Help passing nursing skills

[foreverLaur]

In order to perform a skill in clinical, we have to learn it in lab, but not be officially checked off. Two weeks ago, we learned to start IVs. I have successfully started 4 IVs in clinical and all 4 of them were watched by my instructor and my instructor said I did a wonderful job at them.

However, in skill lab with the fake arm, I ALWAYS forget to remove the tourniquet. I draw blood as part of my job, and I have NEVER forgotten to remove a tourniquet. Yet I can never seen to remember to remove it from a fake plastic arm.

I have failed the IV start skill already once in nursing skills for failing to remove the tourniquet. I have one more shot. If I miss it again, I fail the course. The fact that I have successfully started IVs on a real human doesn't matter - I have to do it on a plastic arm. When I practice and a lab instructor watches me for tips, I do it perfectly (I have done this over 50 times now). However, the minute I tell them to watch me for official skill check-off, I forget to take the tourniquet off. I had this same problem when I had to learn phlebotomy for my job.

Any suggestions?! I have SHOWN I can do it on a real human, but I seem to fail on a silly plastic arm. Any tips for being able to succeed so I don't lose my nursing career over a plastic arm?!

[SnMrsSmiley]

honestly.... if your this worried about removing the tourny then you should be able to remember it when its time for official checkoff. KEEP telling yourself : remove tourny remove tourny... over and over again. buy a stuffed animal take it home and put that thing on and take it off a million times. you wont forget it again. Put one on yourself and take it off a million times... whatever you have to do. You know this is your last chance.... your instructor knows this too. You can do it.

[Friendli]

I wouldn't focus on one thing that you suck at too much though because you might forget something else! I failed twice now but in my college there are three opportunities. I have been working twd my RN for 2.5 years now between the prereqs and I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown! I can't imagine failing out of school because I really get so nervous during skills check offs. AHHHHH!