I am a psycho the night before clinical..

rotteluvr31, ADN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

LOL - thanks for the laugh :smokin:

Although I only laugh because I recognize so much of myself in that picture. :wink2:

Clinicals don't freak me out so much - anymore. But there was a time when I was up 2 hours early to make sure I wasn't late, and my stomach was so into knots I spent most of that time in my bathroom with an upset tummy!

Now - I am just grumpy -and irritated that I can't be studying of finishing paperwork because I actually have to go to clinical - and I am still early but that is a personal problem - but I also have everything ready to go the night before.

The nights before I have to work finds me all wound up in knots. I wake up 2 hours early, can't sleep - tummy in knots... hopefully, this to will pass. I don't need a nap anymore when I come home from work. Must be progress!

Good luck to you!

deeDawntee, RN · Oct 24, 2008

No one can ever accuse of you of not caring about what you are doing. It looks like you care deeply! Clinicals will get easier as you become more confident and gain experience. I would bet that many of us could share the same preparations when we were new. I have been a nurse for 10 years and still like to have everything lined up and ready to go before I sleep, it eases stress and I can rest better knowing that I won't forget anything. I think you are amazing. Are you able to acknowledge that in yourself? I hope you!!

See yourself as competent and confident and up to any challenge and you certainly will be. Visualize yourself calmly handling different patient situations, such as: a wobbly patient trying to get out of bed, someone yelling and swearing, someone who is having difficulty breathing....etc. As you see yourself responding in visualization, you will respond in actuality as well.

TRUST YOURSELF!! Trust that gut feeling you have about a patient or situation. The best nurses I know not only use their heads, but they listen to their own intuition. It is not too soon for you to start noticing your feelings on a gut level. When you can start trusting yourself your anxiety will turn into power and compassion.

You can do it!! :yeah: :yeah:

Biol20fan · Oct 24, 2008

I have the hardest time sleeping the night before a clinical day.

Now, when I come home after the clinical day, that's a whole other story!

intensity_too · Oct 24, 2008

Soo its the night before a clinical, and like usual, I am a nut. I keep reviewing in my head how tomorrow will go, what might happen, what I should know that I dont know already, what to do if such-and-such happens. HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY IN ONE PIECE.
I have to lay out EVERYTHING I will use for the next morning to be stuffed into my pockets before I leave. Pen, steth, penlight, cellphone(fully charged!), chapstick, mints, keys, ativan.:imbar Am I forgetting anything? I have to shower the night before so I dont feel rushed when I wake up. I have to do a stain check on my uniform so I dont find a stain on it when Im putting it on, and make sure its ironed and ready to go...
I am tense, uneasy, and desperate for a hug from my boyfriend.:zzzzz
I sincerely hate Thursday nights/Friday mornings.
...And by the time I get home from clinical, I am so drained of all energy I MUST take a nap in order to get through the rest of the day...
Just thought I would share.

This sounds just like me before a clinical. Right down to the Ativan!!!!!!!

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

I'm a nervous wreck also the night before clinicals. I actually have nightmares of being late to clinicals or forgetting something really important, or a pt. falls. I know its crazy, but I can't control it.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

I'm the same way! Honestly, isn't it just hell to forget something as important as a pen, penlight, or stethascope because we didn't prepare the night before? I'm just as bad. :nurse:

bekindtokittens · Oct 25, 2008

I'll be your roomie in our clinical-induced padded room...

I have my Ambien to help me get some sleep the night before. Here are my nightly preparations...

I have my bag packed with everything needed and in my car, so I won't forget it. Pens, chapstick, three hair ties (I've had more than one break on me in a day), anything that goes in my pockets, are already in the pockets of my uniform hanging up. This included my two fresh Kleenexes, yes, TWO, because having a back up Kleenex in my pocket makes me feel better! Socks, underclothes, and shoes are already laid out. Lunch is made and in the fridge, with a note on the door to the garage telling me not to forget it -- which doesn't always work. Even my beloved instant coffee is measured out into my coffee cup, on the counter next to my vitamin, and a cup of water is already in my microwave for nuking. I have to take my shower in the morning (more like late evening to me) in order to wake up.

It still takes me an hour to get out of the house because I'm so worried I've forgotten something, or...I've spilled coffee on my lovely white scrubs.

rwright15 · Oct 25, 2008

Okay, this is too weird... even with the thurs nite and fri morning... I did Everything you said in your post just last night into this morning (with the exception of the Ativan... mine is alprazolam prn). Went to bed close to 1am, then back up at 430 for clinical. Checking and rechecking everything. As soon as I got home, I just died. I was out for 3 good hours. Thought it was just me, like OCD or something. Nice to know I'm not the only one.

Finally2008 · Oct 25, 2008

So, I guess it's weird that my stuff is already in my pockets for my clinical on Wednesday......

deeDawntee, RN · Oct 25, 2008

So, I guess it's weird that my stuff is already in my pockets for my clinical on Wednesday......

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: ok that's the best one so far!!! Honest to god, when you pass your boards, you can be my nurse anytime!!! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Oct 25, 2008

are you allowed to take ativan during clinicals?