Feeling so unprepared/discouraged!

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Hey everyone, I am just about to start my med surg I clinical tomorrow and I feel SOOO unprepared! We had the WORST clinical instructor last semester and I feel like I dont know how to do much except give baths and clean patients! Plus your clinical experience that day depended on if your RN on the floor felt like showing you anything (and I am an asertive person as well). I dont know what to do, I really hate this feeling and dont think I should feel this way about my career path/in school at all. I feel like this is never going to end. On top of it all we already have a TON of stuff to read in every class. I just feel so unprepared with this whole semester and its the first week! I did VERY well last semester and am a very good student so maybe I mentally feel like I can slack off?? Idk whats wrong with me. There are all these girls in my class who are so on point and are rattling off answers and I feel so dumb! Anyone else having these issues this semester? Sorry, vent over...

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

It is normal to feel that way. Just because your peers rattle off stuff doesn't mean that they are any better off than you. Some food for thought.

1. Review your care plan or whatever your preparation is for tomorrow. Think about what kind of needs your patient may have.

2, get report from the primary nurse.

3. Go introduce yourself to your patient and you will be caring for them. Let them know you will be back after you review the chart

4. Review the chart and the plan of care and medication orders check times for meds and any treatments and put on your cheat sheet

5. Go assess your patient.

6. Get patient set up for their meal. Make sure they can open everything and see if the need help eating

7. Give patient am care. Ensure they get their hair combed and get mouth care.

8. Get patient OoB if they are allowed.

9. Provide their medications and treatments at appropriate times.

You can move around in whatever order works. It's not hard you will get it just be patient with yourself. Good luck tomorrow !

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Thank you it went very well I had an amazing patient and my nurse was also amazing and willing to teach me alot. I do get flustered when speaking with a patient still a little bit and am still uncomfortable doing a full assessment but I hope that changes! I really want to be comfortable assessing so its something I have to work on...thanks for your response!

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

It's not uncommon to have trouble speaking with patients. That will come with time. Get in and answer bells or do hourly rounding. The more you engage in conversation the better it will get. Small talk is a good opener could be about what their watching, talk About the weather, anything.

As for assessments you will get it but it takes time. You will learn when you graduate your assessment will be more problem focused. Start at the top and work you wAy down.

You will be fine be a little easier on yourself.

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Second year is always harder than first year, and the step up can be quite dramatic. Glad you had a good day; keep working hard! Good luck!

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