Terrified to be on my own with no preceptor!!

Hey all! Last night was my first night on my on in the ER. I was scared out of my wits. I feel like I'm not ready. Everyone else seems to think I am. My managers, my preceptors, my co-workers. I think my problem is that I have zero confidence. The ER I work in is always a zoo. It is always crowded beyond belief. I'm not a new nurse per sae, but I was a float and really didn't float to the med floor that often. I thought I'd never get the hang of putting in ivs, which I have. I'm just terrified to be in the peds or trauma area. I know if they didn't think I'd cut it, I never would have passed orientation. What is a could way to build up your confidence? Next week I'm in on the two busiest days and I am already super anxious. I put too much pressure on myself and wanna be super nurse right away. Help please....TIA
I got a job straight out of nursing school in the ER, so I know exactly what you are feeling. My ER is like a zoo as well, level 1 trauma center also. I'm telling you every time before work i would get N/V/D before starting my shift lol that's how scared i was. The only thing that will make you feel better is TIME. Everyone told me I was ready, I did not feel ready, It took me 6 months to feel somewhat comfortable, and 1-2 years to feel comfortable saying ok I think I can handle whatever comes in. So now that I have been a nurse in the ER for 4 years, I still can't say I'm completely comfortable, you learn everyday!

You could always just after being released on your own transfer departments and have to be re-oriented to that department. If you are in a large hospital you could drag this out for a long time. You could even change hospitals or move to a different city and start all over again.The stress of making a mistake in this field and hastening their journey to death can be overwelming and very real. It's not like working at a fast food place and a mistake burns a burger.

I don't work ER but I can offer you some encouragement because 5 months ago I had my first day on the floor. Don't expect to know everything. Ask questions. If you think you will have trouble remembering things. Write them down. You will finish late. You might not get a break. Your first day will be rough. Keep going back the next day and you will find you will get more and more confident and start to develop a routine(not sure if the ER has a routine like LTC does but you know what I mean.)My first day on my own. I went to go count with the offgoing nurse and she said to me "You will have a man who will die on your shift tonight" I wanted to turn around back out the door. I had good co-workers who helped me out alot that night. Which leads me to this.. don't be afraid to ask your coworkers for help. They hopefully know you are a new nurse and try to help you. The only way to build your confidence is to work.

Thanks guys for all of your advice. Its not my night co-workers who scare me. They were so good to me last night on my first night alone. They kept asking if I need help and such. The one time I did, they all ran to help me. I couldn't get an iv in to draw blood. They were all a hugw help. There are some ppl at night who will watch you drown. Also, who won't pick up any pts. I had the most pts last nighr. It just got my goat that I kept pickin ppl up while they had one or two pts while I had 5 or 6. I feel like I am way to new to say anything. I feel like I should have never left my old job!

Quote from FiduciaRNThanks guys for all of your advice. Its not my night co-workers who scare me. They were so good to me last night on my first night alone. They kept asking if I need help and such. The one time I did, they all ran to help me. I couldn't get an iv in to draw blood. They were all a hugw help. There are some ppl at night who will watch you drown. Also, who won't pick up any pts. I had the most pts last nighr. It just got my goat that I kept pickin ppl up while they had one or two pts while I had 5 or 6. I feel like I am way to new to say anything. I feel like I should have never left my old job!

i've never worked in er, but as a critical care nurse, i can tell you that if you aren't scared your first six months to a year off orientation, you don't have a good grasp of the possibilities. being scared is normal. relax -- no one expects you to have all the answers -- or even all the questions. all we expect you to know is where to find out -- a mentor to ask, drug reference, policies and procedures, textbooks, a physician who will explain things. i've been a nurse for a long time, now, and the more experience i get, the more i realize i don't know. that's healthy. it's when you think you know it all, have seen it all or done it all that you're dangerous.

You're not the first, you won't be the last. Put everything in perspective..this part of your career will pass, but like everyone else, you will have to go to it and survive it.Whatever you do, learn to cope without anti-anxiety meds....if you can....life is short, and your health is most important. Yoga, exercise--count to 100...and most of all...if you go with this attitude, you will live through it...It is...what it is...