First day of clinicals-Nervousness

[futurenurse1710]

Hey Y'all!

I has been FOREVER since I have posted; I have been pretty busy with school!

I started my first day of clinicals today at a local nursing home. I was super nervous about clinicals and of all the unknowns a new experience brings.

It actually started out pretty smoothly. We started off with partners, feeding breakfast to the residents and changing bed linens. Having a partner really seemed to help my confidence.

Then, when 12:00 rolled around, it was time to give finger sticks to the residents. There were 5 people in my group, so each of us were required to do a finger stick on a resident. I thought, "no biggie" I have been doing pretty well so far, so this simple task should be ok; I was WRONG!

I had told my instructor I would take this certain resident, because I had gotten to know him around breakfast feedings earlier this morning. I had never done a finger stick before, so I was a little nervous, but nothing compared to this morning. Well, when I started to stick the finger, my hand immediately started to shake and I began to get flustered. The funny thing was, I didn't feel nervous when I offered to do a finger stick on this resident a few seconds before. My instructor who is a little abrasive, immediately told me I was doing it all wrong. That didn't help my nervousness and confidence, AT ALL! Still flustered, I finished up the finger stick and it was my classmates turn to help another resident.

All of my classmates and even my instructor know I am a nervous person. I joke about with them because I know it's true. Inside, I am so FRUSTRATED that I get so nervous. I wish I could tell my body to stop.

I am already on medication for anxiety that stems from middle school. If they only knew how my nervousness used to be.....

I don't want to give up on my first day, but I just feel so frustrated and embarrassed that I get so nervous.

It doesn't help that tomorrow with have our own patient to care for.....

I would love some advice on how to keep from being so nervous. I feel as though I am the only one in my group who became flustered today. It really is getting me down...... :/

Sorry for the long post. I just needed some advice.

Thanks so much!!!!

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

So, how did you do? Clinicals are exciting and nerve wracking. Everyone is nervous and the ones who aren't just don't realize the seriousness. Practice practice practice is the best advice. The only way to learn this profession is by doing it. Smile, breathe, and listen to your patients and instructor. Go slow, you're not in a race and the pt will appreciate the time you have to give as a student. Read up on the diagnosis during lunch time and learn as much as you can. Ask the nurses on the floor if you can watch them, or if they will watch you, some of them will be too busy but some will love to take you under their wing. Ask questions. Respect everyone on the floor. Good luck, this too shall pass!

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

"I had never done a finger stick before, so I was a little nervous, but nothing compared to this morning. Well, when I started to stick the finger, my hand immediately started to shake and I began to get flustered. "

futurenurse1710

Where you this nervous when you tested out with the instructor for the skill finger sticks before clinicals? I was very nervous during test outs when I was in LPN school as well. I was always one of the last students to test out because I would always feel I was not ready. I tend to have performance anxiety. I found that I have to do positive self talk and tell my self I know I can do it. Also being prepared is crucial. It is definitely more frustrating to perform a skill if I have not practiced the steps before and be able to visual how I want it to go. SO you should definitely practice the skills the night before clinicals with someone and read the steps. But for me the nervousness still really has not gone away even almost 2 years into working as an LPN 1 year partime i worked and I didnt get to give many shots. Now I have 1 yr full time where I give lots of shots. Giving shots was what I was most nervous about when I started my first job. It has taken 9 months of me regularly giving shots everyday to get over the fear and anxiety.