I'm having doubts about nursing... :(

missannabelle · Sep 18, 2017

I get the disappointment, but in my program, we all had our first clinical in long term care, and since we couldn't pass meds yet, we basically were CNAs that quarter. It's a good way to learn the basics. It will get more interesting (if technical = interesting for you) as it goes on. You'll find that every clinical experience has its own important lessons. Try to learn whatever you can, wherever you can. All of it will make you a better nurse.

AngelKissed857, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2017

I understand it was one day, but as a nursing student it is a day you dream of... I think many other nursing students can relate. They look forward to their first day of clinical. So when it doesn't live up to the "hype" its kind of a bummer. I am allowed to vent.

First of all- this post , and actually the majority of your posts, if not all- for the next couple of years would be best served in the nursing students forum. You'll get responses from nurses, but also from students at all levels of training. You're also less likely to have your parade rained on. Just my opinion. Here's the deal with first semester, you're learning lots of nursey stuff in lecture and skills lab, but in clinical- you are learning to be a CNA, with a few assessment skills as you learn them. That's what you have to do. You need to learn how to deal with a patient who has poop everywhere, can't roll themselves, or just had a hip replacement, or has dementia and is convinced you're trying to kill her. You have to learn how to change a bed with a patient in it, how to give a bed bath without drowning the patient or drenching the bed. You have to develop the habit of leaving the bed low, rails UP, bed alarm ON pretty much every time. You have to learn how to talk to patient, seriously! And their families. You can't chart, you don't know how- and it's a LOT of work to do it. Get to where you can take great vitals on every patient, you know what you're listening to when you auscultation lungs and vowels, know how to find and count the apical pulse, especially on obese patients, or very large breasted women. First semester isn't fun, second probably not a lot better. By third , you BEGIN to have a clue, and will wonder why you ever wanted computer access- by your last semester you'll run your butt off, desperately try to get all your charting done, and feel like you're becoming a nurse. Then, and I'm only joking a little here- you'll get your license and your first job and realize you don't know crap, and how the hell are they setting you loose on sick people! Relax, it's all coming, clinical pretty much sucks most of the way through. Nail your skillls lab and exams- you'll get to do everything sooner or later. Good luck to you!

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2017

It was the first day...of orientation. They didn't even HAVE patient assignment.

One clinical - I would let it go. But I would not allow myself to be placed with a CNA the next clinical without speaking up, especially if they are not rotating the nurses around.

I already said it was the first day and to let it go. I also explained why I did not think placing with a CNA preceptor was an acceptable practice for an ongoing RN clinical experience because that was a topic of debate within the thread.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Sep 18, 2017

I really never liked clinicals. Working as an RN has been soooooo much better otherwise I'd have quite and done something else by now.

Wuzzie · Sep 18, 2017

I already said it was the first day and to let it go. I also explained why I did not think placing with a CNA preceptor was an acceptable practice for an ongoing RN clinical experience because that was a topic of debate within the thread.

No, actually that wasn't the topic being debated. Nobody said being assigned to a CNA ongoing was a good idea because we all know it most certainly isn't and also isn't likely to happen. What was being debated was the extreme reaction of the OP who wanted to chuck her nursing education because she had to make beds for one day.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Sep 18, 2017

You love to troll people, don't you? You sound so smart!

How is sharing my impression of the OP's original post (while allowing that I may have misinterpreted it) trolling? And what on Earth does that have to do with my intelligence?

If you have a problem with me, fine. But there's no need to call me a troll or imply that I lack intelligence because of it. I spend a lot of time on here posting sincerely and trying to help where I can.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 18, 2017

Okay everyone, I am just starting my second semester of nursing school and I just had my first day at orientation on the med-surge floor that I will be at this semester. This is my first semester doing clinicals.. Long story short, I absolutely hated it. But there are several factors that may have affected my experience with it. Because it was orientation we were not set up with computer access so some of us were set up to shadow an RN, and others were set up to shadow a CNA. I got set up to shadow a CNA, I felt so unfulfilled.. We literally changed sheets, and cleaned poop the whole time. I was envious of my other classmates that got the opportunity to shadow nurses. The whole day I kept thinking to myself, am I really busting my a** in nursing school for this? It was extremely disheartening and discouraging. I went home almost in tears. Now let me back up and acknowledge the fact, that YES I WAS WITH A CNA, and I am sure it is much better actually shadowing a nurse. I was able to pop in and tag along with other classmates, but even then it was kind of boring. I know I should probably give it another chance but it was not a good first impression at all by any means.
I guess I just thought it would be more exciting... I would be able to use more of my nursing skills. I just don't know if I will ever like the med-surge floor.

First, you don't really have any nursing skills. It's your first semester doing clinicals. Of course you didn't get to use your nursing skills.

Second, following a CNA is such a valuable experience that my unit has every new grad follow a CNA for the first three days of their orientation. You learn basic nursing skills such as changing dressings, transferring patients in and out of bed, how to deliver and set up a meal tray, answering call lights and how the call light system works in that facility and, yes, cleaning up poop.

Following a good CNA is better than following a bad nurse.

Third, this is an older post and hopefully you had a better day on your next clinical day.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 18, 2017

Thanks for showing me what type of nurse I don't want to be and how not to treat others. I will however head your advice and try the students section next time. Thanks.

