Nursing IV Drop out!

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Just wondering if anyone made it as far as their last semester of Nursing ,ADN, and quit? Happened to me roughly two weeks ago. My clinical rotation was what did me in. I was in no way prepared to care for the type of patients being given to me. I made real stupid mistakes, ie..not putting bed back down to low position when leaving room, forgetting to gown up with contact precaution pt., being 15 min. late to clinical one day and not apologizing to clinical instructor, asking if a dressing change was to be aseptic or sterile, unsure of first time setting up IV pump, apprehensive of first time hands on with chest tube. The end results of these errors was to be chewed out in a pt's room, chewed out in instructor's glass office behind nurses station... which resulted in my bawling, given a written warning, and verbally being told by clinical instructor that she did not feel her pt's were safe with me. I know that I messed up but isn't that what it means to be a student?

Depressed, disillusioned, and ashamed....:o

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Awwwww Debbie do not be ashamed.

Is there no way you can discuss all of these issues with the instructors?

Did you quit because you felt you had no other choice?

I pray comfort for you and a clear mind so you can decide what you really want to do.

Can you pick up where you left off or do you have to start from the beginning if this is what you choose to do? Hang in there we care.

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I have been trying to post a hug for 20 minutes now!

Let's see if this takes.

{{{{debbie}}}}

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Thanks Sabby....I knew that if I didn't withdraw from the program I was going to have a nervous break down. I was constantly crying after q clinical and my clinical instructor took away my confidence and left me with self doubt. I have spoken with the head of the nursing program and I'm hoping/planning on returning this coming Spring semester. Thank you for your words of support. Self doubt is a Terrible thing to overcome.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

LOL Sue I think the site is having a few techno hitches.. I have had trouble yacking too hahahahahhaa ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

It sounds like some of what happened were fundamentals that shouldn't be forgotten or overlooked at this point, but some of those are things that I guarantee you a whole lot of us couldn't have done unless we had had daily exposure to them!! How horrible for you!! I know with the early a.m. clinicals that I am brain-dead most days and barely functional. Please God, just let me pass the NCLEX so I can get a job during a time of day that my brain actually works!!

I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to go back and finish this for your sake. One day of unsafe pt care as a student should not equal a ruined career before it even starts!!

Best wishes!!

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One day of unsafe pt care as a student should not equal a ruined career before it even starts!!

Actually, aside from forgetting to gown for contact precautions - and unless she hugged the patient, no harm, no foul - there was nothing unsafe. Nothing.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

4th Semester is an important semester. 4th semester is the semester where we are to show we can practice independently of close guidance. Thus we will be evaluated on our knowledge and our ability to apply the nursing process to multiple patients (this includes leadership and organizational skills). With that said, I understand the nurses and clinical instructor were angry with you (safety issues and lack of infection control). However, I DO NOT condone the approach taken to correct your behavior or to give you feedback. :angryfire

Have you tried working at the hospital or getting a job as an intern? Some of the mistakes you made I made 1st semester multiple times, such as forgetting to lower the bed. Although I was not punished because I was in 1st semester, I was disturbed enough by my mistakes to take corrective action.

I applied and was accepted at a hospital as a tech, where I am working in a job that has safety and infection control as its number one priority. I have developed habits and gained confidence that makes me look good this semester! Plus, I recently applied to be a nurse extern, so soon I will be able to develop more good habits while applying the nursing process to multiple patients.:monkeydance:

BTW, to answer your question, yes I have heard of students dropping out or flunking out of 4th semester of nursing school. The hard part at this point for you will be to gain the confidence to return, if that is what you choose to do. If you decide to return, you need to get some decent feedback and correct your behaviors so that your 4th semester will show a competent soon-to-be-nurse (this is what 4th semester is all about) rather then someone who shows no potential (makes mistakes a 1st semester student makes). GL!

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Just wondering if anyone made it as far as their last semester of Nursing ,ADN, and quit? Happened to me roughly two weeks ago. My clinical rotation was what did me in. I was in no way prepared to care for the type of patients being given to me. I made real stupid mistakes, ie..not putting bed back down to low position when leaving room, forgetting to gown up with contact precaution pt., being 15 min. late to clinical one day and not apologizing to clinical instructor, asking if a dressing change was to be aseptic or sterile, unsure of first time setting up IV pump, apprehensive of first time hands on with chest tube. The end results of these errors was to be chewed out in a pt's room, chewed out in instructor's glass office behind nurses station... which resulted in my bawling, given a written warning, and verbally being told by clinical instructor that she did not feel her pt's were safe with me. I know that I messed up but isn't that what it means to be a student?

Depressed, disillusioned, and ashamed....:o

Nearly the same thing has happened to me this semester. I am also in my fourth semester and made a few stupid mistakes (not having a correct dose of med ready to administer-on two separate occasions.) I took a step back and redeveloped the way I do my three checks. I am sorry that you feel you had to quit, and I probably would have too if my instructor was not completely supportive of me. Just remember even seasoned nurses make mistakes, the point is to learn from them and gain knowledge to not repeat them. Good luck to you next spring. Hang in there.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.
Just wondering if anyone made it as far as their last semester of Nursing ,ADN, and quit?

1. Yes, I have heard of people dropping out the last semester...but have you not had any bad exp the other 1.5 years that were just as bad? Could you not get through a few weeks?

Happened to me roughly two weeks ago. My clinical rotation was what did me in. I was in no way prepared to care for the type of patients being given to me.

2. What kind of patients were you getting?

I made real stupid mistakes, ie..not putting bed back down to low position when leaving room, forgetting to gown up with contact precaution pt., being 15 min. late to clinical one day and not apologizing to clinical instructor, asking if a dressing change was to be aseptic or sterile, unsure of first time setting up IV pump, apprehensive of first time hands on with chest tube.

3. I agree, the mistakes were silly ones, but by 4th semester they're watching you close....much closer than first....so the not gowning for ISO....big deal...not apoligizing for being late? not checking order for dressing change? You've NEVER set up an IV pump before? did you never have clinicals at the hospital?....Chest tube I'll cut you a break on, we almost never see that as a student....

The end results of these errors was to be chewed out in a pt's room, chewed out in instructor's glass office behind nurses station... which resulted in my bawling, given a written warning, and verbally being told by clinical instructor that she did not feel her pt's were safe with me. I know that I messed up but isn't that what it means to be a student?

4. I do not condone chewing you out in the pts room....However, in the office, was it a real chewing out, or more of an attempt for constructive critisim that you misheard as you were already having a very bad exp? I don't blame the instructor for saying she thought her patients were unsafe....I would too.

Yes, you messed up...but repeatedly....when you make mistakes that you should correct by 1st semester in 4th, that's a red flag. It just seems to me that maybe you need a little more exp in hands on care....get that, or just take a breath, go back in 4th and be confident..If you don't know, find out stuff.....check your orders, saves a lot of headaches.....

Just playing devil's advocate, Don't start flaming me folks! 4th is the hardest, but it's the one where you're almost going to be THE nurse!

Keep it up OP, you can do it!!!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Actually, aside from forgetting to gown for contact precautions - and unless she hugged the patient, no harm, no foul - there was nothing unsafe. Nothing.

Once again, a misinterpretation....I was referring to her instructor's statement, not necessarily anything Debbie had done that day:

... which resulted in my bawling, given a written warning, and verbally being told by clinical instructor that she did not feel her pt's were safe with me.

But my statement stands whether or not she had done anything "wrong"....we are students and sometimes we just goof up; this being different from those fellow students who seem to have major problems each week!

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I'm a little confused. I was defending the OP, as were you, not attacking your comment.

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