WOW.. two more failures and I'm out:(

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So today, me and my partner go in to do positioning and bed bath check offs, today was our 2nd clinical, we started last Monday(me and my partner had to come back today b/c we moved to slow) So anyways, we go in and we missed verbalizing "put on gloves" for oral care, my partner forgot to wash the butt cheeks and she couldn't mitter her side of the bed. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but I know I did things wrong he just didn't say anything to me. He looks at us and tells us that he's letting us slide with these and that we can only fail two labs. Talk about pressure and anxiety!!!!!

I think we're moving too fast, first thing when we walked in last monday was our first day. The first thing we did was wash our hands (he didnt' teach us how) we just got up and did it and he told some things that were wrong while we were doing it. Then we went into positioning, again he didnt teach us, show us videos, nothing.... Iguess we're expected to know how before our first day??? Then we went onto bed bath, making occupied bed, and transfering to wheelchair and stretcher!!! Did anyone else go through this on their first day. It's like he expects us to know how to do everything already and then this monday was checkoffs for all that stuff. By the way, I failed handwashing TWICE.I know what I'm doing wrong and he doesn't give me time to verbalize it as soon as I do it he's like "your contaminated" and then I have to stop. I really feel like he wants me and my partner to fail because he thinks we don't know how to do things. I feel so discouraged but I'm not giving up.

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

I hope you take into consideration what Daytonite has said. She gave some extremely great points. Nursing school is as much of a "school" as it is self-teaching. Last semester was my first, and, although I didn't have to verbalize what I had to do or was doing, I had to make sure I knew what I was doing. This required practice, practice, and more practice. I've never had any type of experience in the hospital or with this type of thing before, so it was up to me to make sure I taught myself as well as took my time to listen, and do whatever I had to do to get it right. The first time I did hand washing, I didn't do it right. The clinical instructors bathed my hands in this neon orange "goo" that glowed in the blacklight they used to see if I did it right. I missed my wrists. Therefore, I had to go back, put more goo on and do it all over again. You must take things in stride. You won't be perfect. No one will be; no matter how much experience they have, you are all in the same boat.

I had this very strict, demanding, and blunt clinical instructor who told us straight out what we were doing and if we kept doing it, we would fail. She intimidated the bee-geesus out of me! However, it is because of her that I learned things the right way. You must think of yourself, of course, but you also have to think about the patients. If you don't learn to do something right, you will, more than likely, cause them harm. Sometimes it is those professors--who hurt your feelings, make you feel stupid--who will help you succeed. There's always a silver lining. Always.

Nursing school will naturally move fast. There is overwhelming amounts of information that we need to learn, prepare for, and fine tune. Try to relax. I know it's easier said than done, but I've learned from personal experience that if you stress out, you wind up hurting your concentration and blocking things out that are vital for your learning. Learn to manage your time. Go, whenever you have a free minute, to the library, the lab tech (who should have videos for nursing students readily available; I know in my school, they do) your professor, here, and any type of resource available to you that can help you out. In fact, in this forum, I believe there's a sticky that has videos on how to do various things. Use it. It is very helpful. Try to have fun in class. It's not that hard, really. The things you're learning are fascinating and helpful. Don't let stress and your own natural insecurities to let you down. Insecurities are good; overconfidence often gets you into trouble. :wink2: I hope you enjoy your experience and to read later that you're doing great. Good luck and God bless!!!

Specializes in NICU/L&D, Hospice.

In my 1st semester we were required to come to lab prepared, self taught, videos watched, chapters read. We went to lab, had a short lecture (10-20mins) mainly about why we need to do the things we are doing...not how to do them. Then it was off to practice and test when ready. No step-by-step taught, but tons of support. It really worked out well. Nursing school is so different. At first your mad that you have to teach yourself before going to class, but it becomes second nature and gives you a great foundation.

Specializes in none, still looking.

So, what did you need to know, just venting, huh. Get use to dealing with this stuff in nursing school, it happens all the way through it.

Specializes in LDRP.

Great advice...

You definitely need to be on your toes--are you READING your assigned stuff--before lecture? Some programs do a little more handholding than others, but ultimately the learning lies in your hands. YOU need to read, watch videos, go to lab on your own time and ask for help, ask other classmates for help, take your instructor aside and tell him you WANT to learn and ask for his imput. It never slows down and each semester you will do more and more on your own. It IS overwhelming, but it CAN be done.

Good luck to you. It sounds like you really want this badly. Be proactive, k?

I emailed my instructor telling him how I feel and this is what his response was. Hearing everyones advice in the forum for me and his advice to me has made me feel alot better:) Thank you all and I hope by December I'll be posting on here that I made it through this semester. Good luck to everyone!

