Overwhelmed about clinicals

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Gynecology/Oncology.

HOPEFULLY I'll be starting clinicals this fall. When I read about some of your dilemmas in school, and some of the test questions all of you have, I'm so confused! I hope it will all make sense to me once I'm in school full time, but wow, I'm overwhelmed by all of it! I know everyone talks about how hard nursing school is, but is it manageable?? Thanks

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I just keep reminding myself that thousands of nursing students graduate every semester all over the country. So it must be manageable. If thousands of other people can do it all the time, so can I (and so can you!).

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It is manageable, but difficult at times. It is a HUGE undertaking and impacts your life permanently. Just like when we have a baby, we tend to exaggerate life events that are intense. So take it all with a grain of salt. But, if you have the option to not work while in nursing school, that would be great. I worked full time, but do not recommend it to anyone.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I'm in the same boat! I'm subscribing to mags and reading books I don't understand, hoping and praying that one day soon all of it will click and make sense. Stupid, I know........

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HOPEFULLY I'll be starting clinicals this fall. When I read about some of your dilemmas in school, and some of the test questions all of you have, I'm so confused! I hope it will all make sense to me once I'm in school full time, but wow, I'm overwhelmed by all of it! I know everyone talks about how hard nursing school is, but is it manageable?? Thanks

It's not that bad. It's just full time. If you treat it like a full time job, with lots of overtime, you'll do fine. And the clinicals are what most people enjoy, it's the theory/book stuff that gets people into trouble.

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Here's advice from a clinical instructor ...

Admit what you don't know

Come to clinical prepared - paper work, know your meds, know what is going on with your patient, have your supplies, BE ON TIME

Ask questions

Be nice to each other, to me, and to the nurses on the floor

Admit mistakes - immediately - this is a time to learn, and mistakes might happen - but don't make 'em worse by ignoring or hiding them

If you have a problem or concerns, please tell me - I can't read minds

Get enough sleep, eat well - take care of yourself

Don't expect to be able to party like your business school friends (I worked on an accounting degree before nursing - believe me, you will work harder than they do!!!!!)

Don't let your relationships suffer - you need them to laugh and cry with

Remember ... most of us instructors are doing it because we want you to succeed - we are not out to get you. But we do want you to be doing whatever it takes to be our co-worker in a year or 2 - so we do take our job of evaluating you seriously. If we express a concern to you ... don't run away or bad mouth us - explain, ask for help, be teachable.

Most of all ... have fun and welcome!

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Functioning in clinical is my favorite part of the program. Clinical is where it's at.

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