Advises for clumsy nursing student?

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 7, 2015

I think of "clumsy" in terms of poor motor skills. Do you trip a lot? Fumble or drop supplies? It sounds like what you're describing isn't clumsiness, but rather forgetting to think before you act, or lack of efficiency in your work.

So, in regard to things like starting a bed bath in the wrong area or contaminating a clean area with dirty linen... Don't worry about it! You realized that you made the mistake at the time, so just correct it and learn from it. Move the dirty linen to the soiled bin and wipe down the bedside table. Get some fresh water and wash cloths and start the bed bath over. No big deal! You're a student, you're going to forget basic things sometimes. It's okay. Now, since you know that maybe you have a tendency to act before you think through your task, just be aware of it. Before you begin something new or complex, think it though, step by step. Your facility may even have job aides that you can print and review the step by step instructions. I work at a major children's hospital and even we have procedure checklists that we follow with another RN to make sure we follow policy when it comes to tasks like foley placement or central line dressing changes. Take your time, don't let yourself be rushed, think, and soon these tasks will become second nature.

Time management seems to be an area that you can improve. How do you currently organize your day? Try various techniques like starting your morning by making a list of tasks you need to complete for each patient (bed bath, toileting, med pass, dressing change, etc.) and then prioritize it. Group your tasks together when possible (i.e.. bring meds to room 2. Give meds. Assist patient to toilet. Change linen while patient is in bathroom. Set up patient in chair with bathing supplies). Before you enter a room, review your list and gather needed supplies ahead of time. You'll save yourself many minutes if you don't have to leave the room several times to get something your forgot.

Two important things to learn as a nurse:

1. Learn to delegate. You have to go hang an antibiotic but your patient is requesting some hot coffee? Learn to utilize your nursing assistants or medical assistants. Check your patient's schedules to see if they have any therapies during the day. OT coming later in the morning for patient in room 3? Consider waiting to bath the patient, as this might be a great opportunity for the therapist to work with the patient on their ADLs.

Finally, 2. Learn that it's okay to say to a patient, "I'll be happy to help you with that, but I have to complete another task first. I'll be back in X minutes to help you with ______." Some patients will constantly request your help with one thing or another until you've been with them for an hour and your other tasks are piling up. Learning to politely say that you can't help them right this moment, but you will soon, is an invaluable skill. Just make sure you really do check back in with the patient when you've said that you will.

Kiki, I think you're your own worst enemy here. Cut yourself some slack. You're new, you're learning. You aren't going to be perfect. You're catching your mistakes, which is first step to not making them. Don't let other people shake you by telling you that you need to be better, or faster. You're right where you're supposed to be.

kikimango209 · May 9, 2015

Hi Ashley thank you for your advises and tips. They are heaps helpful!

Haha I didn't know that 'clumsiness' only means poor motor skills.

I'm a foreigner from non-English background and clumsiness had similar meanings to novice or sloppy or lame on the dictionary. haha

Anyways, I still try hard to manage things.

I have to admit that I get distracted so easily and I often forget my priority.

And I'm still worried that my thinking is not critical enough at times.

For example, a patient complained about pain in his chest and I was totally unaware that it could be dangerous!

And I didn't realise that until my nurse noticed that I wrote 'patient complains of chest pain' on the progress note!

It turned out that he (patient) meant muscle aches in his back and chest (and not a sign of other serious problems like cardio infarction) but I blamed myself that I should have been more cautious at things!

The irony thing is that I keep telling my mum at home to go to hospital or notify me if she experiences chest pain (my mum has a long history of hypertension that she got from her family) and I was totally unaware of that in my shift!

I'm so scared that I make big mistakes when I become a grad year because I become so not critical at my thinking and less cautious.

It will need a lot of practices to keep my thoughts in track and be critical at things to find out what is going on.

Anyway, I thank you a lot for your time and long post for me :)

I printed out to read whenever I feel like I need help.

I really appreciate your help. Thank you.