Please use the "Quote" function so we know who you're disrespecting.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 18, 2017

The extreme lack of diplomacy?? First and foremost my university has an open door policy. We are encouraged by our professors and by the Dean of Nursing to be vocal about any problems we may or may not have within the college. They want our feedback on our clinical instructors, they actually ask that we give feedback and fill out surveys on our experience with them. There is no extreme lack of diplomacy on my part by any means. She was just sticking up for me since most of these people on the thread are crude and distasteful. Some of you act like you were never a nursing student. It was one post. The majority of comments on here are accusatory based what they interpreted from the original post. A lot of "reading in between the lines" but they completely missed the boat.

The original post displayed an extremely poor attitude. So have your subsequent posts.

I haven't read any crude and distasteful posts in response to YOUR crude and distasteful posts, but evidently you can find negativity everywhere you look. I look forward to reading the rest of this thread -- sadly I don't have any popcorn to go with it.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 18, 2017

Yeah, that's true, but there are posts that are clearly meant to be spiteful or mocking, and at times, when the recipient hadn't come to argue but instead to discuss an issue or vent, like in this case. When is that appropriate?
I also realize, that at times there are users who get nasty with users because they simply don't want people to disagree with them and obviously that's not excusable. But then I question why people would continue to "bicker" with this person, continuously, when it's obvious that they just won't agree with you, and then act pompous, as if they're better, despite stooping to their level and having a petty, meaningless argument. There was an argument on this website recently, where there were several pages worth of comments attacking a user (and he was attacking back, admittedly) but people kept fighting with the OP even though his comments clearly were absurd and held no truth.
The people who kept fighting with the user I've also seen be quick to jump on others for their "behavior".

The OP isn't the only person reading this thread. Hopefully, other students, CNAS and new grads who read this thread will learn from it, even if the OP isn't willing to do so. THAT's why some of us "keep arguing with the OP" and why some of us criticized the OP's attitude. These threads are valuable learning experiences, and someone else may profit from the criticism.

Ben_Dover · Sep 18, 2017

Okay everyone, I am just starting my second semester of nursing school and I just had my first day at orientation on the med-surge floor that I will be at this semester. This is my first semester doing clinicals.. Long story short, I absolutely hated it. But there are several factors that may have affected my experience with it. Because it was orientation we were not set up with computer access so some of us were set up to shadow an RN, and others were set up to shadow a CNA. I got set up to shadow a CNA, I felt so unfulfilled.. We literally changed sheets, and cleaned poop the whole time. I was envious of my other classmates that got the opportunity to shadow nurses. The whole day I kept thinking to myself, am I really busting my a** in nursing school for this? It was extremely disheartening and discouraging. I went home almost in tears. Now let me back up and acknowledge the fact, that YES I WAS WITH A CNA, and I am sure it is much better actually shadowing a nurse. I was able to pop in and tag along with other classmates, but even then it was kind of boring. I know I should probably give it another chance but it was not a good first impression at all by any means.
I guess I just thought it would be more exciting... I would be able to use more of my nursing skills. I just don't know if I will ever like the med-surge floor.

This post is one good example why "I think why" a few seasoned or well-experienced nurses get fired up. It struck me, I'll be honest.

To me it sounds like a few students or nurses, like this OP, must have this thing called a sense of "Entatatitlement and PehPeprivilege" and they don't seem to realize it.

And what makes the matters worse is that they seem to lack common courtesy, common sense, and the lack of appreciation.

I've been a nurse for quite so many "days now" like a day or two. :sarcastic:

But I "still"respect and "still" learn from my CNAs.

OP, do me a favor, please bring your concerns back to your instructor and the rest of your group and tell us what they think. The question is, are you confident and strong enough to bring this up?!?!

P.s.

You did observe a nursing skill with a CNA, I doubt you even assisted the CNA that day. So, FYI, turning patients on a bed is a skill and cleaning our patients is more than just a skill, it's called "Nursing".

And by the way it is "Med-Surg" :madface:

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 18, 2017

There were people on here who were rude before she began throwing attacks back. I know nursing isn't sheltered, but I do feel like sometimes people's remarks or tones can be unnecessary. And I'm not just talking about this particular thread. I've seen this happen many times in the 4 or so months I've been a member. I'm not saying to not criticize her attitude about the ordeal, but there's a difference between criticizing and insulting.
Your last paragraph- I don't think there's anything wrong with her complaining about her first day. Saying that if she complains about her first clinical day she'll torpedo herself is a bit over-dramatic, isn't it? I don't think it's any indication of what she'll be like as a nurse. I don't know how old OP is, but people develop maturity and wisdom as they get older. My mom will be quick to laugh and tell me about how much maturing she did between 20 and 30. If her attitude is problematic or unjust, we can talk about it without being nasty, is all I'm saying.
I guess I can just imagine myself coming home to complain to my husband about my job, as I did when I worked in retail. I'd vent a bit, and he'd talk to me and give me advice. It wasn't a big deal, I thought, and I'd change my attitude the next day because I knew I was being a baby, but it just felt good to vent because I'm human.

All those posters whose responses you didn't like? They're human, too. Please get over the idea that if you don't like a response to a post, the poster who responded is lacking in compassion or empathy.

Advising the OP not to complain to (or about) the clinical instructor because she might torpedo herself isn't over-dramatic. It's good advice. Complaining in the tone the poster used in her first thread is likely to paint a target on her back. More than one such complaint -- or complaining to the wrong person -- may indeed torpedo her nursing career before it even starts. Displaying such a poor attitude may lead to more scrutinization of the OP's performance and even if she does survive the scrutiny, it's going to make her life uncomfortable if not miserable.