Advice for Nursing Student?

[obri]

Hi everyone,I'm currently a nursing student in her first semester. Right now, I'm thinking I hate nursing because I didn't know what I got myself into/what nurses really did until I started clinical. I'm on a med/surg floor and even though I know I'm only a student there to learn, I am constantly overwhelmed and can't help it. I've spoken to my instructors and classmates for tips but once I get home, I just want to forget about clinical. To further explain what I don't like, I really don't like how sad it makes me being on the floor. I've never had anyone close to me die before, so I'm terrified of death and seeing patients so sick. I guess it doesn't help that my instructor assigns us the sickest patients so that's all I really see. I'm afraid to try simple things like giving baths and ambulating patients because I'm afraid I'll hurt them or I don't know how even though I was already taught. I seem to forget or don't understand a lot of the simple skills until I try it hands on multiple times. Is there anyone like me who just takes a really long time to get used to/learn things? It seems like my classmates can pick things up quickly whereas I learn by continuous repetition. This doesn't help because nursing school is such a fast environment with not a lot of time to practice with my instructors, so you can imagine how overwhelmed/stupid I constantly feel. Before I decide to throw in the towel because I don't want to waste any more money on tuition, I just wanted to ask for reassurance from nurses with experience that this is normal. Also, I was wondering if you all have ideas of a nursing speciality I may have an interest in so that I have motivation to keep going with my program. Some things about me:

• I was a resident assistant to about 60 students during college so I thought I could handle the high patient stress. I don't think this anymore because of the severity and multiple tasks that are due at a certain time. I enjoyed my job a lot because I got to know so many freshmen who were constantly in awe of the new college environment. I also enjoyed running into the "fun stuff" that happens during the weekends because I felt like I was contributing to their safety.
  
• I enjoy routine and predictability which also doesn't help on med/surg. I don't mind boring jobs. A lot of my classmates talk about how they would love the ER because of the unpredictability whereas that terrifies me.
  
• I like following procedures and am by the book.
  
• I'm a little socially awkward and shy. I can't seem to form conversations with patients or with my instructors. However, whenever I'm the patient I'm super talkative because the nurses/doctors start the conversation. One of my doctors actually assumed I was an extrovert. I guess this gives me hope that I can improve on my communication with practice.
  
• I have a strong interest in patient wellness before they are hospitalized. As a result, I think I would want to work in area with fewer patient deaths.
  
• I always thought I would want to work with children/babies but a lot of people say this, so maybe I'm just joining in on that. I have no prior experience working with peds/neonatal, so I'm not even sure. I just enjoy the thought of being around a more fun population and being allowed to act silly.
  
• I enjoy working in a team but can work independently as long as I feel competent enough to do the task (going back to predictability here).
  
• I would prefer to work only day/evening shift as I've had prior experience with insomnia and my therapist recommends I do what I can to avoid putting myself in a situation where that might occur again. Although, I wouldn't mind working weekends to pay my dues because I know new nurses tend to get the non desirable shifts.
  
• I'm an ISFJ if this helps more than what I'm trying to say.
  

Also another thing I've thought about is going outpatient right out of school. I don't want this to be something I regret because I never had hospital experience. However, have any of you started in outpatient and never felt like you missed out on anything? I also thought about school nursing (once I pay off my student loans of course :)). Thanks so much for taking the time reading this and helping me out!

[Neo Soldier, BSN, RN]

I graduated nursing school 3 weeks ago and I dreaded clinical; it was possibly the worst part of school for me, that and exams, and SIM, and competency, and lectures, don't get me started on care plans.....I hated every bit of nursing school- but I had to tell myself every morning, week after week that I was doing all this for a reason. I think that was the only thing that kept me going, PURPOSE.

Your instructor gives you the sickest patients because those patients will help you learn.

You are in your first semester and I think your feelings are not uncommon. You've never done anything like this before.

It's okay that you need constant repetition to learn something that's what learning is about anyway. I felt ready to throw in the towel up till my final semester!!

I would recommend that you take a day off. Nothing nursing related. I know it sounds crazy but trust me, you need a day completely off. And please don't feel guilty when you do.

The good thing about nursing is that there are different fields to go into so you dont always have to be a bed side nurse.

[obri]

Wow thanks Neo Soldier! Your experience sounds very similar to mine right now. This gives me a lot of hope that I will find something I'll like. If you don't mind me asking, what specialty are you working now and do you like it?

[Neo Soldier, BSN, RN]

Wow thanks Neo Soldier! Your experience sounds very similar to mine right now. This gives me a lot of hope that I will find something I'll like. If you don't mind me asking, what specialty are you working now and do you like it?

I am studying for my NCLEX at the moment and so I'm still a CNA for now.

