Assignment Anxiety

I’m a Nurse, Solution Focused Life and Stress Management Coach and Entrepreneur.

 Kathy Parlevliet, the Nurse who knows.  Feeling anxiety over your assignment can make for a really long day.  In the beginning of your nurse life, a challenging assignment was fulfilling.  Being inspired by learning and personal goals.  I love watching young motivated minds.  Any question is welcome.  Always allowing for growth.  The future of these nurses is partially dependent upon me. My attitude towards questions.  I have always said, ask me.  I might ask other questions to allow for learning.  Or, I will agree to the decision already made by the nurse.   Asking for a second opinion.  After all, these decisions affect our patients lives!

As time moves forward and being comfortable in your RN role.  You can start feeling that you don’t always need a challenge.  Just want a normal day.  Respectfully, I get it.  Sometimes you can be tired from the day before.  Just feel like you don’t have the energy to deal with another stressful day.

This is where the assignment anxiety starts.  Usually on the drive to work.  Nursing is a career of unknowns.  Not knowing, and being unable to mentally prepare, can get old.  So how do you handle this?  What can you say to share that you need a little break from the stress?  How can you regain strength for tomorrow? 

 Start sharing how you are feeling.  Sometimes you can’t change the outcome for your assignment.  But there is always the next day of work. 

 I encourage nurses to speak about whether they want to keep their assignment for the next day.  If possible.  That helps feel in control of their life.  Especially, a difficult day.  I will ask too. Trying to respect how that would feel if I were them.  Having walked in their shoes.  I get it.

Being a team is so important.  We need each other.  Feeling isolated and being the ONLY one who is busy. It happens sometimes.  Actually unavoidable.  But when you are feeling that stress.  You probably aren’t alone.  If you look around and ask questions about other assignments, the truth can be different.  Everyone has different tasks to meet for the day.  The goal, when overwhelmed and feeling not supported. Look at the big picture. Then ask for help.  Barter if you have too.  It works.  Both nurses feel better.  Sometimes, set a time for help.  So, everyone is prepared.  Especially when it takes several people.

Feeling understood is important.  Complaining every day about your assignment, is not effective.  We are being paid to work.  Not every day can be easy.  At the end of a long day.  Acknowledge what you have accomplished.  When you finally make it home.  Take a breath…

 And go to bed at a reasonable time.  Try not to start out tired. Usually, adds to stress of the day.

If you have difficulty with coping at work.  Challenges are creating so much stress.  I can support you at  theRNcoach.com.

Let’s talk soon,

Kathy