How do you get over the feelings of inadequacy?

[yellowflower]

I'm a nursing student and finished up first set of clinicals at a nursing home. Next set start at the hospital in a week. As soon as I am in the hospital (or even in our school lab for that matter) doing hands-on things that I am still new at, I feel plain stupid. It's a mind thing. I feel as though I'm being watched and just feel inept. On my own in practice, I can calmy think through the steps, but when I'm under pressure, my brain gets flustered and I miss things. I'm a straight "A" student, understand pathophysiology and all the labs, diseases, "text" stuff extremely well, and none of this matters if I can start an IV correctly under pressure! I'm soooo afraid of screwing up (which is normal for a 'regular' job, but we can't screw up on our patients.

What can I do to NOT freeze up, blank-out, and lose all confidence under pressure?

And at what point will I be able to relax? Are any of you relaxed yet in your first years or should I expect to feel my heart beating through my throat for twelve hours EVERY day for my first year?

[AFRN3]

Hey you just need to relax and take a deep breathe. I graduated this last December, and on most days when I go to work I feel inadequate. This unfortunately is a normal feeling. But you will become comfortable with the basics. IV's are just practice that is it. You are probably going to be hit and miss for a while. Concentrate on developing your assessment skills and learning everything you can from a nurse on the floor you can identify with and want to emulate. If you have strong assessment skills, you will learn not to sweat the other stuff. It is not as important to be able to start an IV, as it is to be able to identify a case of flash pulmonary edema.

[JulieRN07]

It is very nerve racking having everything you do be watched. I believe every nursing student feels that way. You just have to remember that you are not supposed to know how to do it-and no one expects you to. You are just expected to want to learn it! You will be surprised when you get out on your own how you just process what you learned without even thinking about it. But- to be completely honest- its true what they say- you use about 10% of what you learned in school and the other 90% comes with practice out in the real world!

It gets better, I promise.

[deeDawntee, RN]

What you are experiencing is totally normal.

When you get out in the field, you will have "misses" on your patients, we all do. It is ok. The rule of thumb is, if you miss twice (as in an IV start) you get someone else to try. We are all always helping each other out. That is the way it is and the way it is supposed to be. It is no fun for the patient to get stuck more than necessary, but sometimes it just can't be avoided. There is a balance between needing the practice in order to become really good at something and getting something going as soon as possible for the immediate needs of the patient. It is part of nursing. Our patients forgive us for our misses.

Insecurity is something we all deal with ongoingly in nursing. But if you follow the rules, as in the 5 rights of medication administration and other policies and procedures that are in place to protect the patient, you will do fine. Also, know that you will make mistakes, or near mistakes...we all do that as well, being able to learn from them and then forgive is vital in having a fulfilling career.

You CAN do it! Thousands of people are out there having great careers as nurses and you can too. Don't practice nursing (or live your life, for that matter) out of fear...be careful, follow the rules and it all will work out for you, I promise!

:yeah: you can do it!!