Starting externship next week and feeling scared

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

I got a position as a student nurse extern for the summer, which is a really great opportunity to learn during my summer break and make money while doing it. It will also be helpful in helping me get a job when I'm finished and when I graduate next year. I will be rotating through neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU and medical ICU (adults).

I'm starting to get scared, though. This last week was orientation to the hospital for us. I felt like an idiot all week. I did stuff like forget to clock in or out, forgot stuff, etc. Just little stuff, mind you, and I do that kind of stuff all the time. But I went on a tour of the hospital the other day with a lady from the education department, and she took me to the units where I will work. I am already familiar with NICU, just because I was there as a parent. But when we went into the pediatric ICU, I started to feel nervous. Then we went over to medical ICU, and looking at those people on ventilators, with like 10 IV pumps and other assorted equipment, I REALLY started to get scared. I'm intensely interested in ICU but I don't even take critical care until next spring. I do stupid little stuff all the time. I know most people probably do, but I am so afraid that I'm not going to be able to keep up with my preceptors, or worse, put somebody's life in danger. Not necessarily now, but if I work in critical care later. I'm supposed to be smart, but I just feel like an idiot most of the time.

With any job I've ever had, I am always a total idiot for at least the first few weeks, but then I figure out what I'm doing and I become more efficient and start kicking butt. I know I will figure it out, but in each unit by the time I do figure things out I will be moving onto another unit and all anybody is going to remember is that I was a dumb a** that couldn't keep it together.

Just feeling a little overwhelmed (and I haven't even started!), and needing to vent. My family members won't listen to me because they all think I'm really smart and just being a drama queen. They have no idea what I'm going into.

Thanks for listening...

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I can understand your intimidation. Just remember, you are there more to get exposure at this point than to get any real experience. It is doubtful you will be allowed to do anything that will put a patient's life in danger as a student. Look back to your first few days of clinical and how far you have come since then, and know this will be no different. You will one day feel wistful remembering how green you were at this point in time and how idealistic.

This sounds like a great opportunity. Congratulations! I know you will make the most of it.

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Nepenth I'm sure all nursing students and even nurses starting out feel the same way you do now. I'm sure you'll catch on quickly and basically be a pro in no time. Not to mention you'll be ahead of the game when you begin to take your critical courses. I was thinking about applying for an externship but I'm not sure what need to do and what the qualifications generally are. Any advice you can offer will be great.;)

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Martinhopeful, I found mine by emailing the HR recruiter at the hospital and asking about nursing externships. She essentially turned a PCT position into an externship and invited four of the top students who had inquired to apply for it. I will find out next week if I got it. It is in a cardiac step down unit.

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I know that they won't be letting me do anything that would really hurt a patient at this time, but I worry about doing things like that in the future when I have graduated. Surely in the year's time it will take before I graduate I will learn a little more, and hopefully feel better about myself. I just got freaked out when I saw those ICU pts. The education employee who was showing me around assured me that that is a common reaction among students. Until last week, I was so excited about this, and couldn't wait to get in there, and now I'm really nervous. Hopefully I will get over it.

Martin, I don't know about all externships, but as for mine, you have to be entering your senior year of nursing in order to apply. It is based on GPA and a 500-word essay you write about why you chose to go into nursing. Our externship is fairly new, and I think alot of people don't know about it. They had five student externs last year, and this year we have four, so I don't know if that few people applied, or if they didn't feel they had enough qualified applicants. It is also open to any RN student, so we have one from a big city far from here, and one from another state. We got to pick our top five areas of interest and they chose three of those for us to rotate through. It will be a really good experience, and hopefully I can keep my mistakes to a minimum.

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Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

congratulations on this great opportunity. Like you said, most people don't know about this externship as I haven't heard people talking about it, yet. How did you hear about it? Where can I find more information on this. I just got done with the first semester and will be going to Level I in the fall, but just would like to review the information to be ready as this is a Great opportunity to any student.

Thanks

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

Chapis, I don't remember how exactly I found it. I was googling "externships" or "nursing" or something on the local newspaper website, and I saw an article about it. I also have a friend in NS with me who was interested, and she called the hospital's nurse recruiter and asked about it, and was told that the applications would be in the office of the nursing building at the beginning of the semester. I went in there one day for something else and found them. I didn't really expect that I would get a position since I will only be Level III in the fall and not Level IV, but I was told I was still eligible. So, yeah, you should go for it when the time comes!

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It's ok to be nervous before starting an externship. I was nervous this time last year when I was starting mine. Remember you are still a student and won't be expected to know everything. Have realistic expectations for yourself. Due to the fact that you're not staying in one unit for the summer, it's hardly enough time to develop a huge skill set (it seems like you'll get more of an introduction to each area). Enjoy it because it'll go quickly and ask lots of questions!

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Thanx for all the info on exterships. I'm going to look up the requirements in my area. Good luck Nepenthe and RN2BE on your externships

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Specializes in ortho, med/surg.

I understand. I'm starting my externship next week on a unit I've worked on for 7 years and I'm nervous too. You are being really hard on yourself! I know because I do it too. Just relax and enjoy your experience and just think how much you will learn for your critical class. Good luck and have fun :)

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