ICU clinical troubles

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hey, all. ICU clinicals are not going well for me. I am having issues with prioritizing and with speed. I cant seem to stay on 'time' with two patients! My nurse told me to get more organized, i do have a brain sheet, but Im thinking its too 'busy' for ICU, too much detail. I don't know. I just know I had a horrible day and felt like a failure. My nurse wasn't much of a help to me, either. Excellent ICU nurse, teacher-not so much.

Thanks for letting me vent. Just feeling slow and inadequate.

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keep at it. rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is clinical proficiency.

keep asking questions, even if it looks like your preceptor isn't as helpful as you'd like. ask things like, "how did you learn this?" and "does this have any relationship to ...?" and "can i help with...?"

perhaps you'd be better off with one patient at a time plus helping her with her patients until you get better with organizational skills?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
hey, all. icu clinicals are not going well for me. i am having issues with prioritizing and with speed. i cant seem to stay on 'time' with two patients! my nurse told me to get more organized, i do have a brain sheet, but i'm thinking its too 'busy' for icu, too much detail. i don't know. i just know i had a horrible day and felt like a failure. my nurse wasn't much of a help to me, either. excellent icu nurse, teacher-not so much.

thanks for letting me vent. just feeling slow and inadequate.

what exactly are you having trouble with, how sick are these patients. many icu nurses will have trouble at one point or another keeping up....that's why they never get out on time. give me an example of a clinical day and i will try to help you. the nurse you are with should be leading you to the right path and not just make disparaging remarks about how fast or slow you are.

here is a sheet that may help. (https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/worksheet-visuals-remembering-662237.html)

doc.gif day sheet 2 doc.doc‎

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

What do they expect? You are a student and you are there to learn. I wouldn't expect to be exceling or keeping up with the fast pace. I don't even expect that out of new grads. It is a learning process and in the ICU there is A LOT to learn.

I too am curious about your typical day and what is expected of you from your program.

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