I am a first semester (associate's degree) nursing student. This past Tuesday (11/22/11) we had a lab eval covering wound care, ie dressings, and caths. I passed the cath. I didn't pass the wound dressing. I knew while I was doing it that I wasn't going to. My instructor said, "how do you think you did? Do you think you should pass?" I told her I didn't think I should because I made a few really stupid mistakes. No big deal. I expected that.
Problem is... I started to tear up and start crying. What the heck?! I'm not a crying-in-public kind of person! I've worked in healthcare and have dealt with some very stressful situations... why did a lab eval make me cry? Anyway... so all I know is at one point I'm sobbing and saying, "I don't think this is for me. I'm crumbling under the pressure." My instructor reassured me and told me she wasn't going to let me give up, which is nice of her to say.
Should I be mortified? Did I cry because I'm just completely overwhelmed/stressed and, not to mention, having my hormone meds messed with (endometriosis)? Does this crying thing make me weak? Does this mean I shouldn't be a nurse because I can't handle the pressure? I'm completely questioning everything right now. It's just so uncharacteristic of me.
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt: first skills practicum ever and I couldn't find a brachial pulse to save my life :) The floodgates opened. Of all the things in the world I could have tripped on, it was that--I think that was probably more distressing than the fact that I failed it period.
I did get through on the second attempt, with a heck of a lot more practice--that pulse can be a darn tricky one to find.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
You definitely are not alone. I cried too the first time I had to remediate in skills lab. You aren't the first to do it and it probably won't be the last time you will. I too am not a "crier" by nature and I was mortified that I did.
But guess what? I never made the mistake again that caused me to remediate. And I am now one exam away from graduation in two weeks.
You'll get through. There's plenty of crying in nursing school.
Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN
4 Articles; 7,907 Posts
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt: first skills practicum ever and I couldn't find a brachial pulse to save my life :) The floodgates opened. Of all the things in the world I could have tripped on, it was that--I think that was probably more distressing than the fact that I failed it period.
I did get through on the second attempt, with a heck of a lot more practice--that pulse can be a darn tricky one to find.