I Wish I Had Someone to Talk To About Feeling Like I'm Failing
A new nurse feeling as though they are failing
Crying After Shifts
Maybe you've cried in the bathroom during your break.
Maybe you've sat in your car after work and cried before driving home.
Maybe you've gone home, closed your bedroom door, and wondered if you're really cut out for nursing.
You worked so hard to become a nurse, and now it feels like you're failing at the very job you've always dreamed of doing.
You worry that you're letting your patients down.
You replay conversations, medications, assessments, and decisions in your head long after your shift ends.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.
Let’s dive in!
Coffee mug with pink nurse scrubs
Coffee with Rhoda
One of the things I wish I'd had as a new nurse was someone to simply sit down with and talk. Not someone to grade me. Not someone to evaluate me. Just someone who understood what I was going through.
That's one of the reasons I created Coffee with Rhoda. It's a place where nursing students and new nurses can ask questions, talk through challenges, celebrate victories, and be reminded that struggling doesn't mean you're failing. Sometimes the most important thing you can hear is, "I've been there too."
Feeling Overwhelmed
Sometimes the feeling starts before your shift even begins.
You walk onto the unit, hear report, and immediately think:
"These patients sound really sick."
"What if I miss something important?"
"I need to be on the beginner floor."
Then you remember...
You are already on the beginner floor.
The truth is that every patient sounds overwhelming when you're still learning how to put all the pieces together. What feels impossible today will eventually become part of your normal practice.
A new nurse comparing herself to an experienced nurse.
Comparing Yourself to Experienced Nurses
You watch other nurses move quickly and confidently through their shifts.
They seem to know exactly what to do, what questions to ask, and what needs attention first.
Meanwhile, you're still trying to organize your thoughts and make it through the day.
What you forget is that you're comparing your first year to someone else's fifth, tenth, or twentieth year.
I'd Love to Hear From You
If you're a new nurse, have you ever felt this way?
Have you ever sat in your car after a shift wondering if you're doing enough, learning fast enough, or even cut out for nursing?
You're not alone.
I'd love to hear about your experience. What has been the biggest challenge during your first year as a nurse?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or send me a message. Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is realize that others have walked the same path.
Coffee with Rhoda
Before You Go...
If you've ever ended a shift or closed your NCLEX books thinking, "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this," I want you to know you're not alone.
I'd love to invite you to Coffee with Rhoda. There's no pressure and no expectation—just a chance to talk with someone who understands the nursing journey. Bring your questions, your frustrations, your victories, or simply come to listen.
Because sometimes what changes everything isn't another study guide or another shift.
Sometimes it's one honest conversation with someone who reminds you that you're growing—even on the days when it doesn't feel like it.
You CAN do this!
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💬 Join the Conversation:
Comment below!
Share your stories in the comments or reach out—I’d love to hear from you.
What has been the biggest challenge during your first year as a nurse?
For seasoned nurses, do you have any tips or advice for other new nurses?
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Want Mentorship?
Nurse Mentor
If you’re a new nurse (or an experienced one) who wants help building communication skills, I’m here to support you.
Let’s imagine a nursing culture where we handle conflict with courage, professionalism, and care—not fear or silence.
Let’s build that together.
