Sorry, sorry about that, I'm so sorry.

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

That word, "sorry", comes out of my mouth more often than anything else during clinical. I apologize to my instructor, I apologize to the patients, I apologize to the nurses if I'm in their way. I say the word sorry far to many times, and I mean it when I say it.

I walk into a patient's room with confidence. I have that "fake it until you make it" mentality, but the moment I go to take out an IV that has been taped with about four rolls of tape, sorry escapes my mouth. I apologize for other nurses, I apologize for having to tear the tape off their skin, I apologize for how long it takes.

Check offs? Nail them. It's a whole different story when dealing with a live patient vs. a dummy. I find myself getting better, I feel better, but inevitably another situation pops up that I've never dealt with, and I go running for the nurse.

I'm open for any advice that will help. I will admit that I say sorry whenever I start a new position/role/job. As I gain confidence, the "sorry's" diminish. I just want to feel more confident in what I do.

Sorry for asking, but thanks in advance for advice!

Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

Try eye contact and smiling instead of saying you're sorry everytime.

Then try an alcohol swab to help lift off adhesives.

Best wishes! ?Quit apologizing!

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I say I am sorry. I will say I'm sorry and ouch during the process of peeling off that tape. I apologize for waits, I apologize they are unhappy. I apologize when they angry. I think it's an acknowledgement of their situation.

I used to look for the nurse ALL the time and then one day as a new grad I went to say let me get you your nurse and realized it was me.:down: Then, I remember one day I looked around for the charge nurse and realized it was me. :eek: Then I needed the supervisor and realized it was me. :banghead:

We all have those moments and they get better with time. I still say I'm sorry when removing tape for a very hairy male. I tell them to think about bikini wax and summer time.

((HUGS))

Oh my! Miss mollie, I could've written your post. I am in my first semester and at Clinicals I'm always apologizing, to patients, nurses, CNAs, my instructor, literally to everybody. I feel I take too long, I apologize, I feel I'm making someone uncomfortable, I apologize.

We need to be more confident, and overcome our anxiety.

Never say "I'm sorry," say " I apologize," sounds better.

Specializes in Neuroscience.

Thanks for the comments. I think the main issue is I feel inadequate with my skills. I could spend more time in the lab, I suppose, but once I do something in the clinical setting, I'm fine the next time the same skill comes up. It's just a lack of confidence.

How far into clinicals and school are you? Confidence comes with time and practice (on real patients generally). You'll get there, have some faith in yourself! It's a good thing that you're self aware, and thinking about what the patients may be feeling. Don't be the callous nurse, but don't apologize so much the patients wonder if you're competent.

A key here might be to make friendly conversation during IV d/c's for example. "Adhesive tape really sucks sometimes." "Some nurses seem to use a whole roll of tape to secure an IV! It takes forever to get it off but I think it'd be a bad idea to rip it off like a bandaid, huh?" You know it might suck for the patient and you're making an attempt to relate and maybe make them laugh a bit. And it doesn't make you sound so scared!

Oh no, you even did it at the end of your post! :nailbiting:

I find that when I put myself in the patient's position, I would much rather have a nurse who acknowledges my situation & shows sympathy ("I'm sorry") than a nurse who disregards my feelings or dignity while performing a procedure.

It's ok, in trying everything in life when you're new and inexperienced you'll naturally (un)consciously worry about not doing something fast/eloquent/good enough which will affect your performance.

The only cure is time and practice. We all gotta start somewhere.

One of my very best friends did that all throughout nursing school. We even joked with her about it because she said it so much.

She still does it, but it's not because she doesn't know what she is doing or doesn't feel confident. She is just a compassionate person and truly is sorry. I love this quirk about her and wouldn't change it for the world.

We are there to help the patient, do the best you can to make them feel comfortable and as long as you show that you are looking out for them, they will appreciate your efforts. You know, treat them as how you would like to be treated.

Stop holding yourself to a standard that no one else is holding you to. You're a student. Accept it and revel in it.

You're going to "get in the way" of other nurses going about every day tasks. Don't apologize, it's just what students do, and it's okay. More than okay, it's expected. You're an extra body on the floor that doesn't have a patient care assignment (as far as hospital operations are concerned). And when you do "get in the way", rather than letting "I'm sorry" exit your mouth, ask them "can I help you with anything?".

As for patients, what apology do you owe them? They're in the hospital and you're there to help them feel better. So what if the tape hurts coming off? It's tape. It does that. Don't apologize for tape doing what it's supposed to do. Instead, explain why it's necessary to keep the IV firmly in place and reassure them that you'll try to minimize the discomfort as it comes off.

Don't "fake it til you make it" at this point. You'll miss out on a lot of learning opportunities by wanting people to assume you know things that you don't. Now is the time to be an inquisitive little sponge for information.

Be curious, be helpful, be compassionate, and be comfortable in your role as a student. It's the only time in your career that you're expected to be ignorant. Enjoy it while you can.

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