Doing lousy with being a Nurse's Aide

[faithfl]

My College Career Advisor told me to become a Nurse's Aide while doing my prerequisites for the LPN Program. I am doing very will with my academics. I got a B in Anatomy and Physiology and an A in Psychology I. In my Nurse's Aide training program through the Red Cross I am not doing so good. I am passing my written tests but the clinical I am not doing so good. The instructors, 2 RNs, say I am too anxious and my hands sweat terribly in the plastic gloves and when I have to change them 4 or 5 times during a procedure It is very hard for me to put on the gloves after the 2nd time changing them. The instructors think I should rethink my career plans of becoming a LPN and maybe think of becoming a medical coder, which was my original plan. What do you think?

[queserasera, RN]

I always say stick to your original plan. If you want to be a medical coder, maybe that is what you were meant to be. It's tough making these calls but if you don't feel comfortable with the procedural aspect of it maybe it's good you know now!

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

Personally, I think nerves are nerves. The fact that your hands sweat because your nervous is a RIDICULOUS reason to tell you to switch career paths. Sure, you have to change gloves more frequently - at least you're taking the health measures and doing so.

Honestly, I think if given time, your hands sweating because of nerves would go away. Of course you're not going to be super comfortable in a field you've just started. It takes time.

Sorry for the ramble, that really irked me lol.

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

What are you so nervous about? As with most things there is usually an underlying cause...Look inward. If you truly "want" to do this you can...certainly some (very few) people have easier times learning skills etc...but the reality is most people take time to adjust and get good at anything. Maybe you do not like cleaning up poop and pee?

[faithfl]

i think when I actually need or perform the procedure then I psyched myself out and screw things up. I know people will say don't psych

yourself out or calm down but it is very hard.

[queserasera, RN]

Faithfl

This woman helped me so much please take 20 min and watch the video and just try it once

Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are | Video on TED.com

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Don't worry too much. I got a little nervous too when I was in nursing school and we had to perform a skill in front of our peers. Just focus on performing the skill, and don't think about the others in the room :) you'll be fine! I promise lol

[LeeLeeTheGPN]

Everyone is nervous when they are a novice in a certain career path. Especially when you are only training. You have not had the opportunity to truly hone your skills yet. I think it was really unfair for the two nurses to tell you to consider a new career just because your nerves got the best of you. Every good nurse was once a student nurse and many were CENAs in the past, and were intimidated when they first practiced in the clinical setting. I was nervous when I first trained to become a CENA and after I was done, I was a great CENA. I was one of the best CENAs at my job. As a practical nursing student, I was also nervous in the clinical setting but you better believe I was able to pull it together. Sure, I was very nervous, but I was also confident in the things that I had learned and confident in my own self that I could apply them. My clinical instructor told me I was one of her best students.

A lot of times, clinical instructors will see a weakness in a pupil and will seek to exploit it just to see how strong you can potentially be. I say you pleasantly stand up to those nurses. Never let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough and should "just be something else". Prove them wrong.

[DadStudentPerhaps]

Ultimately it's your choice to make, but I think the nerves will go away as you build confidence.