Help please!

If you feel uncomfortable speaking to your current clinical instructor about your anxiety b/c you may feel that it could effect your grades/her perception of you--- schedule time with a previous instructor and ask her.

Trust me- no one has it "together" all the time.

Does it help if you are sitting down when someone asks you a question? sometimes people really can't think on their feet when they feel that their grade depends on it.

What is it about the situation when she asks you a question that makes you go blank? are there other ppl listening? is it busy around you? or is it just flat out OMG OMG OMG i should know this/i do know this/what did she say...

In the back of my mind I always think my clinical instructor is going to fail me. (This is every semester.) It's a combination of all three. Sometimes she will also ask me questions in a room where others are around and it's embarrassing when I don't know an answer to a question she asks. I'm already nervous and me being around other people just makes things worse. It is always busy around me. And I do think...."OMG OMG OMG i should know this/ I do know this/ what did she say?" I also feel a little sleep deprived when I go to clinicals. I know everyone but it doesn't stop them from being able to think. What also doesn't help is me crying and telling her that I didn't feel like had time to sit down night before and really think about my patient because I had exams this week. And also telling her that meds are my weak area. I've already made my self a target. How do I get my self out of this situation?

From my experience, instructors are not only impressed by those know it alls, but the people who stand out even brighter are those who IMPROVE--- everytime you come across a med you don't know, jot it down in an ABC organiser (those book telephone number/address thingys). that way, if you have a spare minute during clinicals, you can open it and review (it is the size of your palm usually) and it doesn't look like your reading a drug book... this way you'll never forget a drug. Having problems with a specific drug? stick a post-it on your bathroom mirror/shower door--- that way you'll see it twice a day at least.

You cried in front of her? it happens. Hopefully she remembers what it's like to be a student and won't think much of it. worried that now everytime she see's you she's going to wonder when the water works will start? remedy that: Stick a BIG smile on your face at ALL times--- ever heard "fake it till you make it"--- very true.

You feel sleep deprived or you ARE sleep deprived? big difference and different ways to fix that. if you ARE- just get some more sleep. if you just feel like you are-- wake up earlier, eat breakfast, read the paper--- make your body feel like it's any other day even though it is still dark outside.

Sometimes it takes a while for all that theoretical knowledge to sink in, but when it does, i'm telling you, it'll feel like you've been hit by some awesome bus!

Thanks so much!!!