Keystone Cops Student Nurses

bedpan · Dec 5, 2003

LOL

Sorry - the laughter is more directed at me and my classmates as I remembered my first experience using the lift outside the lab! Yes, keystone cops is definately a good description!

I wouldn't worry too much - it is natural for things to seem awkward at first - that's why we do clinicals, to get experience!

And yes, your Instructor will be watching you like a hawk, especially at first - but as you become more confident (and you will!) you will see your Instructor in a different light - Use their presence as a positive - Ask questions of them, they are still there to teach not just judge!

And it is also natural to feel self-doubt - You are learning and will always continue to do so - I hope I never stop learning!

Don't be worried - this is all new and different to you - I'd be more worried about you if you DIDN'T feel nervous and thought you knew it all!

bellehill, RN · Dec 5, 2003

Of course as a student you will have "off" days, as a RN I still have "off" days. They come and go just to remind you not to get too comfy with what is going on. Keep your chin up, tomorrow is another day. Have fun with clinicals, you should learn but also enjoy what you are doing.

MikeLPN · Dec 5, 2003

Clinicals are an excellent opportunity for complete and utter embarassment. Thinking back about them makes me alternatively laugh/cringe. Just take it one day at a time.

Chillindamost · Dec 5, 2003

12/5/03

Ive been a rn for 11 years and I still repeat my motto used all through school and clinical "WING IT". Keep the patient the priority and everything will work out.

We still use the phrase "Three Stooges Nursing Company" many times during a shift!! And without fail, you can recognize something so significant and then overlook the obvious:eek:

Good Luck, keep on striving.

Katnip, RN · Dec 5, 2003

Let's see last week I squirt the surgeon in the face while I was getting a flush ready. I've unknowingly caught my glove in an IV line and dragged the entire pump with me for a second...during grand rounds. You name it, if it can go wrong and make you look stupid in front of an audience, it will.

The good part is, every other nurse, doctor, tech, and other healthcare worker has been through the same thing, so when they're laughing, they're laughing with, not at you.

The best thing is, when you look back on it, it really is funny.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 5, 2003

yep been there done that. don't be hard on yourself.....

like scarlett o'hara said: "tomorrow is another day"....

brush it off and move on.

hmccartn · Dec 5, 2003

it gets easier...you still feel like a moron at the time but at least the number of these types of moments decreases. i remember when i was on a postpartum ward i just received a patient who had been admitted after a c section, in a student moment i asked about her episiotomy...hmmm..the baby didnt come out of her lady parts, it came out of her stomach, therefore no episiotomy..i was much harder on myself than my instructor was.... dont sweat it...now that you've worked once with a hoyer lift you will get better with experience...take care and do your best.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 5, 2003

You should see the big old toothy grin on my face.

A long time ago hospital beds didn't lower and didn't have electric head/foot controls...only a hand crank.

So I was making up an occupied bed.

FLAT bottom sheet, FLAT rubber draw sheet, FLAT draw sheet, and FLAT top sheet.

OK, so I made my folds and leaned on the bed for balance and had the patient rolled to the far side........and then...... the bed started rolling away from me......me leaning on the bed, standing on the footstool......I FORGOT TO LOCK THE WHEELS.

Fortunately it was a 6 bed ward and one of the ambulatory patients came to my rescue.......funny now......embarrassing as heck then!!!

I made Keystone Kops look down right suave!

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Dec 5, 2003

Suzy,

I too am a 1st year student (just did last clinical day Wednesday) and have had more than one day when I felt that I just couldn't get it together! I just take a breath and remind myself that it will get better and I will be a better nurse for it. Remember that your first priority is the patient and being nervous is okay - it mean that you will take your time and do things right.

Good luck to you (and all of us! :) )

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Dec 5, 2003

My favorite student comment is the one where she's doing the OR rotation, and the surgeon said, "Pinch my nose." (meaning the nose clip) and she looked around, then seeing nobody else looking, she wondered, "Does he really mean his nose? It must be." and she literally pinched his nose. :D

NurseMegA · Dec 5, 2003

I think at one point or another we have all had more than a few of those moments. I remember feeling the same way during clinical rotations, during my initial orientation as a new nurse, during my Post partum orientation, during my labor and delivery rotation... do I continue on. I think the first time you do something you usually feel a little clumsy. Add to that having your instructor watching you and of course you will be more nervous.

We have all been there. Take heart.