Am I being too hard on myself?

[krcs]

So far I've been doing fairly well in nursing school. Aced all the tests and felt pretty confident. But then clinical day came and I fell short. I wouldn't say it was a total bust. I performed the tasks I was told to do but it did not go off without a hitch. I started shaky and ended shaky. I fumbled a bit on taking vitals. I completely know how to do vitals but the equipment used in the hospital is not what we practiced with(we didn't use anything electronic in practice) and it threw me off enough that it didn't go smoothly. It was embarrassing to have to leave the patient's room to fix something I'd goofed up on the first day of all days. Worse than that was that even though I got it fixed I couldn't finish the last bit because it was time for us to meet with the instructor and we're not allowed to be on the floor after a certain time.

Part of me says, it was the first day nerves and I shouldn't let it get to me. But the other part of me worries since the first day is supposed to be the easiest!

Any encouragement, advice, info, tough love welcome

[SoHappyToBeRN]

I wouldn't worry, most days I still feel like I fumble. As long as you are being safe than you are okay. I have a tendency to be very hard in my self and I hate that it is going to take me years before I feel comfortable with patients. You've gotta think, you're not going to learn to be a great nurse while at school, that comes later. Must reflect after each day and think of what you feel you fumbled and how you could be better the next clinical day. ((I need to also take all this advice!)). I'm starting to realize though, as long as I keep trying to be better and better and I'm being safe while in clinicals then I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing! Don't know if this helps, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem. :)

[krcs]

I'm definitely a perfectionist and I think this is why it bothered me so much. Most of my classmates seemed thrilled at their performance and suggested that it went off without a hitch. Maybe they fumbled too and just aren't beating themselves up about it like I am.

I will try to drill into my head that this is my learning experience and not a test on how perfect I am. Good luck to you on not being too hard on yourself too. It's good to know I'm not alone!

[bear14]

Your classmates that had a perfect day has their bad day coming up. Its just par for the course. This is where its ok to make mistakes. Dont be too hard on yourself your in a program thats intensive and it will rock your confidence like nothing else. Your perfect day is on its way be patient.