Hardest part of nursing school is...

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scenarios. Everyone is freaking out about the amount of work and tests/quizes, but I find that all easy. I think scenarios make it hard lol (well for me). It's not that I'm shy. The thing is......I can't talk to mannequins lol I feel ridiculous. We're doing "scenario simulations" on wednesday and im freaking out haha. I can't take a mannequin serious. I can't talk all cheery/caring to one. Plus ontop of all this we're getting video taped and we're all going to watch eachother. How did you guys get through talking to mannequins? What did you all do to make yourself not feel stupid about it? This is like killing me lol.

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When I have to do it, I treat it like it's an acting/improv scene, on stage. My "role" is the nurse, and I have to play that role correctly and make it look like real life.

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Bottom line is, you're going to feel stupid!! LOL There's really no way around it!! We had to do the same thing in nursing school. We were all really freaked out and nervous about it, but it ended up not being that bad. We had to watch all the videos together as a class, but it wasn't that bad since we all were able to laugh at each other. That was more than 10 years ago and I think it was one of my funniest memories of nursing school. Good luck!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Ditto, CatLady.

I started out feeling silly but just came to view it as an acting gig and as much-needed practice.

One way that I helped prepare was to reheorifice scenarios while alone in my car. It helped me get comfortable with the sound of my own voice and with talking to inanimate objects as though they were people.

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I really hope it isn't that bad lol. :(

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Ditto, CatLady.

I started out feeling silly but just came to view it as an acting gig and as much-needed practice.

One way that I helped prepare was to reheorifice scenarios while alone in my car. It helped me get comfortable with the sound of my own voice and with talking to inanimate objects as though they were people.

Good idea lol I'll try that on my way there.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

The hardest part for me was after we started clinicals. It was my first realization that nursing school was in its own world with its careplans and NCLEX-type questions. And that the world of nursing school was a big disconnect from reality. Even though I was an older nursing student, I had never worked in the healthcare field.

I was a decent student, but after realizing that lots of what we were being taught would simply not be realistic or even used in the real world, I had a tough time motivating myself to devote alot of time to NANDA diagnoses and careplans. Don't even get me started on NCLEX-type questions and the preparation necessary just to learn how to answer them. I just couldn't see the rationale behind all of that busy...(oops!) paperwork. And I still don't. But it's apparently a necessary evil that nursing students must still endure.

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You can do it! It is always nerve-wrecking because it is a fake "person." Our mannequin was a Simman. He talked back to us and told us his symptoms, where his pain was, what activity he was doing that started the pain...etc. It was so hard to find pulses through the plastic. As for video taping, it is difficult, however, it is helpful because you can see the lag time of responses/actions/interventions or what you could of done differently. The situation always seemed so much shorter when I was experiencing it compared to watching it on screen-it seemed like forever. Our scenarios were awful because the lab never had enough money for epi, bandages, etc so we had to pretend actual ink pens were epi and wrap "bleeds" in bed linens.

Just remember this activity is most likely worth little-to-no points for your grade so the end goal is to complete. Clinicals and actual people are the more important issues. We are always harder on ourselves than others so do not stress too much :) Good luck!!

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Specializes in Psych.

I always feel stupid, but more so when I pat the mannequin's arm after a procedure. :o Our school has never shot video, but it sounds helpful.

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Specializes in CVSICU, Cardiac Cath Lab.

I just ham it up when I'm working with the mannequins. As long as I have my technique down, procedures memorized, etc., I can just have fun with it. As long as I'm laughing at myself, I feel much less self-conscious about the fact that I'm asking a plastic doll if they've passed gas!

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Just remember, everyone else will feel just as foolish. I'm sure watching each other will be hilarious, and maybe informative. In the olden days we just practiced on each other - think about pretending to be your classmates' patient, that was 2 of us trying to keep a straight face. Thankfully not on tape!

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I also felt stupid talking to the mannequins but just decided to bite the bullet and do it when being taped or observed by profs! Just remember that you aren't the only one feeling dumb about it. Everyone does and you gotta do what you gotta do, right? At my school we got graded for professionalism and I'm sure that's how it is for everyone else too so that was hard with mannequins. It gets easier as time goes and with practice. The first quarters with them were harder but then after awhile it's no big deal.

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