Confidence in clinicals

[Katniss88]

I am a third semester student and have 2 more semester. I have gotten better at my confidence level since first semester where I used to be afraid to even walk in the room. But I find I still doubt myself about my abilities and always afraid of making mistakes where I would mess something up and my instructor would have to fix it. I always ask my instructor if I'm doing procedures right like hanging fluids and she seems to be irritated by it, even though I told her I have never hung a piggy back in clinical, I just don't want to mess something up. She seems a little irritated by all my questions. We now have to do daily self evaluations and I'm finding that all this constructive criticism brings me more down about myself and feel like I can't do it and I'm contemplating not even reading them. Any advice would be helpful, thanks.

[Katie71275]

I think the more you do a certain task, the more you have confidence in yourself.

I don't think your instructor should be irritated at your questions. I remember when I hung my first IVPB and the instructor was right there with me, teaching me how to properly do it..Even though I'd already had the skill checkoff, until you really do it with a patient, you don't quite understand it!

If you need to practice the skills, practice at home, in the skills lab(if you have one?), watch you tube videos of the skills...and just do it on your patient(in a safe manner of course)...and the confidence will come.

[♑ Capricorn ♑]

I think its only natural to feel the way you are feeling. As students, we don't know everything yet and instructors do know this. Just keep doing what you're doing and get through it. Maybe instead of asking her if you did something right or not, say nothing at all. I am sure she will tell you if something went wrong. If she says nothing at all, then maybe things were correct. There is no telling what she may or may not be thinking, unless we ask. The only reason I can think of that should would be irritated by questions is the fact that maybe you weren't prepared enough for the clinical. Instead of being offended by the critiques, try and remove yourself personally from them (I know, I know..easier said than done). Look at them objectively. You'll need to read them to know how you are doing in clinical. Avoid reading them is not the answer, you'll need to deal with this type of feedback to only better yourself. Best wishes to you.