Most difficult to learn as student and nurse?

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What did you find to be the most challenging skill to learn as a student and a new nurse?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
What did you find to be the most challenging skill to learn as a student and a new nurse?

What to say to a patient with a terminal illness or when they've just received a really poor diagnosis.

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Putting the whole picture together (of the total care) using your critical thinking,knowledge experience.

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Putting the whole picture together (of the total care) using your critical thinking,knowledge experience.

Until you see it consistently in a clinical setting, it will be difficult to see the "whole picture". Once you start to get it and that light bulb goes off in your head, work starts to get really fun and your confidence starts to increase.

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.
What did you find to be the most challenging skill to learn as a student and a new nurse?

Learning how to think on my feet.

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Learning how to fight for my patient's rights in a professional yet effective manner.

It is difficult to professionally argue without becoming unprofessional, if that makes sense.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Time management

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Specializes in Emergency.

How to handle excessively needy or verbally abusive patients and family members. And how to realize it is not my fault when some problems can't be solved (some people will NEVER be happy, it doesn't matter if you go to the end of the earth to try to help).

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

Because of the fast pace it is hard to see the whole picture. Most days it feels like I am "putting out fires". I still struggle with time management. For actual hands on skills I would have to say IV starts.

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Phlebotomy and ng tubes.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

Learning to do a good head-to-toe assessment. Knowing the normal and abnormals.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.
Because of the fast pace it is hard to see the whole picture. Most days it feels like I am "putting out fires". I still struggle with time management. For actual hands on skills I would have to say IV starts.

I used to think the same about IV's. I love my experience in the ER, almost every patient get an IV started. It is a great experience to work in the ED.

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