Nervous for clinical

jg0817 · Nov 16, 2017

Maybe you should volunteer at your local hospital to see what it's like.

em96 · Nov 16, 2017

It's normal to be nervous! I was super anxious when I started clinicals, and I still get nervous when I'm going to a new rotation (I'm finishing up my first year in my BSN program). I didn't have any bedside experience when I started and most people in my program didn't either. Having CNA experience definitely helps, but it's not necessary to be successful. By the end of the first semester you'll have learned everything a CNA does and you'll feel much more confident.

I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing sometimes, but don't psych yourself out too much. You have the nursing staff, your instructor, and your classmates at the site with you and they will help you out. Ask your nurse as many questions as you can and don't be afraid to volunteer to do things. You'll learn more about the patho and A&P stuff as you go through the program and research your patient's diagnosis.

Basically, don't let yourself get overwhelmed. You're just starting out so no one expects you to know everything. Just give it your best effort, don't procrastinate, and be a sponge- absorb all the knowledge that you can. You will do great!

Shawn91111 · Nov 16, 2017

It's normal, as I was in your position back in September. I had no healthcare background, so doing bedside assessments, bed baths, bed changes with an occupied patient were nerve racking, but after every single week I became less nervous. That is until something new (ie. an agitated patient, an aphasic ,constricted patient, a patient throwing every curse word at you), but I was glad for those patients, as it shows that not every patient is going to be cooperative, and make your life easier. Also practice on family members, or in skills lab