I'm sad :( Nursing is Hard!!

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I am in my first semester in the nursing program and I failed my first skill check-off, Wound Care because I crossed my sterile field and contaiminated...blah blah and I just start bawling in front of the instructor who is checking me off....I am not sure if I can take more semesters like this. I am not stupid, I am actually a smart girl, but this demonstration stuff is kicking my butt. She tells me "Obviously you are not prepared..." Well I was, I spent over 10 hours practicing the skill and with the nurses I work with at the hospital! I just get nervous and my confidence is non existent when I have to perform. I know I will make it through. It is just hard to start on a "failure" note.

This is my first post ever, and its a complaining one :( I am just sad.:cry::crying2: Anyone else go through this...and if yes...any words of advice?

Thanks,

Cynthia

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

yes , nursing is hard all around, school is hard , work is hard, accountability iis hard.. but it's worth it because you give your patients the best care.

you will be fine.. please don't let this stop you from reaching your dream. you can do the wound care check off again.. next time you'll ace it .. it's just one check off .. give yourself a big hug for me .. you can do this..

you'll be a wonderful nurse

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Specializes in Dialysis.

sterile fields are just something you have to train yourself to "see". imagine 4 poles coming up, one from each corner, and there is an imaginary tent covering your field; you cannot cross over the tent! it's hard at first, but you'll get it. sterile fields will be in your trach care checkoff, your catheter check off, your suctioning one (I think). just practice, practice, practice!

good luck!

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Oh my gosh, you sound just like me!! My first semester in nursing school we had competencies all the time, and I used to get sooo nervous that as soon as I started the competency I would screw up, fail, and then cry my eyes out in front of the teacher. And no matter how long and hard I practiced, as soon as it was time to do it in front of the instructor, I would mess up. So, don't feel bad because it happens. At my school, we'd get one chance, and then if we flubbed up we'd get a zero. We only had one chance to get points for the thing, which made failure that much worse. But, I passed all of them the second time, which in the long run is the most important part. Just keep your head up, and remember the end goal is NOT about grades, it's about being a competent and caring nurse!!

Good luck!

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Yeah, I remember those days....It was foleys, Ivs, central lines, dressings, shots, meds, etc.....demo or fail, then redemo and fail...."oh, you aren't ready..." Many times the instructors would each want different things...no consistancy....now they wrote out a skills book and each step is left together step by step for every teacher.

It happens...I remember when I did my first handwashing I had no clue the proper way to do it......the instructor told me "if you can't get this BASIC skill, how are you going to do the rest?" So I practiced, and did it, and now I do it at home too....

It happens.....practice and know that a failure is NOT the end of the world as long as you CAN do it eventually.

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I always think of it like this....... You'll never forget about crossing your sterile field ever again~will you? Instead of looking at these "bumps" as negatives~~~~~look at them as learning experiences. That is one thing you will never forget about and you will have learned from that. This whole experience is a LEARNING experience, as long as you are learning~ it is a good experience~the goal was accomplished.

Good luck!!!

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Yeah, I remember those days....It was foleys, Ivs, central lines, dressings, shots, meds, etc.....demo or fail, then redemo and fail...."oh, you aren't ready..." Many times the instructors would each want different things...no consistancy....now they wrote out a skills book and each step is left together step by step for every teacher.

It happens...I remember when I did my first handwashing I had no clue the proper way to do it......the instructor told me "if you can't get this BASIC skill, how are you going to do the rest?" So I practiced, and did it, and now I do it at home too....

It happens.....practice and know that a failure is NOT the end of the world as long as you CAN do it eventually.

"Central lines"?? All we had to know about central lines was how to care for one that was already placed. I've never heard of having to learn to place a central line, unless you're in the CRNA program...?

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Specializes in ICU.

There isn't a nurse alive that hasn't gone through anything or something similar to your experience, myself included.

Don't let the man get you down. If you want it bad enough, you'll perservere.

Remember anything worth doing is worth doing right. Of course your goint to make mistakes, but dont' forget the 7 P's

Prior Proper Planning Prevents **** Poor Performance.

Keep your chin up girl, it's worth it in the end.:wink2:

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ok here is my thing......i get very nervous when i have to perform a skills in the lab setting.but when i have to do it on a "real live" pt.....i do great.....i am not nervous or anything......and i have an instructor and a floor nurse with me.....but in the lab its just me and the instuctor.......my hands shake and everything.....like last week we had to do shots......3 dummies and 3 dif shots.....IM,subQ and intradermal........i dropped my syringe TWICE and when it was time to calculate the doasge.....forget it.....i CAN NOT and i repeat CAN NOT do math out loud,in my head AND in front of someone.....i NEED a calulator and time.....i felt so sick to my stomach.......i often wonder if i will make it thru......all first semester in had an85 average..and that isnt bad for a 45 yr old who has been a stay at home mom for 19 yrs.....but i feel like i am going downhill FAST.....the math gets me....

great post by the way.....love it!!

paula

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I'm also in my first semester. Remember, we are STUDENTS - there to LEARN. I, too, failed the sterile derssing change demo in school last Friday, because I turned my back on the sterile field to get my gloves. I listened to what the instructor told me, practiced some more, and passed on Monday.

This wasn't the first demo I didn't pass, but I always passed on the second demo. I looked at them as learning experiences. I'm probably more adept at the skills I had to do over, because the instructors would spend the one-on-one time better explaining how to do things.

Practice, patience and perseverence will pay off!

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Specializes in med/surg.

Oh yes those wonderful days of what we referred to as check-offs... I was so nervous all the time... then you go to clinical & you're nervous all the time & now you're doing those things to a real person.

You're obviously putting in the time... now you have to find a way to calm your nerves. Massage?? Kidding, no I just tried to realize I'm not the first nor the last to perform this task & I'm not or won't be the last to fail it either. I learned way more from my mistakes & remember it much longer than what I got right the first time. No you know this, you'll probably never ever make this mistake again. Sterile field is difficult to grasp, you'll get it. Try asking someone else to watch you perform & tell you when you break sterile technique... you often don't even realize it. Stop right where you are & look at what you're doing & then you become more aware of how you're breaking field. You will need to master it... it is involved with many other procedures. Good luck you'll get it!!

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I'm just a few weeks short of graduation and I wanted to tell you all that I failed my foley demo. Badly. And yet, here I am. :)

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