How did you learn not to be so nervous?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Feb 27, 2010

Realize that failing isn't that realistic of a fear. Hardly anyone fails. It sounds like that girl you know failed for a reason. lol. The class doesn't really teach you how to be a CNA; it teaches you how to pass the test. The "real world" is very different. Just focus on memorizing the skills, and yes, the more you act them out physically, the better you will remember them, so practice daily. I don't remember the clinicals to be as nerve-wracking as I thought they would be. I don't know about your class, but in mine we always had a partner from our class so it wasn't like we were all alone. Plus I felt like most of the time we were being told what to do. The book gives you steps for each tiny little thing (cleaning dentures, toileting, partial bed bath, transferring someone into bed) but in actual practice they're all done at once. So that got a little overwhelming sometimes because instead of just doing it we were worrying about what order the book would have told us to do these things in. But in your skills test, everything is separate again and it's kind of a relief just to be tested on one simple task.

juliaann · Feb 27, 2010

Confidence is key. Don't focus too much on memorizing each detail of each step in each skill, but know the general flow of the order in which you will do a skill, and then just use common sense. There's a lot less pressure if you're not mentally tormenting yourself and beating yourself up over whether you need to put the towel on the patient's chest first or raise the head of the bed first when setting someone up for oral care, for example. Don't get hung up on little inconsequential details.

Class lab and the state test are kind of unique in the pressure of being "assessed" that is just not present in clinicals and independent work. Of course you'll want to be awesome and confident in clinicals and work as well, but you don't have someone looking over your shoulder all the time and it really takes the pressure off. Clinicals should be fun and easy. Don't let it stress you. You'll have a preceptor right there who knows the patients and will not let you do anything that will bring harm to anyone.

For the state test, just be confident and pleasant, take things slow, and use that common sense. You'll be fine. :)

x0pinky_x · Mar 2, 2010

It sounds like that girl you know failed for a reason. lol.

yes, she may have been a bad example. lol I will make it an extra effort to practice the skills daily. My bf & my mother have all ready volunteered to be my pt/residents. One of my classmates & I have all ready agreed to stick together & be partners. It is possible I am just over thinking it & getting way ahead of myself. Thanks for your response & advice!!

x0pinky_x · Mar 2, 2010

Confidence is key.Clinicals should be fun and easy. Don't let it stress you. You'll have a preceptor right there who knows the patients and will not let you do anything that will bring harm to anyone.
For the state test, just be confident and pleasant, take things slow, and use that common sense. You'll be fine. :)

Practice & confidence seems to be the key with a lot of things.

Thanks so much for your encouragement, & great advice!! I am actually more excited than nerves now!! :heartbeat