Final term, feeling nervous!

[melissa1329]

I'm starting my final term of my LPN program and this term we are one on one with a preceptor. I will be working in a psychiatric hispital, which that part doesn't bother me at all. What I'm nervous and scared about is that I feel completely unprepared for this experience. I feel I don't know meds well enough, I'm very shy and not always sure how to interact with patients. I toured the unit a couple days ago and just seeing the chart room made me feel so overwhelmed. There's so much more, I can't even explain some of the fears and emotions I have.

Please, any tips or advice on how to move forward with confidence would be greatly appreciated!

[Davey Do]

Hi melissa1329. Welcome to AN.com!

Seeing an elephant in its entirety can be overwhelming, knowing you have to eat the whole thing. We can only eat that elephant one bite at a time.

Psych meds are generally divided into a few categories and then there's the older and newer varieties. In learning the meds, start from the general to the specific. For example, typical and atypical antipsychotics; tricyclic and SSRI antidepressants; benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine antianxiety agents; anticholinergics.

Take a deep breath and do one thing at a time, taking one step at a time. You're not the only one that has been through this or feels this way.

And check out this forum:

https://allnurses.com/psychiatric-nursing/

The best to you, melissa1329!