Feeling useless/unsure in clinical/sim lab

[skulskcc01]

I am a second semester nursing student. I haven't started clinicals yet this semester. I start in about a week. I just feel useless when on clinical. I feel I don't know how to make small talk with patients and am unsure about what I should be doing. All my other classmates seem confident and take charge. I wish I could be like that. I just don't know how. If you could give me advice or share an experience. I just want to get better at talking with patients and gain confidence. How can I get better at small talk?

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

Maybe stand in with one of your classmates, and see what types of things they talk about.

I sometimes struggle with this, so ill mention something I see they are watching on tv, the weather, maybe ask if the doc has been in yet, or since we are treating them holistically, I ask if they have had any visitors or if they live close by to get a gauge of their psych/social needs.

You'll def. get better :).. If you aren't already try to get a job as a PCT, it'll give you experience just talking and interacting with patients and family. ?

[Nugget]

Pneumothorax is right on the button. Mention the TV shows they're watching or if they have photos around, ask them about that. I always try to find something in their room that I can relate to personally (say, a photo of a person's dog - I grew up in a veterinarian household, so I can talk about animals til the cows come home). You can easily mention the weather or say, talk local politics. Keep in mind, some patients may not want to talk, so one can only pry so much.

It will come, trust me. Working with people for years before I went to nursing school really gave me the gift for gab. Along with everything else in nursing, small talk comes with experience. You'll get there, don't worry!

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

Try just making conversation with people in general, too.... chit-chat with people in line at the grocery store, smile and say "hi" to people you pass on the street, etc.

The more you do it, the more natural it feels.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

I suggest you read a very old but perfectly on point book: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. It is a quick and easy read and has helped millions of people become more social animals. I read it to help with my skills, and found it very useful. You can get it at any library or online for next to nothing (been in print for decades and countless printings). You can probably read it in 4-5 hours total. My 2 cents

[skulskcc01]

Thank you everyone.

[Scarlettz, BSN, RN]

I'm pretty bad with small talk, but I feel I have improved. People love compliments. I usually notice the jewelry that some patients wear (or their personalized socks, etc.) and comment on that. Just be pleasant, sincere, and ask how they are feeling, if they had a good night's sleep, etc.

Sometimes I even comment on their food. I will say "That smells good." Or, "I've never tried that before!" Food can often get people talking. I've talked about liver and beef chip.

Some patients are naturally chatty. If they talk about their career or children, you could always ask questions about them.

[njmomstudent]

Wait a minute... you said sim lab. With that stupid mannequin??? I HATE that thing. The best nurse could go in there and think WTH is this??? You have no facial expressions or body language, just a bunch of fake sounds and a monitor to look at... then throw in a fake wound that you can't make heads or tails out of WHAT it's supposed to be. There's no way to mimic ascites on the thing yet you are supposed to know that the sterile sheet that the instructors have laid on top of the abdomen is ascites... FOR REAL??? You can't see edema or anything like that, but in some circumstances they are supposed to have it... I just HATE the SIM man.

In clinical, just put on a face and smile. You'll get the hang of it and you'd be surprised how many people start talking to you and you can pull off of what they say.

[blubaby]

I would HATE having to talk to ppl! i would never know what to say! Then my older classmate told me to make up a script. Think of everything that you need /want to say and practice saying it in front of your mirror, on the bus, in the shower, where ever you feel comfortable. Once you get into your patients room you'll have an idea of what you should say. Give them your first "line" and then go from there. I did this for my first rotation, and it helped ALOT. I'm not as confident as i'd want to be but i don't hate it anymore, I'm able to have fun and am able to learn info from my patients that i wouldn't have before, which is a huge help on the psychosocial part of careplans.

As for what to do... start off with whatever you excel at to build your confidence then work on what you need to improve on. I totally agree with njmomstudent sim lab sucks. Unless your school has a bunch of the talking, breathing, sim ppl not everyone is going to get the same experience. I watched videos until i was semi-comfortable with procedures, then jump at the chance to observe during clinical.

[njmomstudent]

WE DOOOOO have the talking breathing sim man and it still sucks!!! You still can't tell WHAT is going on with that thing half the time.

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

njmomstudent said:

Wait a minute... you said sim lab. With that stupid mannequin??? I HATE that thing. The best nurse could go in there and think WTH is this??? You have no facial expressions or body language, just a bunch of fake sounds and a monitor to look at... then throw in a fake wound that you can't make heads or tails out of WHAT it's supposed to be. There's no way to mimic ascites on the thing yet you are supposed to know that the sterile sheet that the instructors have laid on top of the abdomen is ascites... FOR REAL??? You can't see edema or anything like that, but in some circumstances they are supposed to have it... I just HATE the SIM man.

In clinical, just put on a face and smile. You'll get the hang of it and you'd be surprised how many people start talking to you and you can pull off of what they say.

I despise sim lab, and feel like I learn absolutly zip from it. I would be better off talking to the wall. If they want to really simulate why dont they come up with a combative malodorous etoh patient who you need to put a foley in thats simulation hahahah

[Guest 360983]

When you're talking to patients, ask a lot of open ended questions. One that usually works well is asking about family, especially since a lot of hospitalized people are old enough to have grandkids that they LOVE to talk about. If they're younger, ask what they do at work. Ask about hobbies. Ask where they're from--"Did you grow up here?"

For confidence, fake it. Smile. If you are quiet when you're scared, practice projecting your voice at home. Whenever possible, don't ask, tell. "My name is skulskcc01 and I'm a nursing student from Super Awesome Nursing School. I need to check you out and see how you're doing. I'm going to start by listening to your lungs." not "Hi, I'm a nursing student, is it ok if I assess you?"

I'm a brand new nurse and I am terrified most days. I stand up straight, smile, and remember that I have a license and those aren't given out to everyone. Remind yourself that you're in nursing school, and not everyone can do that, so you've already proven that you're smart and capable.