I feel completely lost....

rmkelly · Oct 25, 2009

Bless your heart. I am so sorry you are having a hard time. Hang in; confide in someone. What part of clinical do you struggle with? Interpersonal skills, medsn treatments, patient/family education? There is help for you. Howev er, it is a tough sisterhood, sometimes. I'm pulling for you.

jtmonique · Oct 25, 2009

:kissA little smooch for you! Just breath you are ok and everyone goes through this at some point or another. It seems like just when you get comfortable the semester is over and you come back and it is like starting all over. You can do it you passed clinical last term and you will again. When you get your assignment take a deep breath review their charts for diagnosis, tests, lab results, physical Hx and nursing notes. If you are required to review your patients cardiac strips. Review their mar record the times of each med so you can plan your day accordingly do these things quickly but thoroughly go greet your patients perform your assessments starting with the most compromised patient if they are all equal look for things like requiring morning glucose testing and insulin. get your assessments done, document them if you have early meds get them reviewed and pass them then if your program requires it start your beds and baths then it will be time to reassess the pt's requiring the 2 hour thing look for afternoon meds, document, ambulate ect. when your doing your intitial assessments dont forget to check IV's and catheters and ostomy bags. Do your dressing changes after the morning rush and remember to breath. Once you develop a routine you will feel confident again treat each patient like you would want to be treated never let them see you sweat you are human and will sometimes bumble around it happens and it is ok. You need a good brain or a sheet that helps you organize your data you should be able to keep all of you stats on 1 or 2 pieces of this if you dont have one or know what I am talking about ask a nurse who works on the floor to see their brain they will know what you mean! Oh yeah never be afraid to ask for help or advice it dosnt make you look weak just the opposite. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

CuriousMe · Oct 25, 2009

I have a secret for you, you might not be the only one feeling this way. You're comparing your insides to their outsides, just because folks look confident doesn't mean they are. No one in your class knows everything yet, they might just be more comfortable not knowing.

You are being evaluated, but not compared to an RN, you're being evaluated on the skills you've been taught. So, spend some time in the lab, if for no other reason than to convince yourself that you've got those skills down pat, then hold your head high.

I also agree about asking questions, if you feel like you're being "evaluated" by your instructor or an RN...ask them a question. If nothing else, it will give you something to focus on besides what you're doing.

tlc2u · Oct 25, 2009

hi,

i felt lost as well when i began clinicals. i had years of experience giving baths, shaving male clients, incontinence care and changing depends, administering meds and documenting on an mar but that was in a home setting. nothing like being in the hospital.

in the hospital everything seemed knew to me. i seemed to have forgotten how to even make the bed rise up and down even though i worked them fine the three times i was in one myself after having my babies. and then the numerous times my children were in the hospital for corrective surgery. i definitely knew how to raise and lower the bed but somehow with all the stress of nursing school i was all thumbs just trying to adjust the patients bed at first.

jtmonique suggested in the above post to look at someone elses "brain". i remember in the past some great "brains" have been posted on allnurses. try doing a search here on allnurses with the word "brain". i'm sure you will find one that will work for you.

i came across posts from others that i thought might give you some guidance. i don't know how to link you to this so i will copy and cut here. i am providing the posters name as well to give credit where credit is due.

here is the title of the post:

i'm a graduating nursing student...and i know nothing!!!!

and a response by faeriewand:

faeriewand

i graduated after only 3 semesters of school and felt the same as you. (lvn here) i thought omgosh i know nothing! i understand that this is a common feeling. i experienced all those feelings and symptoms you describe. also, when i started on the floor i had to keep running to the br! lol! i heard nurses ask, "where is ___?"

what you need is something to hold on to that will help you on the floor. take some 3x5 note cards and place them in your pocket along with a pen. when you are told something, esp a policy/procedure, that you don't know, be sure to write it down on the note card. fill your note cards up and just keep carrying them in your pocket. then the next time you encounter such-and-such take out your note card to read what to do next so you don't forget anything.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/im-graduating-nursing-367396.html post 8

although this is based more on the nurse than the nursing student i still thought it might lend some focus to your day. or maybe give you a starting point to provide us with a better idea of what exactly you feel lost about.

tlc2u · Oct 25, 2009

Here was another bit of good advice also from another nurse.

I believe any job is nerve racking to some degree when you are the new kid on the block. One thing that was helpfull to me 18 years ago when I first became a nurse was keeping a journal. List the things that your worried about in your patient skill set and then pick one at a time to improve upon it. Next, make a list of what you were satisfied with each day. In short order more positives will begin to appear.

Nursingstudent2188 · Oct 25, 2009

Thank you all! So very much!

I am definitely going to check out some "brains." I know that I'll eventually get it all down. I'm just stressin'. Thank you all again for your advice and ideas. I'll have to keep ya posted about how it goes this week! I have a good feeling that it will be better. :)

PianoGirl20 · Oct 25, 2009

A few more things...

1.) The students who seems super-confident may also be pretty nervous. I'll never forget during my previous clinical rotation when a fellow student who appeared to be Florence Nightingale II said that she actually felt suddenly "totally unsure and awkward" right before she went in to meet a new patient! What a revelation

2.) If you have an instructor who seems remotely approachable, find a quiet moment and simply ask "How am I doing and what could I improve?" It will seem proactive and mature to them, as well as give you some concrete feedback. And hey, if they say you're doing well, that should put you at ease!

3.) Make sure you get there in enough time before clinical to fully get report so that you understand as much as possible about your patient(s). Also SLOW DOWN during your initial assessment-take time to really look and listen! That way your charting should be as complete as possible and you will ultimately save yourself time.

4.) Keep a small list of things throughout the day of stuff you don't know...look it up during downtime (so that you won't be one of those students who looks like they are just lazing around doing nothing) or later at home.

5.) If all else fails, hide in the linen closet for a couple of minutes. I'm kind of kidding, but not really. Honestly, just taking a couple of minutes and BREATHING can actually help a lot!

Good luck-keeping my fingers crossed for you!

hunydew2262 · Oct 25, 2009

WOW, serious deja vu! I cried after every clinical for weeks.

You've gotten so much good advice already, I can't think of anything to add, other than it is all SOOOO worth it!

Maybe you can find a buddy in your clinical group. I always ask a peer for help or advice if I'm not sure about something. Guess what? So do the nurses! I always let my nurse know I want to learn everything they can teach me. I learned some great "tricks" that way.

Hang in there. Yeah, it's hard, but it should be. It will all come together for you, and sooner than you think. Good luck!

rmkelly · Oct 25, 2009

I called my mom the night before my second clinical. I was freaked because in pre-clinical conference, my instructor had shared that my patient was post-stroke, hemiplegic, diabetic , and I would need to do urine S&A and make his bed "occupied". OK - I'm a real woos (I was only 17) my mom said she couldn't come get me right then. The next day I went to clinical about to throw up. Instructor had not told me my patient was a double amputee - which put me at ease!! My grandpa was a double amputee! When I got back to the dorm, my mom was there with a birthday cake, a pair of Hanes support pantyhose and the most beautiful letter of encouragement and affirmation that all days would not be easy, but some would be filled with joy. I don't know how she knew that. But it's true.