First clinical day on friday- OMG Jitters!!!

Jw1724 · Sep 24, 2008

I've only been in school for a month and I am going into my clinicals on friday. Half our class started today, and I spoke to a few of the other students. We all thought our first day would be "observational". I've been coping with my upcoming first day by reminding myself this. Now I hear stories about bed baths and changing and someone even removed a foley.
If you are a more experienced student I am sure that this sounds laughable, but I am seriously nervous! All of the anticptaion that has been mounting inside me since spring is making me feel like I am going to puke! I'm trying to tell myself these things are no big deal, very basic functions of the job, but I can't seem to get ahold of myself.
Any advise for calming down? Anyone else freaking out??
Also you should know I've never worked in a healthcare setting before!

You sound exactly like me on my first day of clinicals. You should have some sort of orientation and whatnot to your floor before ANYTHING. My first day we worked in pairs and did basic patient care and even that was INSANE. It's hard to really get used to it. I'm amazed they let someone remove a foley on day 1, i didnt do that until my second rotation. keep in mind that all clinical instructors work differently-- some like the tiptoe in approach and some like the jump right in approach. Either way- remember that your instructor is an INSTRUCTOR. She is not there specifically to judge you, she is there for information and help too. Never hesitate to go to her.

Need help with a bed bath or bed change? See if any other students have some down time. There's NOTHING wrong with working in pairs when you can- I'm in my 3rd year and we still help eachother make beds etc if someone has down time.

Gauge · Sep 25, 2008

It's ok, everyone gets jitters on their first day. I remember about this time last year I was stepping foot into a nursing home for the first time to do patient care.

Just don't think that you have to go in there being super nurse and knowing everything. Ask questions, it is expected of you and you'll learn alot more that way too. For the most part nurses are willing to help you out, you'll find a few that are snobby, but thats in any field.

I'm a Junior in a BSN program and we still help each other out when we can. If someone has a bed bath or something like that we usually go in pairs and do it, just because it is easier to move some of the rigid or noncompliant patients. Just take everything in as a learning experience, it gets easier over time. You're still a student, if they expected perfection right off the bat they wouldn't put you in clinicals, it's designed to help you get your bearings and ease into things.