Clinicals Has Me Feeling Dumber than Ever

[HappyMeNow]

This is my second semester at clinicals and I'm starting to feel more inadequate than ever. Last semester was much easier. Our instructor let us loose without really ever checking on us and our patients, and on top of that I had very stable patients so my days at clinical last semester was a breeze. I had great rapport with all my patients and I was really confident in my abilities.

This semester is a totally different ballgame. The hospital I'm at is a lot bigger. Everything's computerized and my clinical instructor is a lot stricter. I have no complaints about my instructor. She's really knowledgeable in her field and very responsible to patients. Problem is, I keep making mistakes and I'm really doubting how I will be as a RN, if I ever make it. The environment the second semester is a lot more different than the last one. Last one we had way too much down time so I was never in a hurry. This semester I am get flustered easily and although I have not endangered my patients, I didn't document things I was supposed to, and the worst part is I didn't even know I was supposed to.

When things are going tense, like when a patient is going south, I feel like I'm taking up extra space because I don't know what to do unless someone tells me. Once I know what I'm supposed to do I can manage, but I don't know, when the nurses and the instructor are talking amongst themselves about what's going on with the patient I feel confused. I know basically waht's going on, but I feel like there's so much more I don't know!

I also find that I lack a lot of common sense and I probably come off pretty ditzy. I got all A's in my couses last semester and A's so far in this one. I know I'm book smart, but I don't have previous health care knowledge, or much about diease and anatomy. I just don't know if I can get through this.

I don't want to fail clinical. Failing clinical is failing the whole program. My instructor has talked to me about how I need to organize my schedule, and she's right. I just never expected to be so busy.

I don't think I'm strugglign as much as anybody else in my clinical group. I've asked them how they do it but it just doesn't seem to translate into words.

Is there hope for me? I have nothing but the most earnest intentions of not only passing but doing well in my clinicals. What can I do to gain some common sense, be more confident, and not mess up?

[seasoned hopeful]

unfortunately, i can not help you, as i am going through the same thing. i feel like a kindergarden kid in a high school..... i feel like i know nothing, after all the years i have been studying. i guess it is all in the process to get us ready to do multiple patients. yippes.....anyone with good advice is appreciated. i have even been overwelmed this semester with care plans, which i did not mind at all last semester.

[HappyMeNow]

Actually you did help me. You let me know that I'm not alone. :)

(((hugs))))

[JBudd, MSN]

As a student, we expect to tell you what to do; if you already knew it all you wouldn't still be in school. NOONE ever knows it all, we talk over things all the time with each other, especially if they are going south.

Try making a schedule of your day, make a chart with hours across the top, and pts down the side. In each square for each pt and hour, write in what you are going to do through the day. Start with standardly timed things, such as vitals and meds. Then you will know what times are taken up, and what time is available for routine things that aren't timed. Work in everything else around it, so you know what you will be doing after meds, when you can do a bath, etc. Show your instructor your plan and let her make suggestions.