You are super duper normal the feelings you have are normal its normal to be anxious about returning after a long period of absence. Totally NORMAL Anticipation often exceeds the event...... I think you will quickly get back into the swing of it

What your feeling is, for lack of a better word, normal.

Relax. You will do fine. It's the know it all types (new grads to 20 years on the unit) that I worry about. OK, after 20 years you get a free pass. But I still won't like your attitude.

Novice,

Remember that there should always be, what I call, "A safe level of fear." This reminds you that you have the ability to hurt someone if you are not careful. No matter how many years you have been doing this work, you should always remember this. A safe level of fear is always a good thing.

However....

If you are seriously concerned about your knowledge base and ability to provide safe care because of your recent history, TALK TO YOUR MANAGER! That is why he/she is there. Maybe you need to go on a one-week orientation or take a class or work a lighter patient load for a short while until you re-orient yourself. Nurses can be very understanding, but you need to COMMUNICATE! You're feelings are okay, but you need to share them with someone who can do something about it.

Do not "tough it out" and make a mistake that you and a patient would regret.

Good luck!

HI (again)
I appreciate everyone's response. I know it will take some time to feel the confidence that I see other nurse's exhibit.
"Bossy", I hear you. I will always ask questions when I don't know something. I worked to darn hard to just hand my license away. It's not that I think that I'm undertrained. I'm thinking I just lack the confidence that comes with time. (I'm a little impatient) I guess, maybe I'm also a little of a perfectionist and hate to constantly bug others with questions (especially to those RNs who have TONS of experience). No one has ever complained of my work---I'm just harder on myself. Ya know, being a RN is nothing like most other careers. "To error is human" BUT, our mistakes can kill!!
PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG. I love being a nurse!! I'm so very proud of myself for making it through nursing school. I understood the depth of the responsibilities prior to beginning the nursing program. Those state boards are soooo tough, I figured that I could save the world with all that studying I did. Boy, reality is ..................I just have SO much more to learn
Again, THANK you all for your words of wisdom and encouragement!! It's nice to be "normal".

novice