Starting Clinicals and Having Anxiety

Trust me, you are NOT the only person that feels that way on the first day of clinicals. I had been in the medical field for over 10 years before going to nursing school and I was scared to death. I never slept the night before clinicals. Just remember, you are a student and everyone knows that. You will not be expected to know everything. You are there to learn.

On another note, remember that while you may only have one patient, the nurse you are assigned to has at least 3, maybe more. And she/he did not have the opportunity to prepare/review the charts the day before. If each of those patients is assigned a student, she/he will be very busy. Be patient and if time allows, offer to help with other things you are permitted to do.

Well don't know if this helps, but I am about to be a new clinical teacher and I am having anxiety! You will do fine, just treat people (non-medically) like you would like to be treated. That is half the battle...people seem to lack common sense.... as for the other stuff, no one expects you to be confident right now, if you were it would be scarry....

As previous posters have said, student anxiety is common. I would even consider it normal. So, first of all -- don't assume that the anxiety is a sign that there is something wrong with you, or that you are not cut out to be nurse or anything like that. It's just a normal reaction to facing an important "unknown." We all experience it throughout our careers/lives. It's therefore important to develop some coping skills to help you live with the stress that is inevitable in your career.

Right now ... you are needing some coping skills ... and good for you, you have the good sense to seek advice from experienced nurses. That's a great first step. Feel free to come here and write about your experiences, ask questions, seek support, etc. That should help a bit. Also, develop a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, enough sleep, healthy food, adequate "play" time, and healthy supportive relationships with friends/family. Those things will help you have the inner strength you will need to dope with stress.

For this weekend ... try to find some really fun stuff to do that gets you up and moving, socializing, etc. Keep yourself distracted and give yourself things to smile about.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Hey I just saw your post (about 2 weeks later). How are clinicals going? I am starting mine next thurs. and I am SOOOO nervous! Probably right up there with you. Everyone in my class is that nervous so you aren't the only one. I am just afraid of looking stupid. Like the teacher asks me a question and I'm like UHH... I don't know?.. hah. I don't feel prepared AT ALL and don't want to make a mistake and get yelled at. We've only been in class for 3 wks so far. Anyways I wish the best of luck to you, where are you doing clinicals at, we are starting in ICU (even more nerve wracking)!! anyways good luck, I'm with ya on the anxiety!! I will probably be puking the day before mine, next week.

Yeah we had our orientation today and I am feeling so discouraged. I just dont know if i was cut out to be a nurse, like not smart enough. I can't imagine having to remember all this stuff it seems like SO MUCH. I'm so used to just being told ok go do this and now it's like with nursing I have to know what to do or I could possibly injure someone or something.

I am in RN, the associates degree program. It's a year & a half (5 trimesters). I am a pretty laid back person, a little shy I guess when i'm out of my comfort zone i gues syou could say. It's just really overwhelming, scary and very nerve wracking. Hopefully I can mkae it through though, how aout you? are you doing LPN or RN or are you finished with one?