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. Anyone else go through this...and if yes...any words of advice?
"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...?
I'm pretty sure he just meant care for central lines - the dressing changes are sterile procedures, we're learning them right now. OP, while I didn't fail any checkoffs, I broke sterile field (and caught myself) 3 times during my Foley checkoff, and I had to start over from the beginning each time (we don't fail if we recognize that we broke sterility). It took me like 45 minutes to get through it! My hands shook about a hundred times worse during the checkoff than they did when I put my first cath in a person though. Once you do more of them you'll get more comfortable.
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
I know how you feel--Nursing skills are a scary thing sometimes. I actually got a 100% on our math review which floored me, but that was with a calculator. I am not as far along as you are with injections but doing dosages in my head...not gonna happen :) Math is tricky!! Keep your head up. I checked off on my wound care skill today and made it... but still it sucks when you are shaking and sweating with nerves. I often wonder if I can make it as well. This is only first semester ... But you have to know you will make it one way or the other. I think to myself, this is it and this is what I am born to be. I am also a mom (2 year old) and 24. But age has nothing to do with it. We struggle at all ages. Good luck. Getting support of this site keeps me sane :)
don't beat yourself up! I had to re-do the foley insertion 4 times! When it came time to actually do one in clinicals I breezed right through it! (so did the patient, they fell asleep! lmao)
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
If I did math calcs in my head, I would potentially - and literally - have done serious bodily harm by now. I have to have a pen and a piece of paper - AND a calculator. I had to have a PDA for school and I was dependent on the calc function. (I'm one of those people who does simple math by "Writing" on something with my finger, you know?)
Do what I did - carry a pen, either a tiny notepad or even a paper towel, and a small calculator in your pocket. And tell the instructor, "It is difficult for me to visualize this in my head; I need a quick second to write it down to insure I did it correctly so I don't give the wrong dose." Some of the calcs will eventually become very easy and second nature - but it's better to take a second or two to prevent harming someone.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.
I see that you passed so congrats!!!
I broke sterile field when I did my wet to dry dressing. I had put on my sterile gloves and then started measuring the wound (oops). I got finished and went to grab for my sterile gloves (which were on my hands) and told the instructor that I contaminated my gloves (she was watching but saying nothing). She then asked what I would do in the "real world". I told her that I would bring an extra pair of gloves in the room in case I broke sterility or contaminated my gloves I wouldn't have to run out and get new supplies and then start over. She said ok take your gloves off, pretend they're a new pair and put them back on. I did it and passed without any problems. My instructor even put a note about me breaking the field, catching myself, stating what I said about needing to fix the situation, and that I was very aware of what I was doing so I would be able to catch things like this in the "real world".
My advice is if this happens again (I hope not) and you catch yourself, let the instructor know what you did wrong and how you would fix the situation. They may let you start over from where you had your mistake and still pass on the first try.
How many times are you allowed to perform a skill until you pass? My school gives you 3 tries which I'm greatful for. So far I've had skill tests on: B/P + apical heart rate, injections, sterile field and had one on IVs yesterday. I always get so nervous when I'm being tested on a skill. Yesterday my teacher told me to breathe because I have a habit of holding my breath. I clam up and forget how to explain stuff. So far I've passed all the skills the first time around, but it's nice knowing that there are more chances. It's never the end of the world! Keep on trying and I'm sure you'll pass. It's so easy to flub up when you're doing stuff in front of a teacher.
Awww, nursing school is hard! And having to test like that in front of a teacher is incredibly difficult and scary. We've all done that. I've messed up before on the super easy stuff because I was being so paranoid about the hard, detailed stuff. Oh, we've all been there, I'm sure. Keep trucking! :)
I failed my sterile wound dressing change check off because the instructor said my hands touched and they never did! And guess what......... I still graduated with honors!
My point is this..... it is only one check off and there are plenty more ahead. They will never be easy no matter how much you practice them. Once you have to be graded on the skill your nerves take over. Its a fact of nursing school. At least for those in my class it was! This is only your first semester and you are still getting into the routine of things... give yourself some time and things will get better. Trust me they really will get better! I promise!
And remember....... nothing worthwhile is easy!!! You will be just fine.
I just finished my first semester...and it was hard. But you'll get through it. With that skills lab, i crossed my field too and "contaminated" my sterile field. But all you can do is practice and you'll get better at it.
We had a skills check off the first quarter and the teacher even said no one would fail, add to that it wasn't even hard stuff yet. I just had to verbally walk through the steps of taking a stool sample and after I was finished I took off my gloves and looked at my instructor and she said okay now what do you do? Uh I fumbled er....uh... document it? Yes, but then what? uh.... errr .... I am missing something right? Yes, she said what is the main thing I stress over and over again. (Hello you think she practically spoon fed me the answer) Still drawing a blank and beginning to panic. She prods me again. You took off your gloves.. Okay now I am feeling distinctly vegetable-like. Umm anyone care for a carrot? I finally looked over at my fellow student who was desperately trying to do the brain communication thing and it finally hit me- wash your hands. Only the very first skill we learned. Doh! The earlier poster was right, once you make a dumb mistake like that you will never do it again.
I am just sad.
Anyone else go through this...and if yes...any words of advice? 
... But you have to know you will make it one way or the other. I think to myself, this is it and this is what I am born to be. I am also a mom (2 year old) and 24. But age has nothing to do with it. We struggle at all ages. Good luck. Getting support of this site keeps me sane :)
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MB37
1,714 Posts
I'm pretty sure he just meant care for central lines - the dressing changes are sterile procedures, we're learning them right now. OP, while I didn't fail any checkoffs, I broke sterile field (and caught myself) 3 times during my Foley checkoff, and I had to start over from the beginning each time (we don't fail if we recognize that we broke sterility). It took me like 45 minutes to get through it! My hands shook about a hundred times worse during the checkoff than they did when I put my first cath in a person though. Once you do more of them you'll get more comfortable.