Check Offs

[MyDream 2bRN]

Hi guys,

I'm a first-year nursing student and I'm beginning to get very anxious about the upcoming check offs. We have all our check offs in one day. We get two chances to pass them and if you don't pass them you don't make it to clinical. Without your clinical rotation, you pretty much fail your first semester. I wonder how many schools have this same kind of set up. Also, if you guys have any tips on how to not be anxious while doing your check offs. I have been practicing a lot but still don't feel I'm confident enough to do it yet. The thing that worries me the most that as we are doing our check off we have to verbalize everything and be prepared for any questions that the instructor may have.

Thanks and I appreciate any tips that you guys may have.

[BassCatchingNurse]

By check offs do you mean...hand washing, IVs, vital signs, assessments? It helps to practice with a friend or family member. You are not going to be an expert, but you should have the basics down. Your instructors just want you to practice safely. As far as decreasing anxiety, for me, it was a learned/practiced thing. I was a very anxious kid, but learned that bad things happen and life does not always go the way you like/plan. Therefore, I just learned to not worry about what I can't control. It sounds impossible, right? But, I did it. There is nothing special about me. I looked in awe at people that seemed to never worry about things. I wanted to be like them. And so, I became like them. Why worry about things I can't control? Anxiety will only hurt my situation. So, I focus on what I can control!

For example, you can't change the check offs or the pass/fail rules. What you can control is your preparation. Study, practice, study, practice....then life takes over. You pass or you fail, but it will not be because you did not prepare or give your all. Right? If you pass, know that you earned it. If you fail, don't quit...dig down...learn from your mistakes...and get them next time!!

[MyDream 2bRN]

Thanks for the tip. I have been preparing as much as I can. I have been doing practice labs almost daily and just anxious about it all.

[Onecoolwife]

I am first semester nursing and I just completed my check offs for clinical. I made it way harder than it should have been by over thinking it. I actually passed but I had worried myself into such a frenzy that I actually missed things (thankfully not the critical items).I was so nervous about working on the mannequins, I was shaking and anxious.

Going forward the advice I was given was to calm down, and not over think what I am/was doing, even though it is pass/fail, the instructors are not out to see you fail. I am a good student and in the end my professor pointed that out. Just do it like you have practiced, You go this!