i feel lost and confused...=\

Desmond'sRN2b · Feb 4, 2009

Don't worry...my clinical instructor told us tons of students fill this way..She told us if we don't have a backbone now we will have one by the time we get out of nursing school..I am only in my first block and we don't start clincals until after spring break but I am so excited for that part...How did you first semester go?

hTx87 · Feb 4, 2009

my first semester was alright..my clinical instructor was really nice and we had it easier with her. my instructor i have now wants us to do it her way, like the paperwork on our clients. but last semester we didnt do much either. we were at a LTC and didnt get to do much, very sick ppl and it was our first clinical. i miss last semester, our clinical group was fun and we were close to each other.

i just feel lost and dont know what to do when im there. this semester we have 2 pts. i think i dont have enough confidence bcus sometimes i can be shy and quiet. or maybe the ppl there just intimidate me lol.

bamagt · Feb 4, 2009

My only advice: don't be shy and get your hands dirty. In clinicals ask anyone and everyone if they need help. You will learn alot more that way.

When I first started working as a tech in an ER I was clueless but after a couple of months of getting my hands dirty I wasn't so clueless anymore

miss_pitty_pat · Feb 4, 2009

I am the same way. We are in the hospital and I feel so useless. To top it all off, the RNs at the hospital we are at do not want us there and make it perfectly clear. (There have been past problems and another group actually pulled out because the instructor refused to go back, so they relocated to another hospital.) So, I try to see if anyone wants help and no one will answer me or I am told to go find something to do or to go away because they are busy (sitting at the nurses station talking about what they did over the weekend!). I am so frustrated. I actually faked sick today and left. I am so discouraged!

NursingRocks1998 · Feb 4, 2009

Its so nice to see that I'm not the only one who feels this way, so no, you're not alone. We MUST not give up- I keep trying to tell myself it WILL get better. It's hard to feel useless and like you have no idea what you're doing-- but we're learning a lot every day and the confidence will come-- at least that's what I keep trying to make myself believe. But yes- ASK for new experiences- keep asking if people need help- fellow clinical students, your nurse, nurse aides, etc. I always feel better when I'm DOING something, instead of standing around or walking the halls. Unfortunately there's a lot of down time sometimes, but having more than one patient will help- I don't know if you already do. Next week we will start passing meds and we will get two patients so staying busy won't be a problem. I kinda share your problem with being timid, so its hard for me to initiate interactions with patients- I'm hoping that will just get easier with practice. You've worked too hard to get this far- give it a chance and don't forget you're not alone!! Good luck to us all!! :twocents:

RaeFran21 · Feb 4, 2009

I feel like that most of the time too. You're not alone. There's only so much you can do with one patient, and it's hard to fill 6 or 8 hours. Since the nurses see us as a pain in the rear, I'll usually spend a lot of time looking at the patient's chart and making notes for my paperwork when I get home.

collegemom1961 · Feb 4, 2009

I just graduated in December from an ADN program and I still remember my second semester of clinicals. Remind yourself that thousands of people have done this (look at all the RNs there are) before so it's doable and you can do it, too! I always asked the charge nurse on the floors I worked, which nurses like to work with and teach students, and which ones don't. The charge nurse knows. If they wouldn't tell me, I rephrased the question until I got an answer. I tried to phrase it so that it would be more advantageous for her staff and create a more harmonious environment for all. You are not expected to know it all. Let the RN know what you have studied and need to get hands on experience doing. I would say, "I've only studied this in theory. Would you show me how to _____?"

The next time I offered to do it by myself with the RN's supervision. I asked for patients that provided opportunities to learn new skills instead of staying in my comfort zone and doing the same thing over and over. Ask questions about why they do something if it doesn't make sense to you. This will develop your critical thinking skills. Do not get behind on your reading and preparation. This may require you to set up expectations and limits at home and with your social network. Your family and friends want you to succeed. Let them know how they can assist you to make that happen.....

I didn't discover All Nurses until after I graduated. Use this forum. I am just getting to know them and this is an incredible community.

86toronado, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

I've said it so many times, but I'll say it again:

If you're not working as a PCA/CNA/PCT/Tech or whatever else your local hospital calls it, do it. If you don't think you have time, look for a per diem position, you can usually work as little as 2 shifts a month that way. I am a shy person, even though I was working on a unit as a clerk when I applied to NS, I was still terrified to walk into a patient room, even if it was just to deliver them a card or something. Starting as a pct, I got 1:1 attention from another pct, they showed me how to do all of the things that you sort of learned on a mannequin in NS on real people. I worked side by side with RN's, was able to grill them on things that I was supposed to be learning, but didn't really "get" from class. I know what NS, D51/2, D5W, SOB, CVA, TIA, STEMI, PCI, BMP, CBC, H/H, CXR, etc mean when I read them in a chart. It's invaluable. (climbing off of soapbox)

cursedandblessed · Feb 5, 2009

I'll be having a blast, finally comfortable in my clinical setting and boom my seven week rotation is up and time for a new place. Usually my clinical instructor is too busy to pay much attention to all 8 of us. I've started, when I'm done assessing my patient and getting all the info for my clinical worksheet, helping out my nurse. Sure I'm playing gofer some, but I can go to the supply room and get things like peripads and take to patients, pick up trays and note I&O's. Usually my nurse appreciates the help and lets me do other things like discharge IV's under her supervision.

chuckz, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

The best advise I can give for clinical is like the above said, get your hands dirty. Seek out the hardest patients and do anything you can. Fake it till you make it. Listen to heart sounds even though you don't know what you are listening for. Listen to lung and bowel sounds. Look at IV sites and look for redness and swelling. Check out the chart for meds and other H&P stuff. Ask a million questions to anybody that might be approachable.

Do anything you can to make yourself better and the best way is to dive headfirst. We all feel like we don't know what we are doing. An RN going to a new type of specialty feels the same way as a nursing student does...they just have more clinical experience in which to draw from. You can all do this. It's fun too once you see something that you saw before and you know what to do.

hTx87 · Feb 5, 2009

im glad im not alone. i always thought i was the only one feeling this way. i always tell myself before clinicals to try to do better, but then i dont. ill learn within time i guess. hopefully it will get better.

i agree with a previous poster about how some hospitals have nurses, cnas, etc that seems like they dont want you there. theres a few at my clinical i feel dont want us around. some other students were checking vital signs and using the machine. and the cna was yelling for a vital signs machine cus she couldnt find one and was talking out loud like she was all mad and saying we dont know what we're doing so dont do her job bcus if it needs to be done right then it has to be done right.