Does or did anyone feel like this about clinicals?

DSplendid · Feb 15, 2006

Hey, don't beat yourself up. 7mo.'s into nursing should hardly make you an expert. I'm in my last semester, and I too, have "brain freeze" at clinicals, sometimes, for the dummest things. Don't feel as though your not doing well, b/c you can't remember every little abbrev. Many times, just having an unpleasent instructor, can throw your game off. When, I had a less than nice instructor, I would just turn to other students when possible. It is better to ask questions, than to just assume, or like you said make a mistake. It's def. not you, so don't think it is. A friend of mine in clinical still asks me what "CVA" means (we are graduating in 3 months). We both laugh, b/c for some reason, she just can't remember. Just get through, if you don't know, do look it up, and remember, we are students; we are allowed not to know everything.

tencat · Feb 15, 2006

Don't worry. We all have brain farts :eek: I feel daily like I don't know enough....

I think that sometimes 'older' nurses don't mean to be nasty or mean (some do, but not most) but they forget what it was like to be young and starting out. At 22 I bet I could have asked some REALLY silly questions and felt really stupid! At 36, I just don't care anymore if anyone thinks my questions are stupid, and no doubt some of them probably are! :clown:

*Renee* · Feb 15, 2006

I agree with DSplendid. I know it's hard to do, but try not to stress too much about not knowing all the answers. You're only in your 7th month! I'm in my last semester and I, as well as basically all the students in my semester, still feel this way at clinical at times. It WILL get better and get easier. You just have to get a routine and get into the groove of things. As you see the same types of things day after day, it'll become like second nature. There will always be certain things you'll forget everytime, but we're all human and it happens to everyone. Just hang in there....

I too have had some difficult instructors, and it's actually helped me because I made sure I came to clinicals prepared and now if I don't know/understand something, I'm sure to look it up before I ask. But, if you don't know something, ask! No question is a dumb question no matter what anyone else says. They didn't start with all of the answers either and everyone had to learn at some point. There will always ne those nurses and instructors that think their sh*t doesn't stink and try to belittle you, but just remember that you DO know what you're doing and you're just trying to better yourself and become a good nurse.

Good luck and believe in your self. My second semester instructor told me at final evals: "You're better than you think you are and you know more than you think you do. Just trust yourself." That really inspired me and I hope that inspires you as well.

MIA-RN1, RN · Feb 15, 2006

I am graduating in the spring and i still get the brain freeze.

My instructor 2nd semester told me (more than once) that I needed to get more sure of myself and I was told to stop asking questions. It was a major kick in the pants but it got me on my own feet a bit more. Give yourself some slack, you are very new at this. It will all come together.

truern · Feb 15, 2006

I'm in my last semester, and today a bedside table got the best of me :roll

It happens...unfortunately :chuckle

Fun2, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2006

I'm sure it will get better in time, but I also know that even 'seasoned' nurses have to look things up at times.

Don't let it get you down.

If if makes you feel better, jot things down and review your 'doodled' notes daily. Hopefully the things that seem to escape your mind will eventually be stuck in there. :rolleyes:

Good luck, you can do it!

StudentC · Feb 16, 2006

I can actually really relate to your post, and it reassures me I'm not alone. I have moments all the time when I mess up or don't know something and have to ask which make me feel completely incompetent and like I shouldn't be going into nursing. I was fortunate enough to have an instructor who warned me my questions might drive someone crazy but still answered them or directed me where to find the answers.

Questions are good, no matter what an individual instructor will tell you. I would go with being absolutely sure any day, over possibly doing something wrong. (Of course that may be why my instructor has told me I need to develop more confidence in more than one evaluation..) Remember that if we knew all this stuff already - we wouldn't need to go to school to learn it. This time as a nursing student is the best, because it's more expected that we'll ask questions. So make the most of it, ask q's, and if your instructor tells you something was a stupid question or gives you a face - tell her that's a stupid response when it's her job to help educate you.

BTW I sent you a PM also.

blynn · Feb 16, 2006

I hope you don't mind me posting here cause I'm no longer a student.. I just remember clinicals being a nightmare for me, and always feeling dumb because I never had all the answers. Book learning never fully prepares you for working hands on with people.. when I think back, I like to think that my clinical instructors were challenging me to find the answers on my own because they knew that when I graduated they wouldn't be there to help me anymore.. but I do believe that you should never be afraid to ask for assistance if you need it.

axl29 · Feb 16, 2006

i know exactly where you are coming from, but hang in there, i graduate in may, and i still question how on earth i am going to pass the boards, sometimes i get so nervous i feel like i can't even remember my name. but i just remind myself that everything i do is for my patients and that seems to help reveal some of my anxiety. good luck!

-Angela

luv2shopp85 · Feb 16, 2006

My clinical instructor also told me that she thinks I know a lot more than I think I do. And she said taht I need to become more confident in myself and not 2nd guess myself all the time. Then she said she doesn't thikn I know what my strengths are... and what my weaknesses are... which I guess is true. I don't know... I"m just glad taht I only have 4 weeks left in this semester and next semester I'll be getting a new clinical instructor! I just hope my clnical instructor doesn't fail me on clinical because she thinks I"m making too many errors or something or asking too many questions.

GrnHonu99, RN · Feb 17, 2006

Don't sweat it...do the best you can, ask as many questions as you can and learn as much as you can...everything else...dont worry about it:) Good luck:)