I feel very overwhelmed about my clinicals.

[NurseKis]

Today I had my clinicals and we had to do flu shots. I am the only one in my group that hasn't had any experience. I am also the youngest one. The first day in clinicals we had to do vitals and everyone in my class knew how to do these. i did not. My instructor asked me to do them and I told her I did not know how to do it so she told me to ask one of my classmates to help me. That day went ok.

Today we had to do flu shots. I Have never given a flu shot (or any injection) in my life! I was scared. My professor told us to read over the weekend about it but I forgot, that was my fault and I agree. But I read it while i was on break not once but three times. This professors scares me. I even asked my classmates how to do it and they explained to me but the thing is that EVERYONE IS scared to do anything with her. People are avoiding her and no one wants to do anything with her. Today I started crying because i felt very overwhelmed because I felt that i was doing everything wrong.sHE LOVED To scream at people... She told me that i should go wash my face and that she was not going to put up with drama. and again I get very red and started crying because it just happens! I cannot control it. I could not even breath right and i WAS doing whatever she was telling us to do. i WAS shaking and I felt very scared just by her presence. What should i do about this? I really feel bad. I cannot even breath right now. I just dont know what to do. I want to be able to ask questions.

Is the instructor supposed to show us what to do and then we do it or do we have to everything with her just telling us about it, without demonstration?

[NurseKis, BSN, RN]

It is very stressful. I was shaking and i my professor was just screaming at me. We did not have that skills on that week so we could not practice injections. iT was insane. I will see what i can do about this. :/

[kiciunka]

Hello Nurse2b. Although this school is not accredited; it is under the Board Of Nursing for the state of New York. I am thinking of going there this January. Reading over your post reminded me a bit of my old CNA instructor. Some people should not be teachers... This is very upsetting. What are your thoughts on the program? Wish you all the luck! Please reply.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

I find it concerning that you were giving IM injections before even having a skills lab over the subject. In my program, you HAVE to do a competency check-off before you can perform a skill in clinicals. I was a vet tech before I went to RN school, so I had given countless IM injections (to cats and dogs, but still, lol!). It's a skill I am very comfortable with. I still would have not felt ok about doing a flu clinic without at least covering injections in class first.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

They aren't "teaching her to be incredibly unsafe." Perhaps this week's experience will teach her not to be so incredibly unprepared....and to lose the drama. Many instructors are starchy the first few weeks to put the fear of god into students who, well, don't come prepared and crumple when questioned.

As to psychomotor skills, you should have the opportunity to perform and practice them in a lab setting before doing them on patients. As for injections, I don't know why everybody gets so fluffed up about them-- and yes, even though it's been mumblemumble years I do remember precisely what my first one was, a thick preparation in oil on a cachectic woman with no muscle over her bones-- we teach lay people to give injections all the time. Get a syringe in the learning lab and inject a few oranges.

Finally, if someone is old enough to go to college s/he ought to be able to search for and visit state colleges and community colleges with accredited nursing programs.

[kiciunka]

Green Tea:

The school is under the BON ( Board Of Nursing ) for NEW YORK STATE.

[caseywestt]

Always brush up on your skills BEFORE clinical! (: Showing up and not knowing what your doing is pretty humiliating, everyone has been there at least once. Obviously, its hard to read something in a book and then know how to do it online. If you're really struggling, I would look into ATI skills modules. We used that in school and it was invaluable. There have been times where I search on youtube for skills videos, obviously it's not always reliable though- so be careful. (: Good luck!

[x_factor]

So many things wrong with this picture.

First, OP, you act shocked that the school isn't even accredited, yet you've been there along enough that you are already in clinicals. Did you not do a little homework on potential schools before applying to nursing school? Nursing school is a huge step, a lot of students go through a lot of work to get there, so taking a few minutes to check the school's accredidation and reputation should've been torwards the top of the list when scouting schools. I agree, you are a college student, college students are ADULTS. Some more mature than others, but quite frankly if you are old enough to work towards becoming a nurse where people's lives will be in your hands, then you are old enough to do a little research into the school you plan on attending.

Secondly, your school doesn't have a lab, and y'all were never taught how to do simple vital signs before being thrown into clinical rotations? And then, apparenly vital signs were skipped all together (except for "reading about it over the weekend", which you failed to do anyways) and clinicals skipped straight to GIVING INJECTIONS? Holy canole.

It's scary that a hospital, or any place of health care, is even putting their reputation on the line and allowing this school to conduct clinicals at their facility. Scary indeed.

[Guinevere39]

Performing a skill you haven't been trained to do is a huge liability for YOU. It's not safe. Your clinical sounds like a terrible situation.

[Dream2Reality]

Yes what you are doing in clinicals is unsafe and you CI is unprofessional. Yes you will be able to take the NCLEX when you are done. This nursing program is very new and is probably still working out all the kinks. People throw out that accredited mojo all the time for every single thing. Of course it is important but it doesn't mean you won't become a nurse upon completing the program because that is up to the board of nursing of NY which the Swedish Institute has been approved. Now because it is not accredited by NLNAC or CCNE that means you may not be able to work at MOST hospitals like the VA hospital and MOST schools may not accept you into their RN-BSN program or may require you to repeat courses. Stick in there and be proactive. Go to someone in administration and explain your concerns on safety and professionalism.

[Calipsychnurse]

Hondros College not BON accredited? Are u still able to take the NCLEX?