What to Do When You Feel Like You're Failing as a Nurse

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12 hours ago
3 min read

Nursing is one of the most demanding and rewarding professions—but even the most dedicated nurses can have moments when they feel like they're failing. Whether it’s from a difficult patient interaction, a medical error, overwhelming stress, or burnout, these feelings are more common than many realize. In fact, a study by the American Nurses Association found that over 62% of nurses experience burnout.

If you're in this place right now, here are steps you can take to shift perspective, regain confidence, and move forward.

What to Do When You Feel Like You're Failing as a Nurse

1. Pause and Acknowledge the Feeling

The first and most important step is to give yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling. Emotional overload is not a weakness—it’s a sign you care deeply about your work. The constant pressure to meet expectations, manage patient care, and support colleagues can wear even the most resilient nurse down.

Naming your emotions—stress, disappointment, guilt, or exhaustion—can help separate fact from feeling. You may feel like you're failing, but that doesn’t mean you are.

2. Reflect on the Bigger Picture

One bad shift or even a bad week does not define your career. When you’re feeling low, take a moment to step back and ask yourself:

Have I helped someone recently, even in a small way?
What challenges am I facing that are outside of my control?
What would I say to a fellow nurse in this situation?

Perspective is powerful. Often, what feels like failure is just a moment of growth in disguise.

3. Talk to Someone You Trust

Isolation intensifies negative emotions. Talking to a peer, mentor, supervisor, or even a therapist can be incredibly grounding. According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of people who receive therapy benefit somehow, and the average person who receives therapy is better off after treatment than 80% of those who don't. Furthermore, fellow nurses will likely recognize your struggles and reassure you that these moments are normal.

Hospitals and health systems often provide access to mental health services. Take advantage of them, not as a sign of failure, but as a step toward resilience.

4. Focus on What You Can Control

There are plenty of things in healthcare that are beyond your control—understaffing, policy changes, and unexpected patient outcomes. Instead of internalizing every setback, focus on the actions you can take:

Ask questions when unsure about a procedure.
Review protocols to reinforce knowledge.
Use downtime to read, learn, or rest.

Taking ownership of the small things can rebuild a sense of control and confidence.

5. Revisit Your Wins

Keep a notebook or digital file where you jot down moments that made you proud—a patient’s thank-you, a compliment from a supervisor, a shift you handled with strength.

On tough days, revisiting these reminders can help shift your internal narrative. You're not failing. You're learning, adjusting, and pushing through one of the toughest careers out there.

6. Seek Support from Your Team

Feeling unsupported can make failure feel heavier than it is. If your unit feels toxic or lacks communication, speak up when appropriate. Bring concerns to your charge nurse or supervisor, and ask for constructive feedback.

Sometimes what feels like personal failure is actually a symptom of poor systems, poor leadership, or burnout across the team.

7. Prioritize Your Well-being

When you're running on empty, it's impossible to give your best to others. Make time for sleep, hydration, proper meals, and boundaries. Exercise—even light stretching or a short walk—can improve mood and clarity. You deserve care, too.

If you’re chronically overwhelmed, consider whether it’s time for a change—new unit, new specialty, or even a break. Taking care of yourself is not quitting. It’s a necessary part of staying in the profession long-term.

8. Remember Why You Started

At some point, you chose this profession with a purpose—whether it was to help others, seek meaningful work, or follow a calling. That purpose still exists, even when the days are hard. Reconnecting with it can reignite your passion and guide your next steps.

Final Thoughts

Feeling like you're failing doesn't make you a bad nurse—it makes you human. You are part of a profession that holds immense responsibility, and that comes with highs and lows. What matters most is not perfection, but persistence.

You’re not alone in this. And you're not failing—you’re still here, still trying, and that in itself is a powerful success.