I posted this as a reply on another thread, but really, I have to ask you guys... Am I not gonna make this? Is this a normal FIRST DAY clinical experience?
My first day of clinicals I was nervous as a CAT! I had NEVER been in a LTC facility, and was "partnered" with someone who had experience in one. I was book smart and hands on stupid. The day before actually seeing the patient (oops, client) I read in the chart she was prone to biting, hitting etc.
Needless to say, my "partner" couldn't handle the client (patient) either and said "go get xxxxx" (our clinical supervisor). I hi-tailed it out of there, ran down the hall and asked for help. I was a marked woman from then on. I learned the difference between a true "emergency" (as in client falls on floor) and emergency in my mind (client is obstructive and you are terrified she will act out physically which is horrible being that you have NEVER changed a diaper on a woman twice your size and this one is violent and resisting getting any attention!).
In any case, my clinical instructor was also my "mentor" and I NEVER got along. I walked out on an 4.0 average TERRIFIED to go back. She told me I looked "good on paper" ... was she trying to prove I was only good on paper by providing me with these patients, or am I just a whiner? In the 2 days I was in clinicals, I got the above patient who was a total care, twice my size, known for violence and with a colostomy. I got through the colostomy change and shower etc. (I swear I don't know how I held my stomach my first DAY I had this..) then right into a tube feed which I had never in my life even HEARD of someone existing like this... into a lady who hadn't been bowel efficient in days and just had decided to explode...
Needless to say, I changed schools and have met with my new instructor and feel much more comfortable. In fact, I don't think I am gonna be the same student anymore... I don't need A's, I just need to learn --please instructors, teach me the clinicals without the terror of violence my first day (or the colostomy change, the tube feed... along with the other patient who had constipation and let loose on me... hours of oozing ... all in my first 2 days of clinicals!)
So, guys, that drowning "help" dude in the corner is my mentality returning to nursing school after 2 years!
Is it me? or is it every student who faces these horrors their first week!! I feel weak just thinking about what I had to face my first week 2 years ago. Tell me it ain't so! Tell me that I will get a learning experience that isn't so bad... or is it all the same and I can't handle it?
PLEASE tell me I have seen the worst things and therefore I am stronger.......