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Discussion

Improving confidence & efficiency?

Hi all,

Long-time lurker here but this is my first post. I've gleaned much help and wisdom from lurking over the last two years but I'm hoping for some direct advice/feedback now!

Could you all share what you do to increase your confidence in clinicals (and thereby your efficiency)? I'm a first-year student in my first clinicals at a sub-acute facility. I just got midterm evals back and although I am passing in all areas and doing quite well in some, my lack of confidence is causing a ton of problems and outweighing the good stuff.

I just don't feel like I know what I'm doing. All the research and reading and practice in skills lab is not translating over to clinical. I struggle to set priorities, I struggle with knowing how much to push patients, I struggle with being compassionate but also being firm, and most of all, when anything goes wrong and I make a mistake, I lose all my confidence and fail to recover adequately. Apparently I wear my emotions plastered all over my face too, so everyone and their brother can tell perfectly well when I start to freak out.

This is a personality issue with me, so it goes beyond clinical, but I have GOT TO LEARN to get act together in this area. However, I don't know how. I prepare very well, but it's when things start to veer off my "mental preparation checklist" that I lose it.

Any suggestions? I would especially like to hear from others who struggled with confidence and have gotten better. Thanks to all in advance.

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    As far as prioritizing goes, I would recommend taking a paper or form of some kind that has helpful hints to remind you what tasks need to be accomplished. Include things like each round of vitals, accu-checks, baths/showers, medication administration, etc. I like to create this on a piece of paper the morning of so that I can customize it for each patient. I usually do it during report so I don't miss anything.

    As far as confidence, you will get there. Remember to take a deep breath and think about the information that you know. You are smart enough to do this, anxiety can sometimes get in the way. Compassion and firmness depend on the patient and comes with time. I choose to air on the side of grace with my patients. If they are in pain, say they need something, etc. I honor that (as long as my nurse is also okay with it.) I'm only firm when it comes to thing that are going to affect the patient outcomes. For example, if a patient is able to get up and take a shower, then I'm not going to give them a bed bath. This comes out of respect for other patients who need my time to bathe them and because it is good for the patients to take pride in their health/care.

    Don't give up! You will get there :)

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