Extreme Anxiety during clinicals

seasoned hopeful · Oct 7, 2009

i realized when talking to other students, that they are just as scared as you are. there are not many people who are comfortable doing skills that are new and can be life threatening to the patient in front of an instructor.talk to your class mates and see how they deal with that stress. practice, practice, practice and practice some more. go through the steps in your head until they seem familiar. at least that is what is helping me.

good luck,,,we will survive!!:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

kbullinger · Oct 7, 2009

I have talked with my instructor and my classmates. My classmates have alot more experience in skills than I do. The instructor keep reminding that I only have a few weeks left and need to get myself together. It's not that I don't know how to do things, It's the anxiety that takes over and my mind goes blank, my hands shake, and I start sweating.

guest358111 · Oct 9, 2009

My clinical instructor is always encouraging us to, when we walk into a patient's room, focus on the patient. In other words, start with the person and then work your way methodically outward. Start from the head, and work your way to the toes. Worry about things as you come to them. The same idea that goes with assessment also goes with other skills, such as medication administration. Slowly and methodically work your way from top to bottom in whatever you do. Try to have a game plan before you enter a room to assess or before you do a procedure.

I find that being methodical helps relieve my anxiety. Another thing is, probably half of the time your client might not know that you 'don't know' what you are doing. For example, if you can't hear lung sounds clearly, keep listening until you do (if they are compliant) My biggest anxiety relief is to have a system, and to "slowly" think my way through something before I do it. That isn't to say I always do that, but I think that it really helps.

Also, please don't forget that anxiety is normal! It is usually more concerning if someone is over confident.

Just take it one hour, one day at a time. Focus on the patient, and work your way out. And you will be fine.

klmomma · Oct 9, 2009

I would say the best thing for you to do is more practice. Spend as much time as you can practicing on your family members or at school if they have dumby patients. That is the only way to relieve that feeling... Keep it up! You have worked so hard to get here and you are almost done!! Great job!

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 10, 2009

i am an older student (49) in my final semester of an adn program. i should graduate in december 2009. i am very anxious in the clinical setting. i get very anxious about performing in front of the patient and my instructor. i don't feel secure in my clincial skills and have a great fear of making mistakes. i can't take the pressure i have put on my self. the other students (either lpn's or younger students) seem to have the confidence and performance with their skills, which makes me feel even worse. im thinking about withdrawing. this is something i really want to do but i can handle the anxiety in the hospital. any suggestions on how to get over this anxiety will be greatly appreciated.

you said "i should graduate in december." no - tell yourself that you will graduate in december. i, too, was an "older" student (i graduated when i was 47). even after 17 years of ems experience, clinicals were more stressful for me than classwork.

everybody in your class is probably nervous when dealing with patients (especially in front of your clinical instructor). anybody who says that they're not is probably either not quite telling the truth, or they're an overconfident fool. your comfort level will increase over time and with further patient encounters. please realize that everything you're doing now is new to you, requiring lots of conscious thought/doubt/fretting. nervousness/self-doubt is perfectly normal at this stage. with time, you'll be able to zip through those same things almost on autopilot. it just takes time.

please give yourself the time you need. don't give up - you can do it.

mama2_3 · Oct 11, 2009

I am nervous every time too. What helps me, is to talk it out. I tell my nurse what I am going to do before I go to the patient's room and ask her to watch me. It helps me to talk about the procedure before performing it.

The more you do the task the more confident you will be. However, when you get too confident that is when you are most likely to make a mistake unfortunatelly.(even LPNs make mistakes) It is good to be allert all the time. Good luck! You are almost done! Do not give up :) You will have more training when you start working. Nursing school is just a beginning as I understand.

kbullinger · Oct 13, 2009

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I can't wait to try them out in clinically. YES, I will Graduate December 2009.

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 13, 2009

YES, I will Graduate December 2009.

Congrats! That sounds a WHOLE LOT better! :up:

seaspray700777 · Oct 15, 2009

Oh my: I am not in Nursing school yet, but I am taking Micro now, my last pre-req. I am soooo glad I came upon this thread. I am 50 and I get really nervous about tests in front of people as well. Anyways, this post is about you ladies that have helped me. Kbullinger, Please try and remember what you have done so far, amazing stuff!! You will graduate, and also remember, as some of the other posts have said, as well as some of the ICU nurses I work with say, it is the overconfident, new RN's they worry about, not the meticulous ones. Thank you Seasonedhopeful, I was feeling scared and alone tonight thinking I cannot possibly do this anymore,and when I read your post I was quite inspired, thank you so much, from the heart.:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

This website is a life saver for me!! God bless.

CCITSN · Oct 17, 2009

I am so glad to have come upon your post. I am a midlife student, also. I have spent the last 20+ years raising a family. I have volunteered a lot, and been asked to serve in leadership roles many times. I am seen as capable, intelligent and mature. Yet, in the clinical setting, with my instructor present, I am a complete mess. It's so disheartening. Sounds as if you are passing everything, so you must be doing OK. I feel your pain.

CCITSN · Oct 17, 2009

I am so glad to have come upon your post. I am a midlife student, also. I have spent the last 20+ years raising a family. I have volunteered a lot, and been asked to serve in leadership roles many times. I am seen as capable, intelligent and mature. Yet, in the clinical setting, with my instructor present, I am a complete mess. It's so disheartening. Sounds as if you are passing everything, so you must be doing OK. I feel your pain.

I have talked with my instructor and my classmates. My classmates have alot more experience in skills than I do. The instructor keep reminding that I only have a few weeks left and need to get myself together. It's not that I don't know how to do things, It's the anxiety that takes over and my mind goes blank, my hands shake, and I start sweating.

Well, I am laughing now, because I feel the EXACT same way. Misery loves company. I was not able to get it together, I have to repeat a clinical, but you know what? It 's going to give me that practice that everyone recommends. I do know that I love caring for my patients, and so often they have thanked me for the care I've provided. Some things can't be taught. We CAN learn this skills stuff. Children who walk early don't walk better, right? We'll get there. I'll pray for you.