[thenurseteacher]

First of all, take a deep breath. What you are feeling /experiencing is completely normal! You have taken an awesome first step by reaching out and looking for advise! Now, for the tough love - nursing school is not easy, but it will prepare you if you accept the challenge. Very few things will be predictable in nursing, which is why you need to build your tool box in nursing school. Growth is painful and many things will not make sense right now, but one day, it all click! I love to have my students watch this video - sums it all up! Snarky Nurses - Nursing school is tough.? Happy...

I am not sure what your schedule looks like, but you might want to consider getting a CNA/tech job - that will help you become more comfortable with patient care and especially as you move on to a full time career.

I also would recommend reaching out to your clinical instructor for tips or suggestions on how to improve and ease your stress.

As far as future careers, just be open right now to everything in nursing - the "right" job will find you!

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!!

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

I don't see that OP has the basic temperament for nursing. It's not all "fun stuff" and wellness. If you're looking for a way out, take it now before you really get stressed, have a lot of student loan debt and hate your first job after 3 weeks.

[rnhopeful82, ASN, RN]

I thought most schools started students off in the nursing home environment. That way, you weren't as likely to do anything crazy because the patients were very routine. I think it takes everyone quite some time before they remember to check everything and how to best do everything until they have done it numerous times. However, I think you should definitely reconsider your reasons for wanting to do peds/neonatal. Sick babies and children (that may also die) are not at all a fun environment nor a place to be silly. In fact, I know a nurse who refuses to float to the NICU and another who went to labor and delivery and wants to leave so badly due to the high risk pregnancies that hospital gets. Based on your list, I really can't offer anything else for you. Good luck.

[kgoesbacktocollege]

Amazing how people can be similar. It is like I am reading about myself. I am also ISFJ. I am not nurse yet and I have many of your fears. I am on my way to start my pre-requisites to apply for Second degree Accelerated BSN.

I haven't done any clinicals but I already know that some nursing departments i wouldn't like. That's why I am reading a lot right now online about different kind of nursing and what may fit me. And there a few I think I would enjoy.

1. school nurse.

2. nurse informatics.

3. case management.

I suggest you to look into those.

Of course for most of them you need a few years of experience. So if you have an opportunity go to pediatrics and after you could probably get school nurse position. Depends what's the situation with school nurses in your area. In my area not many opportunities so I hope we can move when time will comes for me to look for a school nurse position. Well, too many plans and even didnt start my school :)

Anyway, I hope things will work out for you. Please keep me updated. I am so curious what you will end up doing after graduation.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

First, congratulations on recognizing your strengths and weaknesses! I graduate from nursing school next month and let me reassure you that it DOES get better. I was a nursing assistant and medical assistant prior to nursing school and I even had a hard time readjusting into this new role. The first week I had clinical I was so awkward, I had a hard time maintaining conversation with my patients. I would get in, do my assessment, grab vital signs and head out the room to chart because I was so nervous.

As mint student nurses we are always afraid to touch patients because we assume they are so fragile. We're afraid to wake patients up because they are sleeping. Now, I get report from the overnight nurse and walk right on in the patient's room and wake them up for vitals and assessment without batting an eye lol. Patient coded? We jump right on in without second guessing...

Clinical is particularly hard for those who had no experience with patient care (including experiencing the death of a patient) because it's a culture shock. During the first semester, our clinical instructors assigned us 1 patient and this is based on where we were knowledge wise and how far in the program we were. This was the opportunity for us to hone our assessment and prioritization skills. I honestly HATED the first 3 months of nursing school because none of the rotations I had were particularly interesting and we were functioning as glorified CNAs with medication administration privileges.

Fast forward to final semester, we assume a patient load of 3 patients per 12-hour shift. Our patients are a lot sicker and we assume a lot more responsibilities (administering meds autonomously, calling residents and attendings, and being more involved with patient education).

I already know that I do not want to work inpatient. I am not overly excited about it during nursing school but I try to focus on what I want to accomplish during said rotation. I'm more of an outpatient or ER kind of guy. So it's good that you already know what you like and do not like. Trust the process, do well, stay afloat, do not compare yourself to other students, be inquisitive, do not take things personally, and graduate :). Good luck with everything, you got this.

[obri]

Wow thank you for all of you who responded! I really appreciate your motivational words.

@thenurseteacher Thank you so much for your kinds words! I think I'm just a very type A person who overthinks a lot. It's completely unhealthy, but it's how I've always been. I actually am in the process of applying for PCT positions right now. I'm currently in an accelerated program, so I don't have much time to maximize my learning experience, so I'm trying to do as much as I can with the time I do have. Currently, I just applied for a position in the OR. I know it's less patient interaction but I figure it'll give me practice with interprofessional teamwork and communication. Also, it'll expose me to a side of nursing that isn't inpatient and something my nursing curriculum only covers for a day. Plus I always thought surgeries were fascinating.

