Clinical Disaster!

ktwlpn, LPN · Mar 24, 2001

Originally posted by miaka:
I am a confident nursing student who is a wife and a mother. Not having much exposure to the nursing profession as a child, I didn't think of it as a career. Having got a job a local hospital emergency room, it did not take me long to decide that this was the career path I would like to follow. I feel comfortable talking and being around sick people. The academic side of nursing school is amazing to me. I love learning all the new information. There is only one problem, I am nervous about the clinical side. I fear it may take me a lot longer to get used to that aspect. Please share you thoughts and memories of this time in your life.
Thanks,
Melissa

My first Foley cath-insertion...a 98 yr old blind and senile NUN!

It took 5 to hold her down-she kept picking hher head up and aiming spit missiles at us,,,cursed like a sailor-in French.It took me 5 tries-I was sweating more then I ever have in my life...I remember my instructor saying after the first insertion did not strike gold" just leave the catheter in there-it is plugging up some hole" I'll never forget that day...thru the years you do learn a lot of great tricks...like always have extra supplies with you-saves alot of time...

Jay-Jay, RN · Mar 24, 2001

I'm posting this in memory of my best friend, the late Ev de Bruin. Ev was diabetic, and when it was almost time for me to have to do my first s.c. injection on a patient, she plunked her insulin bottles down infront of me, and said, "Okay, Jane, time to get some practise. 10 units regular, and 5 of NPH..."

God, bless her, she was a true friend as well as a terrific nurse.

Kaliko69 · Mar 24, 2001

HI

I am an ADN nursing student. about to finish my second semester. I "got" to do my first catheter about 4 weeks ago. I can't imagine anything easier than a post op elderly woman who was so out of it she snored the whole time. BUt of course I was still so nervous I was shaking, and there was my instructor talking to me through her teeth and my fellow student with her pen light aimed right at "it". haha It was horrible yet really cool.

Kal

janine3&5 · Mar 24, 2001

Best advice is: ALWAYS ask questions! No one expects you to know how to do everything perfectly when you're a student. I've never had a preceptor, instructor, or even pt fault me for asking questions. Also, listen to your patients! I've been surprised at the number of pts who can tell me which of their veins nurses are able to start IVs in best- they're almost always right! You'll do fine, and probably surprise yourself at times with how much you do know and are able to do!

NurseKrissy · Mar 24, 2001

It's really not that bad. Don't worry so much. Anything you do in clinical that could possibly put someone in danger is monitored by your instructor. If you are doing an Iv, injection, foley, meds.... your instructor is there and will talk you through it - the instructor doesn't expect you to know everything right away. Relax. Best of luck to you.

Yalonda1 · Mar 24, 2001

Hi, Just as the other posters have said, these things come with practice. While in clinical, you will be working off of your instructor's license so they will be very careful with you concerning different task. Don't worry, you will catch on, these things just take time and a lot of practice.

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Yalonda Ferguson, RN, BSN

LaurieCRNP2002, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 24, 2001

Hello Miaka

I don't know if your school has this but it's something to look into. Some schools are developing (or have developed) a "learning lab" where students can practice skills on a mannequin. I am a grad student at a prominent school and we have a skills lab for students to practice such skills as catheterization, working with ventilator-dependent patients, and inserting IV's. If your school doesn't have such a place, maybe a nearby school does and you could arrange to spend some time practicing and polishing your skills. Good luck to you and let us know how things go! :-)

janine3&5 · Mar 24, 2001

I think the best thing that you can do to make procedures easier on your pt is to always stay calm- if you're calm and unhurried, your pt will be more comfortable with you. Also, always explain what you're doing to the pt- I think sometimes, fear of the unkown is worse to the pt than the actual procedure. Most pts (esp older ones) really seem to like to have students care for them and will go out of their way to praise you when they know you're doing something new. As for guinea pigs- my classmates and I all started IVs on each other before heading out to try it on real pts-this helped not only with the actual skill, but also kind of reassures you that as a pt, it doesn't hurt that bad for very long.

Robin61970 · Mar 25, 2001

I am not yet in school, but I will be and I think the thing that bothers me the most is I am worried about hurting someone when doing a procedure. Granted they all hurt to an extent, but i don't want to make it worse for them...practice makes perfect right? NOw wee just need guinea pigs...joking...don't get upset. That is my concern though...