Feeling Discouraged Already

[Xxosillyme00123]

After interviewing and making the grades, I got into my nursing program. Of course I've had doubts about whether I would be good at it, and I heard that that is normal.

But when I started, I wanted to start confidently. I'm not extremely outgoing, but I'm not shy either. I was so excited to start, and had some worries about whether I would always know what to say or when to say it, but I was going to try to do my best.

Today, in our simulation lab, we had simulation patients I'm not sure if every school does this, but our sim lab hires real people to portray patients for us to work on in a simulated hospital setting.

Our task was to introduce yourself and perform an 8 page Health History Assessment.

At the beginning, before I entered my patient room, I was so excited. I felt confident as did most others. I walked in and immediately didn't feel welcome. This feeling lasted throughout the assessment, though I was genuinely friendly and interested. I tried rephrasing questions so that I wasn't just listing things off, and I tried different methods of transitioning between topics. I even elaborated on some, and asked if the patient would like to go into more detail about others.

I was obviously a little bit nervous. It was the first time I had done this. I forgot a few technical things during my introduction but most did the same. Of course, it was practice. Here's the issue.

I was ready for a patient that was difficult or easy, it didn't matter to me. It was practice.

My partner and I switched off between patients. Both of hers were nice older women who gave her great reviews. The older (middle aged) men that I had assessed on the other hand, discouraged me so much.

After the assessment all they cared to write on my review was that I was nervous and that practicing would be a remedy.

They didn't comment on the fact that I smiled, or tried to open them up, or that i really did try my hardest. I am okay with that, I understand that some people just have personalities that are different than ours. But here I am, bawling my eyes out for the passed hour because everyone else raved about how great it went. Now I'm wondering if I'm actually cut out for this and I don't know what to do to make it better. I'm feeling more discouraged than ever. I hope someone can lend me some kind words or suggestions that will give me a little bit of confidence to do better the next time.

thank you so much

[Xxosillyme00123]

That is probably the best advice I've gotten. So many people have told me (in regards to so many things) not to compare myself to others. And yet, I've never listened. But I suppose this is a good time to try it! I am trying a journal as well. :)

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Our sim lab is video/audio taped. We're not given any info until we walk in the room. They always give us a scenario that we haven't yet experienced or studied. It's the best way to get practice. Sim lab is where you're supposed to make mistakes. Not real patients :)

It's hard watching yourself the first time, but it really helps you to see how you truly come across to other people.

If your school doesn't do that, ask a friend to record you on your smart phone doing an assessment. It's VERY helpful! Then you can really pinpoint your strengths & weaknesses.

Don't get discouraged. Use this as a chance to improve! None of us are perfect

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

Girl-bye.

The day I care what reviews I get (whether from simulated patients or real) is the day I quit. If that's all that takes for you to snap, I'm nervous to see what the satisfaction surveys will do to ya( when your actually working with your own patients and you don't have time to get their ******* remote when they can get it themselves).

Learn your course and craft and personalization will come. After all just cause your patients may not necessarily connect with you, doesn't mean someone else wont.

[vanilla bean]

I'd also like to remind you not to let the experience of others define your own. Maybe some of your peers were envisioning a much worse experience, so the fact that it wasn't as bad as they thought it would be made it a feel like a success. Maybe some of them are keeping their true feelings to themselves and bluffing about feeling that it went "great," when they truly feel the same way you do. The point is, it doesn't matter. Evaluate your own performance for areas in which you would like to improve, practice, and you'll be feeling more confident (and conveying more confidence) in your own skills in no time.

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

It doesn't sound like anything bad happened. Your tears may be more of a release of the stress from the moment than anything. I wish our SIM lab had real people instead of the creepy, blinking, talking manikins. If all they had to say was to practice more, then I don't really see a problem. It's great that you're off doing such a detailed H&P off the bat and it sounds like you already pretty much know your stuff. Give yourself a break -- and, like others said, it may help to toughen up a bit. Men are not so easy and compliant the way a lot of the older female pts are.

[johsonmichelle]

Just relax and learn from experience. Your in nursing school, your going to make mistakes. Don't let comments tear down. Trust me, as a nurse , your going to experience a lot worse so just relax. Incorporate the deep breathing technique.

[phoenoryker]

In my life before a nursing student I realized you learn more outside your comfort zone...e.g., one of two males in a cohort of very smart, very sharp, and very observant ladies... With instructors with same qualities plus hundreds of years of nursing and educative experience. That will take someone out of a comfort zone. I'm lucky I'm married so I don't have to worry about what the attractive ones are thinking