New grad nurse… stress
I’m a new grad in the ICU on week 5 of 19 and I’ve started having chest pain from stress. It got bad enough that I went to the ED and everything was normal so they said it’s stress.
I can handle two vented patients and I actually feel like that part is doable. The issue is my preceptor. She is very type A and overbearing about everything. How I chart how I do skills even small things like how I hold a patient’s foot. If I sit to chart she pulls me up to do something else before I can even process what I just did.
Today I had two patients and she volunteered us for an admission but it ended up just being me taking it. That pushed me over the edge. I don’t mind learning but it feels like I’m being rushed past a safe pace.
My unit also doesn’t really have structured classes so I already feel like I’m trying to teach myself ICU while meeting her expectations. Even breaks feel rushed because I’m trying to keep up and not miss anything.
I called my educator today and said I can’t keep going like this. I feel guilty because I don’t want to cause issues or seem like I can’t handle ICU but I don’t think I can do 14 more weeks like this.
Has anyone dealt with this kind of preceptor and did switching help or am I overreacting?