I feel STUPID and incompetent. Need a shoulder!

[sarahg88]

Hello all fellow LPN students.

I have been feeling very discouraged latley. I was one of those people who wrote really good academic papers and achieved well on tests, but when it comes to applying my knowledge, i go blank. I also forget lots of stuff i have learned, especially in pathophysiology. I am in my final preceptorship and graduate in 22 days. The other day, my preceptor asked me what I knew about CHF, and i couldnt remember a think. I stupidly said "um its heart failure?" I felt like such an idiot. He seems so knowledgable, as well as all the other nurses around. I feel like im in the way and stupid and that I shouldn't be a nurse...... does any one else feel this way? I feel like im the only one and Im also under the impression that I should know EVERYTHING at this point, about everything. My critical thinking skills aren't quite in full gear yet either. I feel scared and as if I really let myself down... HEELLLLPPPP!!!!

[Julianna326]

I feel for you! I am just entering a BSN program and that's my biggest concern, that I'll go blank when put on the spot and forget everything I've learned along the way. I know there are lots of good nurses out there who probably feel the same way. Just hang in there and have confidence in yourself!

[MurrR]

I have the opposite problem, when I'm put on the spot I can practically recite textbooks, but when I'm on my own sometimes I feel like I forget my own head. I do better when I remind myself to stay focused and not let my mind go on idle while my hands do the work. Paying attention to what I'm doing keeps me from having those "Uh uh uh..." moments.

Perhaps it's just that you panic about the unexpectedness of the question? If you're used to answering questions you don't expect, I think you do better when you're put on the spot.

[MySonIsAdorable]

I haven't started nursing school but start an LVN program in August. Anyways this is my advice on what I have already studied (med term, med math, med-surg a little and a&p)

When I was taking my accelerated A&P class I just constantly memorized. Sometimes just just have to keep going over stuff to reinforce it! My friend told me the other day "the only stupid questions are the ones not asked" I'd say just keep your head up, don't look down on yourself like that because in nursing you have to rely on yourself more than anything.

Stand in front of your mirror and tell yourself how well you are doing tell yourself that you will not fail at this and that you will be the best nurse out there.

When I was driving back and forth to classes I'd listen to my notes on my recorder and I would record my own note saying how well I am going to do things like that and I would look in my car mirror and repeat those words. I think it really works -might feel stupid but no one has to know

Good luck :) hope this helps a bit

[lindsey115]

I am in an LPN program and will graduate in August...I am real good at hands on in the clinical setting but when my teachers put me on the spot in class i freeze! It's like i am so scared that i will say the wrong thing and make a fool of yourself! So, your not alone! I know the stupid and incompetent feeling all to well!

[ellie23]

You are definately not alone, and nobody knows everything. You just have to do the best you can and believe in yourself. What sometimes works for me is to stop and take a breath before I answer because it gives me a second to calm down and think. As for being incompetent, it is easy to feel this way but you're not. You wouldn't have made it this far if you were.

Best of luck! :)

[preregistration]

Thank you!

I feel exactly the same way. I'm in my final year of studies and on a placement at the moment and every time I get asked anything to do with physiology I forget! I feel like all the nurses think I'm stupid and today I was thinking that maybe I shouldn't be a nurse if I'm so hopeless under pressure. I actually only found this thread because I was googling ways to handle the situation! It's reassuring to know I'm not the only person who is going through this. I'm just going to keep revising and try to work out how to stay calm instead of panicking.

[nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP]

Don't feel bad, we all have moments like this. I'm a new RN working in a surgical ICU and I have moments where I draw a blank or forget something. The other night I had a patient who I've had for two days, she seemed fine, was sleeping, I went to work with my other patients for awhile. When I came in to assess her I couldn't get her to stay awake for too long. Her BP and HR and rhythm were normal. She was on some heavy duty narcotics and had a history of having to receive Narcan to reverse the narc effects. Another nurse had to bring the possibility of hypoglycemia to my attention and sure enough, her glucose was 32. A little dextrose 50% brought her right back around. I was so focused on her pain med history I neglected the possibility of low blood sugar even though she was diabetic because it seemed that her sugars had always been normal in the past.

Just keep going and keep trying to learn. Stay humble and look at every mistake you make as a learning opportunity. I've heard many nurses say the 1st year out of school is the hardest, and it's true, it is challenging. Just don't give up.

[lrlat]

Sounds to me like you need to give yourself a break. Obviously you would not have gotten this far...if you were incompetent. I this it is just a serious case of the jitters. Take a deep breath...relax...and GO GET THIS THING DONE girl!!!