Scarlett,

You did not "slide by." you both have an unsuccessful attempt at bedbaths and bedmaking. Although your performance yesterday was substandard, I did not feel it was enough to fail you. You were at least able to verbalize what you needed to do. Your not wearing gloves during oral care put you more at risk than the patient. Had you endagered the patient, you would have failed. We evaluate students individually even

when in pairs. I could see that your performance had improved and that you were more prepared than your partner. That is also partly why you were successful. As I told you yesterday, if either of you continue to not practice and to come to lab unprepared, you won't have to worry about "sliding by." You simply can't do the skills you have to do

without practicing. As for being labled or singled out as failures, I believe each of you can be successful. Ironically, the student you reminded me of started exactly the same way. She and her partner came unprepared, failed the same checkoffs and got the same talk you got yesterday. She was able to turn it around and became an excellent student. She is now in forth semester and doing well. Perhaps I can have her talk with you. If you

would take some suggestions, I suggest that you 1) move off the back row 2) Get motivated. Leave the flip flops and jeans at home. Checkoffs are still in the lab area so the rules still apply... I could have sent you home just based on your dress 3) Practice after classes. At least then you and your partner are here. If she won't come back another day, you come anyway. 4) Find those who are motivated and who are being successful and ask them if you can join them. If your partner fails, you will be placed

with another group anyway. 5) DO SOMETHING EVERYDAY!!!! There is a lot to do and it can be overwhelming. Make it a goal to do something everyday. Read one chapter. Practice one skill. learn one type of math problem. etc. BUT DO SOMETHING!!! We are here to help you but only if you help yourself.

Specializes in LDRP.
I emailed my instructor telling him how I feel and this is what his response was. Hearing everyones advice in the forum for me and his advice to me has made me feel alot better:) Thank you all and I hope by December I'll be posting on here that I made it through this semester. Good luck to everyone!

Scarlett,

You did not "slide by." you both have an unsuccessful attempt at bedbaths and bedmaking. Although your performance yesterday was substandard, I did not feel it was enough to fail you. You were at least able to verbalize what you needed to do. Your not wearing gloves during oral care put you more at risk than the patient. Had you endagered the patient, you would have failed. We evaluate students individually even

when in pairs. I could see that your performance had improved and that you were more prepared than your partner. That is also partly why you were successful. As I told you yesterday, if either of you continue to not practice and to come to lab unprepared, you won't have to worry about "sliding by." You simply can't do the skills you have to do

without practicing. As for being labled or singled out as failures, I believe each of you can be successful. Ironically, the student you reminded me of started exactly the same way. She and her partner came unprepared, failed the same checkoffs and got the same talk you got yesterday. She was able to turn it around and became an excellent student. She is now in forth semester and doing well. Perhaps I can have her talk with you. If you

would take some suggestions, I suggest that you 1) move off the back row 2) Get motivated. Leave the flip flops and jeans at home. Checkoffs are still in the lab area so the rules still apply... I could have sent you home just based on your dress 3) Practice after classes. At least then you and your partner are here. If she won't come back another day, you come anyway. 4) Find those who are motivated and who are being successful and ask them if you can join them. If your partner fails, you will be placed

with another group anyway. 5) DO SOMETHING EVERYDAY!!!! There is a lot to do and it can be overwhelming. Make it a goal to do something everyday. Read one chapter. Practice one skill. learn one type of math problem. etc. BUT DO SOMETHING!!! We are here to help you but only if you help yourself.

Sounds like he wants you to succeed. I would follow his advice! :) GL and let us know how it goes.

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

He sounds reasonable to me and has given you some advice. Is there a dress code that you're not adhering to as well? Better take his advice on that as well and use your time wisely. Go in for practice, prepare yourself before, do your reading, etc. Bedbaths and bedmaking are basic skills and things will just get more intense as you go along so it would be beneficial to you to get yourself into good study and preparation habits for your nursing arts lab. Good luck.

He sounds reasonable to me and has given you some advice. Is there a dress code that you're not adhering to as well? Better take his advice on that as well and use your time wisely. Go in for practice, prepare yourself before, do your reading, etc. Bedbaths and bedmaking are basic skills and things will just get more intense as you go along so it would be beneficial to you to get yourself into good study and preparation habits for your nursing arts lab. Good luck.

Yeah, I'm glad I emailed him and he's emailed me again with advice and is very helpful. I had the wrong impression at first because I thought he was just being mean, but actually not! As far as the dress code, I figured it didn't matter because I was coming in not on my clinical day to do the checkoff. Now I know that even if it's not my scheduled day we have to be in uniform:)

He sounds like a tough instructor...but they are often that way for a reason. His response to you sounded very encouraging, but he also pointed out where you can improve and that means he is hoping you'll do what it takes to get better and make a good effort.

As for your partner - I hope she will do okay, but if you are struggling and need to put more time in and she isn't even doing that, its not a good sign. Don't let her struggle become yours.

Best of luck!!! :wink2:

Me and my partner have really turned things around. We've passed all our skills checkoffs since then. WE have more confidence and our teacher is not a "meanie monster" to us anymore. Actually he's oen of the best teachers I've ever had, I'm partial to my micro teacher just bc that class was so interesting, but hey this is only the 5th week and I'm so glad things are going good for us now:)

Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

that's terrific! i'm so glad for you (both)!! wtg!

:kiss

I have a question and I may have misunderstood, but...do you fail a skill because your partner is slow? If so, that's crap. Your ability to know and complete a skill shouldn't have anything to do with anyone else but you. Secondly....is this for an RN program?

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