Nursing Anxiety

I need some advice. I've been working as an RN for about a year and a half. I have been on Med/surg/tele floor for a complete year and prior to that I was at a LTC. I'm worried my anxiety is going to get to me one of these days. I haven't had anything tremdously horrible happen to me...however, there were days where we were understaffed, had a heavy load, or patients that went down the hill fast...Everyone tells me I am a great caring compassionate nurse. My supervisors and co-workers I work with respect me and are willing to help me when moments arise where I don't know what to do in difficult situation. I do enjoy what I do, however, the anxiety is getting worse and worse. I have tried to pin point where the anxiety is coming from and I can't. I have a great supporting husband and kids. Yes, I do work night shift, but I've been managing it fine for a year now. I have good co-workers. I have a good salary. But everytime I am off for a certain amount of days and come back for the first night my anxiety is horrible. I can't eat anything, I'm nausead, I am constantly running to the bathroom with an upset stomach, I can't sleep or rest...I have nightmares about it. I get jittery and pace the house...the food I try to eat all tastes funny....and I just get so worked up that on the way to work I end up crying...over nothing really. I am not usually emotional person. I thought that with experiance and more knowledge I'll be able to brace my anxiety...but I see nursing is a constant learning experiance. I see other nurse smile coming into work...calm relax...enjoying life outside...but I count down hours and minutes before I head out back to work. I know this is not healthy. Please advice if anyone had this happen or what I could do to get rid of anxiety.
I think it would be good for you to see your primary physician and make sure you are A-okay.

Once I'm an hour to two into the shift I am fine, once I get home I usually good too...this only happens on the day that I have to go back to work.

I agree that you should see your doctor since your anxiety is starting to interfere with your everyday life. I've had issues with this ever since I began nursing and when the anxiety is at work sometimes it can be a good thing, it puts you on high alert for any subtle changes that occur that can indicate a critical situation arising, in that respect the anxiety is actually a blessing in disguise. However, once you start feeling that way outside of work that's when it is a problem. Sadly, even for those who are used to working night shift and adjust to it tend to have issues with depression/anxiety over the years, just please take care of yourself and see your physician so you can receive whatever treatment it is that you require and retake control over your thoughts and emotions. Hang in there.

Sounds like burn-out. Seek help. Anxiety attacks; even when you feel your life around you is fine.....you need a break; or need to pace yourself.....Like the person stated above; seek help. Do not hesitate; do it now! Think of yourself for once and look after yourself~ What good are you to anyone if you can't take care of yourself! You do count! Please seek help now. Love yourself!

It's natural for me, on my Monday's I"m like you when I sleep I have dreams of work and what I do it's not uncommon for me to wake up anxious. How long have you been a nurse. It's also a self confidence issue, it sounds like you are a great nurse, so hang in there. Maybe changing shifts would be a good idea too.

Also, don't think that just because you can't pinpoint the cause that there isn't anything bothering you. I'd see if your employer offers any confidential/anonymous counseling through a third party. My last two employers you could get between 3-5 face-to-face sessions to get you going, and they referred you to another counselor/therapist if you required more help. All totally confidential, none of your employer's business what you talk about or even if you're going. This employer also offers unlimited on-the-phone counseling for when it's just a tough day or you're having a mental block on a particular issue that you're handling - like a hostile co-worker, or maybe you just had a fight with your spouse that you don't know how to handle, etc. Talk to HR about these services if you can, that's what they're there for! And I agree with the other posters who said to see your physician, there may be a medical basis for your anxiety.

Thanks for the advice...I just don't want to go the medice route to treat my anxiety, thats why I haven't seen anyone. I do realize that if I do go see I doctor it will not make weaker. However, I do feel weak that I am letting my emotions get so out hand and get myself so worked up.

Having issues with anxiety does not make you a weak person, nursing is a high stress profession and high stress professions are prone to contributing to anxiety. Keep in mind medicine is just one facet of treating and controlling anxiety, it is not the only treatment out there. Best of luck to you!

I too have ongoing issues with anxiety. In fact I was just thinking about it and wishing I could figure out how to get on top of it when I saw your post. You sound like a very conscientious person, which of course would make a profession like nursing good for you, but also prone to issues like anxiety. I have no doubt that you are a very careful and thorough nurse. Nurses like you are GOOD - the ones to worry about are the ones who are faking it all the time, or the ones who don't know enough to be anxious! I can't stand nurses who don't "get" the gravity of the responsibility they have in their hands, and go along like their job is just a job, no big deal. Those nurses APPEAR more confident and maybe they are, but I would rather have a nurse like you, who is going to check and double check and make sure I'm being cared for in the proper way. I don't know the answer, as I struggle with this myself. I DO know, however, that when I don't get enough sleep, my anxiety gets worse. Likewise when I don't get proper nutrition, it gets worse. The best thing you can do is be sure to take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and go from there. Please know that you are not alone though, okay? There are others like you and me, and we just do the best we can. But I'm here for you if you need to "talk". Hang in there! I know you're a good nurse.

I could have written your post and in addition I'm seriously thinking about leaving nursing, I am a new grad RN with 9 months of experience in LTC, nobody told me in school how stessfull nursing is. One night I was so anxious that I couldn't sleep at all, I spent the whole night thinking about the shift. At 5:30 am I got up and worked 12 hours, I don't know how I did that. My coworkers say I am a very good nurse. I don't know what happens, I can't control my anxiety. Good luck to you, hope things will get better!

Quote from lusaI could have written your post and in addition I'm seriously thinking about leaving nursing, I am a new grad RN with 9 months of experience in LTC, nobody told me in school how stessfull nursing is. One night I was so anxious that I couldn't sleep at all, I spent the whole night thinking about the shift. At 5:30 am I got up and worked 12 hours, I don't know how I did that. My coworkers say I am a very good nurse. I don't know what happens, I can't control my anxiety. Good luck to you, hope things will get better!

If I had 3 days off or more, this used to happen to me. I think it's cos the adrenaline has been building up and up, then you are suddenly at work, and this adrenaline is spilling over.I worked in a very stressful job, Mon-Fri, very long hours and it was always hectic. I could NEVER sleep on Sunday nights as I knew Monday would be hectic. I used to try and read to calm myself, do some yoga, pilates, stretches and that works sometimes.You could try Valerian to help you sleep, or a short term sleeping tablet like Temaze. Also get your thyroid checked & vit D levels. Do you take a multivitamin? They helped me a bit.I still get anxiety going onto a new ward/facility as I'm agency. The best thing to do is keep taking deep breaths, stay hydrated and get organised with your work early. You need to manage the anxiety and take control, or it will control you. Also talk positive to yourself, say: 'I have nothing to be anxious about, I have people here who will help me, I am a good nurse, I can do this'.You could also try writing a journal that would get your anxiety out on paper too.Also talk to your hubby as well - I'm sure he will help out and empathise.Let us know how you get on please, so we can help out more if necessary.