@Mavrick I think I do have the temperament to be in the field. I know I can't be picky especially as a new nurse, but I'd like to believe that once I have experience, there would be some field of nursing that I would like based on the list I provided. I wasn't asking where I should start. I think I should've made it clear that I was looking for a goal that I would work my butt off for due to what I like. I sure hope most nurses find their jobs enjoyable. But you are right in that if I decide I don't like it, I need to get out before I'm in even more debt. Thankfully, I'm covered under scholarships for this summer session so I won't be losing too much money, just my time.

@rnhopeful82 nope! We get placed on random floors based on where our instructors work. Some of my classmates are on more specialized floors like trauma. I think we have the opportunity to experience a nursing home once we get into adults. And yes I agree! Thank you for providing your friends' experiences. I think people tend to focus more on the positives of peds/neonatals so that's all I really know. I have a women and children's clinical coming up, so I guess I'll find out then if I can handle it.

@kgoesbacktocollege hahaha you do sound like me! I have researched those career options but was wondering if those who are in those fields can provide insight on whether or not I would like it based on my personality/likes. I'm currently in the accelerated program right now, and it sure is tough. I think nursing schools should make it a requirement that people should have some hospital experience before applying. I know most people who don't still enjoy it, but it'll make people like me who had no experience and is highly anxious, more confident in our decision.

@Lipoma thank you so much! Wow I really appreciate your response. I'm exactly like how you were right now. I go in and do what I need to do and walk out to follow my nurse some more. Every clinical week, I try to set a goal for myself that I would do something that I've never done before. So far, I've been hitting that goal. Now, I only wish I had more time on the floor so that I can practice and actually remember what I learned from my nurse! When did you finally feel more confident in your skills? Also, do you think starting out in outpatient would hinder you in the long run? I see both sides to this because I think to myself what if I really don't care if I'm ever in the hospital? I can spend the rest of my life outpatient if I'm happy there. I do hear that it gets monotonous, but I don't think I would mind that because outpatient settings are usually so fast pace that I wouldn't even have time to dwell on it!

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

Wow thank you for all of you who responded! I really appreciate your motivational words.

@Lipoma thank you so much! Wow I really appreciate your response. I'm exactly like how you were right now. I go in and do what I need to do and walk out to follow my nurse some more. Every clinical week, I try to set a goal for myself that I would do something that I've never done before. So far, I've been hitting that goal. Now, I only wish I had more time on the floor so that I can practice and actually remember what I learned from my nurse! When did you finally feel more confident in your skills? Also, do you think starting out in outpatient would hinder you in the long run? I see both sides to this because I think to myself what if I really don't care if I'm ever in the hospital? I can spend the rest of my life outpatient if I'm happy there. I do hear that it gets monotonous, but I don't think I would mind that because outpatient settings are usually so fast pace that I wouldn't even have time to dwell on it!

It takes time! Most of the time you're focusing on small details that you sometimes miss the larger picture when on the floor. Such as, getting vital signs in and assessments documented before grand rounds. As time goes on, you'll be prioritizing a lot faster and then you'll get the "ah-ha" moment.

Due to my background, I got over the "new student on the floor" jitters within a week. I was rooming, interacting, and caring for patients for 3 years before nursing school. I became more confident with my skills and knowing my limitations after about 3 months. As for working in outpatient, I honestly do not care if I get stuck there lol. It may hinder me but I don't think I can convince myself to do inpatient. If I do ER, it'll be night shifts because there are no supervisor, fewer visitors, and a lot less drama.

[peachtreednurse, RN]

By my years and term of duty, my son calls me a dinosaur. Perhaps he's correct. Nursing in my day was a role of noble pursuits...easing pain, spot-on assessment and documentation, teaching, compassion, and so much more capable of affecting those with whom the nurse came in contact for that moment, and in many cases for life. At one time I believed it reserved to those with a special calling, since there is a lot of sacrifice, effort, and no shortage of blood sweat, and tears.

It was a pleasant surprise that as I thought "OR", the words following revealed you expressed interest in that specialty as well. It's unfortunate your clinical rotation to that area was only one day, because in this entirely TOO SHORT of a time without KNOWING anything but these few notations, I feel it is something you should explore.

As a graduate from a three year Diploma Nursing Program, our rotations to each specialty was three months, and in that time, it was apparent the OR does play to some of your strengths identified in your prior posts :preference for protocol / regimen, less exposure to those acute or chronically ill, or actively in the process of dying / etc.

in my short brush of contact here, you already possess a keen sense of self, and a sincere caring for how your presence in nursing will most benefit you and those to whom you will eventually work with and care for...and that's half the battle. Have you given any thought to Psych/behavioral?

Good wishes for your path ahead...