Going blank

[Nowbee]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in an accelerated program and it's gone so fast! I don't know how I've kept my feet under me. I do well in my classes in terms of understanding concepts and doing well on exams. My problem is that when I am in simulation experiences I freeze and trip over my words. If I were to be asked questions on what to do in a calmer situation, I would respond with the right answer, but I know that doesn't mean anything in the real world. I do okay in clinicals, but I still sometimes have difficulty answering some of my professor's questions.

I know I'm a slow learner at my age and it takes me time to recall information and it makes me feel like I won't be a safe nurse. It feels like everyone else around me knows what to do and is able to move quickly and more efficiently than me. Not sure if it's anxiety, some sort of learning disorder, but I am questioning if I should even go into this field. Has anyone felt similarly and left? 

If you stayed, how did you overcome and what did you do to become better?

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

Take heart, you are not alone!  Most nursing students feel like this at least some of the time.  Since you are in an accelerated program, it is understandable you feel this way.  Simulations can be stressful.  You can usually answer questions in clinicals, so that is fine.  Perhaps develop techniques to give yourself more time to answer, such as saying "That is a very good question.  Let me think on that for a moment,"  or simply, "I need a little time to think about this question."  I would not expect a nursing student to know the answer to every single question in simulations or clinicals.

I dreaded simulations until realizing that the other students felt the same way.  Just do the best you can.  You just have to pass.

I really struggled with interpreting the different heart and lung sounds and had to retake that skills exam 2x.  But a whole bunch of other students also had to.  That just took practice and I did fine once I started the nurse practitioner program (went straight through from ABSN to MSN for NP).

Best wishes