Elevators

[jae82301]

Ok, please dont laugh! I just got into nursing school, start in January, my biggest FEAR, is not failing or anything else. I hate elevators, I get really nervous in them! Any tips for dealing with this?:imbar

[hypnotic_nurse]

Use the stairs! Better for you anyway!

And if you have to transport a patient, then deep breathing and relaxation exercises before & during your elevator ride.

Even on floors with locked units, there should be a set of stairs you can negotiate somewhere on that floor.

Not to scare you, but on my very first clinical day, another student and I were trapped in an elevator for an hour and half (luckily the phone in the elevator worked, and I made sure the operator called my clinical instructor FIRST because she'd put the fear in us if we were late to clinicals!). In THAT hospital, I never did take the elevator again.

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Unless you must take an elevator (patient transport, etc), I'd just take the stairs too! That's good advice with the deep breathing and relaxation, and remember to bend your knees a little bit while in the elevator .... don't lock your legs! Just bend your knees a little and try to relax. And take the stairs when you can. Good luck with school :)

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Take the stairs.