Could he be right?

Published

Hello, I am a prenursing student right now that is applying for nursing school. I had to take a CPR class today, and I have to add that I knew nothing about CPR previously. So he taught ( sounded like he mumbled the whole time) and we watched a video. When it was time to perform the CPR on a dummy, I did well in the chest compression part but when it came to the rescue breathing, it took me three times to get it right. I felt like he was looking for any chance he had to correct me, even when I was doing the chest compression he kept telling me to change my pace. Now here's the problem, when I didn't get the rescue breathing right the first two times, he said I better rethink wanting to be a nurse. I know it sounds stupid but that has really been bothering me especially since I'm the kind of person that has to practice something and make practice mistakes before I perfect it. He's a RN but teaches these classes, very blunt and has years of experience in the ER. I know for sure I want to be a nurse. Am I over thinking this? If I have to practice a lot does that mean I can't be a nurse? Has anything like this every happened to you? like discouraging you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think not being able to effectively perform CPR equates to you not being able to be a nurse. But to be clear, did he certify you in CPR? Did he pass you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a nurse, and I have seen 'unkind' behaviors toward many students, and even experienced some myself from other nurses (when I was in clinical rotation).

You need to be like a duck, and let it roll off your back. You are going to get and witness criticism in nursing. The profession is highly skilled, and there will always be someone who seems rude, or is actually rude. Sometimes, they are offering good advice, and sometimes it is just baptism by fire, and sometimes they mean what they say and mean how they said it.

You will grow to recognize the differences and understand when you need to listen and take advice, even if that advice is delivered harshly. It is a constant learning and growing experience. Don't take the simple words he stated to mean anything significant about your abilities. You are a beginner. We all were. Stick with it, and hopefully the rest will come.

Hang in there! Best of Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

Lots of people have trouble getting the seal right with those ambu bags. I'm used to the little tiny ones. My hands are kind of small to effortlessly get the mask to seal, it takes effort.

If this man's evaluation of your nursing potential was based purely on that ability then disregard and proceed on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternity.
Hello, I am a prenursing student right now that is applying for nursing school. I had to take a CPR class today, and I have to add that I knew nothing about CPR previously. So he taught ( sounded like he mumbled the whole time) and we watched a video. When it was time to perform the CPR on a dummy, I did well in the chest compression part but when it came to the rescue breathing, it took me three times to get it right. I felt like he was looking for any chance he had to correct me, even when I was doing the chest compression he kept telling me to change my pace. Now here's the problem, when I didn't get the rescue breathing right the first two times, he said I better rethink wanting to be a nurse. I know it sounds stupid but that has really been bothering me especially since I'm the kind of person that has to practice something and make practice mistakes before I perfect it. He's a RN but teaches these classes, very blunt and has years of experience in the ER. I know for sure I want to be a nurse. Am I over thinking this? If I have to practice a lot does that mean I can't be a nurse? Has anything like this every happened to you? like discouraging you. Thanks

Some skills are harder than others. He does not know what he's talking about. Forget it and move on. You will run into this again as you learn new skills. Some will come easy, others not. With practice you will learn.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Is there more to this? Because I can't imagine a CPR instructor dyeing this after only 2 attempts at rescue breathing. Did you get certified? Were there other issues? Was it maybe that you were super timid about doing CPR and he maybe thought you couldn't handle a stressful situation because you were timid?

No one on the internet can decide whether you should be a nurse or not. But I do know, you need some thicker skin if you want to. I wouldn't let some guy who was a stranger deter me from what I wanted to do. Sometimes you have to let people's comments roll off your back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

Fasten your seatbelt, kiddo. It's gonna be bumpy ride.

You will be poked, prodded, criticized, questioned, and made to constantly re-evaluate your decision to choose nursing. This is just the CPR cert; wait 'til you have a clinical instructor with thirty years of experience peering over your shoulder, correcting you during a procedure with that damned clipboard in her hand, ready to scrawl down a big fat "F."

It happens. It will continue to happen. You've got to learn to swallow it down, move on, and do your job. You're going to be responsible for someone's life soon, and that's why the process to become a nurse has to be difficult.

I'm also one of those people who has to do something multiple times in order to get it right, and I'm just fine working as a nurse. Don't let that deter you. Worry more about your willingness to function in high-stress environments and the ability to treat criticism and snark as a positive thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah nurses are known for "eating their young." A new nurse definitely has to believe in themselves and remind themselves it gets better. It does, there are lots of great nurses out there, focus on those. And someday when you (general you) are a seasoned nurse, remember the bad nurses and DON'T BE ONE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yeah nurses are known for "eating their young." A new nurse definitely has to believe in themselves and remind themselves it gets better. It does, there are lots of great nurses out there, focus on those. And someday when you (general you) are a seasoned nurse, remember the bad nurses and DON'T BE ONE.

AMEN! I find that people who come across as brash or rude sometimes don't even realize that they're doing it. It seems that it often actually comes from insecurity, especially if the young whipper-snapper could be considered a threat on a person's status, respect, job etc.

Keep your head up!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in None yet..

Sage words, monkeyhq, and ones that are easy to forget!

As the sign in a little shop in London said, "It takes all kinds of sausages to make our world." Gotta get used to the variety without getting distracted by the yucky flavors. This takes practice, though... at least for me.

That's why I recommend that any someone totally green to healthcare get a CNA job in LTC before starting nursing school for practice. I'm a new CNA in float pool. Just the other day, a resident who'd previously requested to have me as her aid for the day shrieked down the hall at me, "JERK!!! IDIOT!!!.... ******* YOU TO HELL!!!!" (I hadn't signed off from the wall chart fast enough in response to her summons. She wanted me to come to the dining area to feed her husband.)

Other residents make excruciatingly detailed demands that double or triple the time it takes to give care. ("Line my footrests up at right angles to the wall. Put the little model car I've been carrying around in my pocket between my plastic Jesus and the fluffy bunny keychain!" Give me "my Bible" (which is actually a children's story book that I find only after I've picked up and presented every piece of written material in the room.) Between instructions, repeated comments of "Are we going to be here all night?" Should have practiced that mind-reading skill harder in CNA school!) So many opportunities to be lovingly detached and focused in challenging circumstances.

I doubt a nurse could do or say anything that stabs as deeply as having someone I am trying to serve with skill and kindness heap abuse on me or hit me. But if s/he can, please don't tell me that now!

:scrying:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Look at the row of dummies on the table when another group is doing the breathing part. You'll probably see one dummy's chest always get filled with air while another one barely fills because there is numerous leaks in that one. I had that problem and received negative feedback but was able to correct that by making sure I got the better dummy next time. You do need to make sure the head is set to the right angle and the breathing is done correctly also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

As an instructor, I believe what he was doing was placing you under stress. Sometimes when I have a student who is passing but barely, I want to see how they react to the stress of a more firm correction. Will they be steady and correct the issue or will they breakdown and become less effective. I have more confidence giving a card to someone who corrects and is steady, then someone who folds under pressure. It also allows me to hold you back if you do not complete the scenario. I would never tell someone to reevaluate their career choice, but I have defiantly told people that if you had made that same mistake in real life you would have drastically reduced the victims chances of survival.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion