Shaky hands? Nervousness in clinicals?

Nurses General Nursing

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Im typically a laidback person. I dont worry about things too seriously. I know I can do the skill but once I am in front of my instructor and my patient, my hands start to shake, and my nose gets terribly runny (which is the one thing I most hate).

So yesterday I was giving injections in a flu clinic and its the same thing. I hate it when my hands shake and I cannot give an injection without my hands wobbling. Because of that I always drop something on the floor (band-aid, cotton balls, needle cap) and Im in my fourth semester of nursing, I would expect myself to be adept at this stuff but clinicals is just not for me.

Any tips for nervousness guys?

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Specializes in ER.

I have no tips for you but I have some empathy. I am very similar. I never freak out about stuff and then I get to clinicals or practicals and...I have a freakin' panic attack!

Anyway, the only thing that really helps is doing the same thing over and over and over until I can practically do it blind and then I feel a little better but only a little.

Anyway, just know that you are not alone!!

:kiss

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

I was really bad about this - but I started keeping back ups in my pocket and I still drop stuff, crash into IV poles, bash my head on the bedside monitors, knock stuff off trays...etc. and when I'm yelling "CLEAR", I actually check to make sure I'm clear too. (Never shocked myself, but did have the record keeper ask me once if I was actually clear before I shocked myself too...)

Now that I am more sure of my skills and don't have that horrible tunnel vision I had when I was new, I can relax and start over again without getting flustered. But I used to bring two of everything in a room with me. Because I needed to!

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

I really don't have any advice except know that in time when you gain some confidence the shakiness will stop. Take a deep breath and think what you are going to do and like others said take extra supplies with you in case you get those butterflies that cause slippery fingers.

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I had the same thing happen to me when I was doing my first foley cath. I have to do things a few times before I lose that shaky feeling. One thing that helped me was cutting out caffeine from my diet. I couldn't believe what a difference it made.

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go to your physican and ask for a prescription for propranolol (a beta blocker). propranolol is used by a lot of people to stop the physical signs of nervousness, such as shakey hands. if your BP is cool and your doctor thinks it's OK, then you shouldn't have a problem getting an Rx for it! You take it about an hour before your anticipated event, and like magic, it makes your hands stop shaking. FYI, a lot of performers like singers, concert players, etc, use propranolol to steady their hands too :)

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LOL, does that ever bring back memories... trying to draw up insulin once in lab practice... my hands just shook, so I braced my arms on the cart. Didn't help, so I braced my wrists... LOL still didn't help... my hands were shaking so badly that the instructor said, "Now, STOP THAT!!!" Worked like a charm... we were both laughing about it after... It will get better for you.

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I second the beta-blocker idea. I had the same issues that started all the sudden after I had been a nurse for a while. I have no idea why either. My dr. gave me an Rx for Inderal and it worked. I also used to get flushed all over my neck, too. It was so embarrassing. Talk to your dr. about it because it does work!

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

I had the exact same problem in clinicals a few years back, especially during check-offs. The more purposeful and intricate my movements, the more I would shake. The more I would worry about shaking and how embarassing it was to me, the more I would shake. I could barely even hit the stopper on a normal saline vial. It was so horrible.

People kept telling me it would go away as I became more experienced, that I should just relax. It didn't go away, just seemed to get worse.

I ended up in my doctor's office in tears, proclaiming I would have to drop out of nursing school because of my problem. She diagnosed me with benign essential tremor and started me on Inderal LA 120 mg daily. I started taking it immediately, and by my next clinical day I was 100% steady. I felt like a new person.

I encourage you to visit your doctor ASAP for help. Nursing school is hard enough without having to worry about tremor. Best wishes!

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Specializes in Cardiology, PCU, Telemetry.

I had this same problem in nursing school and I too hated it. It shows that you care and you want to do the skill correct. It does go away as you gain more confidence. You get more confidence with practice. So like most things it will get better with time. Best of luck to you!!!

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I agree with previous posts, confidence comes with practice.

Take a deep breath. The nervousness comes from wanting to do it perfectly, try not to stress out. Just remember the concepts--what needs to be sterile, etc.

I personally gained more confidence with IM injections after helping with a immunization clinic. Many injections later, I'm ready to go :)

If you find yourself nervous in clinicals, even after you are prepared, you may try a prescription from your doctor to help you out. No shame in getting control now, so you can survive.

Take care....:nurse:

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
im typically a laidback person. i dont worry about things too seriously. i know i can do the skill but once i am in front of my instructor and my patient, my hands start to shake, and my nose gets terribly runny (which is the one thing i most hate).

so yesterday i was giving injections in a flu clinic and its the same thing. i hate it when my hands shake and i cannot give an injection without my hands wobbling. because of that i always drop something on the floor (band-aid, cotton balls, needle cap) and im in my fourth semester of nursing, i would expect myself to be adept at this stuff but clinicals is just not for me.

any tips for nervousness guys?

wow, i'm so surprised about how many have this problem. i had this problem and still do. i shook so bad once, i couldn't even draw up insulin, so after that, i would find chances to draw up when someone wasn't watcing. if there was anybody ever watching me, i would shake horribly, but if no one was watching, i was pretty calm. i would just admit my problem and tell the teacher please don't watch and she would respect that. i even had the same problem if not worse with my preceptor. the first tube feeding i did, i was shaking so bad, i was spilling it. my preceptor said, "ok, i know you'll do better if i leave the room." she left the room and low and behold, i didn't shake. it's really strange that way, but you are the way you are. just admit that people make you nervous and they should offer you the privacy to draw up medicine or whatever you need to do. i have pts even tell me i'm shakey when i do ivs, but hey, i get them done just as good as anyone else and i"m starting to get steady as long as no one watches me. you'll be alright.

ps. i like the inderal idea, but hate taking meds. i might would have tried it when this shaking thing got so bad for me in my 2nd semester of nursing school.

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