Ever feel "spacey" at work?

I was always so OCD with my work...everything had to be so-so for my patients. Well, lately Ive noticed how I take shortcuts (nothing major and nothing bad) but trying to get things done. Ive noticed that I feel "spacey" and so clumsy and forgetting things. I cant remember my patients' names and having a hard time making decisions and critical-thinking. Do you think its work overload? I mean, I consider myself a good nurse, usually. But lately I dont know and question myself daily. Has anyone else been thru this?
For me its giving report, I feel so cluttered and unorganized. Some days I am good others I am off the wall.

Quote from chenoaspiritI was always so OCD with my work...everything had to be so-so for my patients. Well, lately Ive noticed how I take shortcuts (nothing major and nothing bad) but trying to get things done. Ive noticed that I feel "spacey" and so clumsy and forgetting things. I cant remember my patients' names and having a hard time making decisions and critical-thinking. Do you think its work overload? I mean, I consider myself a good nurse, usually. But lately I dont know and question myself daily. Has anyone else been thru this?

yes...when my blood sugar drops

Yes, a couple of times when I work nights (I'm a dayshifter). I have felt like I am outside my body while giving report- weird feeling.

i would take that as an omen.time to reassess your work situation.leslie

Yeah, my HR usually runs around 135-145, standing still, even at home now. I have experienced anxiety attacks to the point that I thought I was having a MI. I have gone from nightshift to dayshift a month ago. Hmm, maybe that's it, the stressful mess of dayshift, I dont know. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Thanks for your replies.

I think it's called sensory overload.

I call it thought train de-rail - it happens when I have too many balls in the air - good notes helped no need to remember - when it happens I hit a quiet room or hall close my eyes a sec take a couple breaths and think "ok what is next" helps me snap back

Sometimes I feel like that the week before my period. Is there any chance it is PMS related?

I'm in nursing school right now, I feel like that sometimes, what usually helps you focus, didn't nursing school perpare you enough for the real world?

Quote from berns10I'm in nursing school right now, I feel like that sometimes, what usually helps you focus, didn't nursing school perpare you enough for the real world?

As a new nurse, I had an experienced nurse describe this behavior as "spinning". You try harder and harder to work faster and more efficiently and find yourself simply spinning in place getting less done.Take a deep breath. Spinning is cured by finding a time management system that works for you. There is no shortcuts here since everyone's system is different, customized and learned by experience. I keep a written list of things to remember. Once something is written down, I don't need to juggle another mental reminder, so I can focus on one thing at a time. Another way I found to keep the spacey feeling away is to get enough healthy food to eat and drink so I don't get depeleted. Best of luck to you OP.