clinical blues

WalkingInTheRain · Mar 10, 2004

You can overcome the barriers. Do you have anyone you can trust like a teacher to talk to? If they can't help you try going to the Dean of the College you go to maybe they can help you. Just hang in their and stay strong don't let people put you down, you love medicine and they can't take that away from you. Maybe you can also talk to an Academic Advisor? I hope you find what your looking for and everything turns out well for you.

BabyRN2Be · Mar 11, 2004

How have your previous grades been? Before you started fundamentals, I mean. Is this a problem strictly with a teacher or is a continuing problem in other classes.

I do have one concrete suggestion for you: How about taking a Patient Care Technician class or becoming a CNA for a little while? That way you can continue in Nursing (something you LOVE to do), gain some experience, and maybe continue in Nursing later on. If you do well as a PCT or a CNA, you might mention that when you reapply to Nursing school, maybe you can get a recommendation from someone who knows your work or has seen you improve.

You have this going for you: you are VERY young, you have so much time. Maybe you can take a career class at a community college, it might introduce you to another field in Medicine or Nursing that may appeal to you a little more. It won't take too long to get a PCT or CNA certification, that may be the way to go for a little while until you are more sure of yourself.

Good luck to you, and I hope that everything works out for you.

Katherine

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2004

Sounds like you are doing some seroius soul-searching. Good luck in your journey. Sometimes our dreams take us in directions we never dreamed of.

hock1 · Mar 11, 2004

Please don't give up. When everything seems bleakest it really isn't. I know several nursing students who started off rocky and have made it all the way. Please don't give up.

Purple Princess · Mar 11, 2004

I have always done well in school. I had trouble in math but that was it. I typically earned A's and B's seldom got A C or lower. I had a little trouble my first semester of college and got a D in Anatomy and an F in English( don't ask :)) But I persevered and earned mostly A's and some B's again. So I can read, spell, understand, and comprehend information but am having difficulty taking the classroom into the clinical setting. I haven't had any real work experience in nursing just typical cashiering and now deli work that's it. As far as extra activities I've been in a marching band, youth group, Girl Scouts, done ceramics, and was in multiple clubs in school. By far my favorite classes have involved science or the human body. I am considering taking my CNA test and hopefully get into Lenape next January. I feel really bad now like a failure cause I tried so hard but it didn't go. Why is nursing so hard? I guess I was treated horribly at my previous job also deli work. The employees and the manager there both belittled me, teased, and down right degraded me and made me feel like I was too stupid to do anything. I let that get to me but I have to let it go cause they're still there and eventually I will find something I like and am good at I hope.

How have your previous grades been? Before you started fundamentals, I mean. Is this a problem strictly with a teacher or is a continuing problem in other classes.
I do have one concrete suggestion for you: How about taking a Patient Care Technician class or becoming a CNA for a little while? That way you can continue in Nursing (something you LOVE to do), gain some experience, and maybe continue in Nursing later on. If you do well as a PCT or a CNA, you might mention that when you reapply to Nursing school, maybe you can get a recommendation from someone who knows your work or has seen you improve.
You have this going for you: you are VERY young, you have so much time. Maybe you can take a career class at a community college, it might introduce you to another field in Medicine or Nursing that may appeal to you a little more. It won't take too long to get a PCT or CNA certification, that may be the way to go for a little while until you are more sure of yourself.
Good luck to you, and I hope that everything works out for you.
Katherine

BabyRN2Be · Mar 11, 2004

Elizabeth, don't give up hon. I do hope that you consider getting your CNA or PCT certificate. Go to work in the field, gain some experience in something you love to do. You'll experience success, and therefore gain the confidence that you really need.

It sounds like you let people get to you, don't let them do that to you! There are some people who live to do that, but don't give them that power. You have so much to offer it sounds like. Stay with it and you'll become a nurse one day.

Don't give up! *HUGS*

Katherine

Trauma Columnist · Mar 11, 2004

Getting your CNA will help make things easier for you in nursing school. Hopefully, it will also allow you to feel more comfortable in clinicals. Good luck! (BTW - I flunked out of nursing school when I was 18, joined the Navy, got stationed in Japan, met my husband, moved a lot more and went back to nursing school in my 30's). Things happen for a reason. Good luck..

Purple Princess · Mar 11, 2004

I have applied through the state to automatically test for my CNA license but what is a patient care tech? I will hopefully become a CNA and work for awhile which is what I should have done in the first place. Then try again at another school, if not nursing then something directly related. All I want is a nice house, decent car, and travel once in awhile. I'm not in this for the money at all, I just want to help people. My one friend is blind, my other friend can't hear at all , my dad is an amputee, and my grandma died all too young to cancer. My clinical instructor asked me why I wanted to be a nurse and before I could answer she said," Was it so you could have a job with good pay?"

I have always done well in school. I had trouble in math but that was it. I typically earned A's and B's seldom got A C or lower. I had a little trouble my first semester of college and got a D in Anatomy and an F in English( don't ask :)) But I persevered and earned mostly A's and some B's again. So I can read, spell, understand, and comprehend information but am having difficulty taking the classroom into the clinical setting. I haven't had any real work experience in nursing just typical cashiering and now deli work that's it. As far as extra activities I've been in a marching band, youth group, Girl Scouts, done ceramics, and was in multiple clubs in school. By far my favorite classes have involved science or the human body. I am considering taking my CNA test and hopefully get into Lenape next January. I feel really bad now like a failure cause I tried so hard but it didn't go. Why is nursing so hard? I guess I was treated horribly at my previous job also deli work. The employees and the manager there both belittled me, teased, and down right degraded me and made me feel like I was too stupid to do anything. I let that get to me but I have to let it go cause they're still there and eventually I will find something I like and am good at I hope.

BabyRN2Be · Mar 11, 2004

From what I understand, this is offered at some hospitals and community colleges as a two week course (it might be longer at a CC). Such procedures are learned as running EKG's, dressing changes, Foley insertion, as well as the normal CNA run of things (dressing, feeding, and bathing). You may want to ask your local CC if they have something like this - it's more involved than a CNA class, it's a good way to gain some experience from what I understand. One of the places I'm applying to has a CNA requirement, but they offer this PCT class in lieu of the CNA requirement. They prefer we do the class as we'll have more experience and we can sign off on certain procedures faster.

Hope this helps!

Katherine

kellilou3 · Mar 11, 2004

I spoke with a hospital here in Nashville that will pay you during training to be a patient care tech. Your pay goes up once you're done with the training, which is 7 weeks long, and you get benefits from day one. If you've already completed your first semester of nursing, you forego the training altogether and jump right in there as a tech. Plus, after six months, you're eligible for tuition reimbursement. I would suggest speaking to someone in HR at various hospitals in your area to see if they offer a similar program.

And try not to get so down--as I have told myself many times, "Every closed door opens a window of opportunity." Sounds cheesy, but it's helped me have a positive attitude in times where there wasn't a whole lot of positivity going on. Believe in yourself, and you'll do fine.

Purple Princess · Mar 12, 2004

Thanks to everyone who replied for your support and helpful advice.I think I am going to get my CNA license and try to get work doing that for awhile. But I will talk to the local hospital about that PCT class. I'm not giving up. You know here in PA the job market is tight and the economy is down and health care professionals, especially doctors, have very high malpractice insurance. It's horrible and medical schools of all areas are highly competitive and selective. And maybe I still have the ability to be a nurse but this college just wouldn't give me a chance. But I thank you all and I'll keep you all updated.