with you (and I think it's better to be cautious than be gung-ho overconfident) but I know its awful to get to the point where you're second-guessing yourself constantly to the point you fixate on small things, like have you selected the right size needle for the IV on that dog and probably you haven't and the vet is going to think you're an incompetent idiot, oh my god....

I don't know you but you have a bit of age and no doubt common sense on your side, you obviously are very conscientious and I think you just need to be gentle with yourself (helps if your head nurse also remembers how it was to be a new-grad and could give you some time to do some of the less stressful aspects of the job for a week or two?)

Oh yes and remember, you will mess up something at some point. Where there are humans there will always be human error. But that's the thing to remember if you make a mistake, it doesn't mean you're an awful VN, it means you are human. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, try to remember the bits of the job you love and know you do well and try to do them as often as you can. Sounds like you are working in a really nice clinic. Hope everything goes well for you xx

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

RomyF — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:23:26 GMT

Thank you, I will do that when I have some time to sit down and think some more.

RE: Anxiety/low confidence issues killing me

Sal the 1st — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 15:28:29 GMT

see if you can work out what has changed? - apart from the qualification. Is it down to the way you see yourself or the way you feel everybody else sees you. Are you finding the new responsibility that comes with the qualification a burden? ( and you wouldn't be alone in that). Feel free to pm me if you think it would help to talk it through