Hoping this is all worth it

student_girl · Jan 7, 2005

Honnestly, not anymore. I had doubts this summer. I was laying in bed and started thinking about the responsabilities of this job. I ended up having a panic attack!:chuckle Even if I had some disapointments the last semester (my first too), I have no doubts anymore and I know what I want to do. Heck, I even planned my whole career til retirement! :eek:

DDRN4me · Jan 7, 2005

Hang on and give it another try...every clinical situation is different. I went for my ADN after 19 years as an LPN, and was still treated rudely by t he floor nurses....its not that they dont want you there, they are just so busy they get overwhelmed. A's &B's are great...you must be retaining something!!good luck this semester, let us know how it goees..I am about to start my 2nd to last for my BSN and still get overwhlemed!:)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2005

You're not learning anything?? That's odd. There was so much information to learn my first semester in nursing school I learned buckets.

Everyday for the entire time I was in school, until a couple of years out I questioned if I was doing the right thing or not, but just kept plugging along, knowing in my heart it was indeed the right thing to do.

Next clinical now that you know the ropes, be a little more proactive. Instead of standing around, take charge of the care of your patient to the extent you can. Tell the CNA's you'll take care of everything, ask the nurses if they need help, let it be known you'd like to see/learn new procedures. Don't be sensitive to nurses being rude to you.

Good luck.

Of course, there's no shame in when you actually get into it finding out it's not for you. Because it really isn't until nursing school and clinicals that you see what it's really about. Happened to a nurse I went to school with, only she actually graduaded and worked a few months and quit nursing.

NOIRLINCOLN · Jan 7, 2005

I had similiar questions this Dec after the 1st Semester was all said and done. I did not feel like my knowledge base had grown as much in comparison to when I did Anatomy and Physio and Micro. I decided to spend the XMAS break reviewing texts. I am reviewing about (3) different texts. I began with Saunders and the cd rom which is excellent. UTA requires the Jr. BSN nursing students to purchase this review book. It is excellent! I also found out about Fundamentals of Nursing 2cnd edition by Archer and Ward. It is an excellent little review book. It is a Nursetest review book. It quickly identifies my areas of weakness. I also got the Medical Surgical review book which is also a Nursetest review. The authors are Gingrich and Rhorer. I got them both on Amazon.com.

I wished my clinical experience had been more fulfilling, but this is typical of the clinical experience. It is hard to learn from someone who is not directly contractually obligated to teach. One day I was rotating around with a brand spankin' new nurse who was being horribly neglected by the senior nurses. Another seasonal nurse on a different floor was also not well received. This is also the way things were when I was a technician back in the early 90's. It is sad to see that the hospital environment has not changed from eating their young, but it hasn't. Occasionally you and I will get that one nurse one the floor who does care about the profession and understand professionalism, and I live for those days. I will go on a smoke break even though I don't smoke to tag along with a really good nurse. By the way we spent the 1st (6) weeks of our clinical in the school watching films. This was such a waste of our valuable time. I did not learn a thing from those tapes, but most all of the schools use them. Every time the faculty would plug in a tape I would say to myself "I am so glad that I took the CNA training where we got to practice patient care everyday." We actually made up lots and lots of beds occupied and unoccupied rather than watching it on a tape. We actually shaved pts, brushed their dentures, feed them, and all the ADLs. It is pathetic that pt care is taught on video tapes. I think this is one of the most impt aspects of nursing.

My clinical instructor told me to read my physical assessment book by Jarvis. I did not pack that one with my for the XMAS break so that was an oversight on my part. I am looking forward to using it when I go back to school.

I would like to work, but I need to come home to be with my teenager over the breaks. She is starting an ADN nursing program this fall! YES! EXTREMELLY PROUD MOTHER!!!! I am so excited! I just registered her for the summer Anatomy and Physio (10) week session. In January there are only (10) empty seats remaining out of (24) for the summer (1) session. She took Micro last summer and got an (A). I have the will to learn as much as I can about nursing b/c I want to offer her a depth of knowledge as well as treat my patients good.

mariedoreen · Jan 7, 2005

Did your first semester consist of primarily CNA skills? If so, I think I can relate. After taking my CNA class I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing. After my first term of nursing school where we spent our clinical time doing assessments and developing our critical thinking skills by writing care plans I found that I was much happier. I'd suggest you give it more time... things could change drastically for you.

mavnurse · Jan 7, 2005

I still definitely have doubts. I walk past the engineering bldg sometimes and want to cry b/c I'm afraid I'm majoring in the wrong thing and it's almost like it's too late to turn back. Then I go get in my car and drive to clinicals to clean egg off of dentures. Fun. I'm not saying that I'm above the basics, though, just that it gets old when it seems like you're only there to do ADLs over and over. (I'm starting an externship next week, so I know that's all I'll do, but it's different when it's a job. Clinicals are supposed to be more.) Maybe this next semester will be better because we will know how to do more than change beds and we can give meds without the instructors breathing down our necks.

lil' girl, LPN · Jan 7, 2005

I just started my second semester today. Already soooo much work, but I am gonna give it my best. I think we all feel overwhelmed when we start clinical's because we just don't want to do the WRONG thing. Most of the nurses on our clinical rotations were helpful if we asked, otherwise they just let us do our own thing. I think this semester will be better because we actually get to interpret the orders and make decisions about the plan of care. I hope your semester goes well, good luck

LauraLou · Jan 7, 2005

I'm sorry you had such a bad clinical experience. What I have learned in the last two semesters is that clinical is what you make it. The floor nurses have a job to do and it is not teaching students. If they are willing to do so, that is wonderful, but don't expect it. Instructors have a group of students, so they are not able to give each person much attention.

Nurses and techs don't know what each nursing student is able to do. Instead of tracking you down and asking if you are able to perform a certain task, it is easier for them to do it themselves. You have to be proactive and make sure you tell the nurse and tech at the beginning of the shift exactly what you are able to do.

For example, tell them "I will change the linens, bathe the patient, ambulate the patient, give oral medications, take vital signs, do dressing changes, insert/dc the catheter and do I&O. I cannot give injections or IV meds." Make it clear that you will perform all these tasks as ordered and will chart them. Once they understand exactly what you will be doing, the nurse and tech are usually happy to have less on their plate.

I treat clinical not as a place where someone will teach me, but as an environment where I can learn, if I am willing to seek out the knowlege.

As for comprehending all the material presented in class, please know that no one retains it all.

Good luck this semester!

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Jan 7, 2005

Please don't give up. You will probably see that your second semester will be better. Do you know if you'll be at another hospital next time? You did great with your theory it sounds like so keep it going! Lot's of people have second (third, 4th) thoughts! :)

kellyo, LPN · Jan 7, 2005

There were several times last semester where I questioned what I was doing. My classroom experience was great, but the anxiety of clinicals and care plans was overwhelming sometimes. I'm starting the 2nd semester of a 5 semester ADN program, and we're told that 2nd semester is the "make or brake" semester. I'm prepared and buckled up for a bumpy ride!

LaurasoonRN · Jan 8, 2005

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. I know that clinicals are probably not the norm for the real world. I guess I am just afraid that I am not learning what I need to and that I might miss something. Our clinicals were at a hospital that I really didn't care for anyway so I may be a bit skewed in views. I will be at a different hospital this semster so hopefully things will change. I really want to be a nurse...I'll keep on keepin on! Thanks again!!