My instructor said I need to have more confidence in myself. I am trying but.....

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She says I really need to be confortable in the clinical setting? I am trying but this is all very new to me and I thought the confidence would come later......she wants it now!:uhoh21: Each week I try to do better but she always gives me that same look. I have not done anything wrong yet but I think she feels like I might not make it. I have a 91 in class and I thought I was doing ok in clinicals and she has given me a Sat every week but I feel like she still doesn't think I am up to par. Anyone else feel like this or get this?:chair:

Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
nd_mom said:
I am in my last weekend of clinicals for this semester and am I glad it is almost over. Let me begin by saying that my instructor is very helpful, but I always feel so inadequate when I get on the floor. I am not sure why, I get this overwhelming feeling of anxiety. Today I did not get my patient assessment done util 9:30am and that includes vitals. I let my nurse know what was going on and she asked my why havent I gotten the assessment done so I explained, My patient first was eating breakfeast so I thought well I will give the patient a chance to finish eating, then the patients friend showed up to visit, then the significant other and then PT. I was lost about what to do, so I went to my clinical instructor about this and I actually got teary eyed, (which of course was not good), my instructor gave me some ideas on how to be more assertive but I still feel so lost. I am a medical assistant getting my associate LPN. I have always worked in the acute care setting, rooming patients, doing vitals and giving injections. But when I get to the hospital I feel so overwhelmed. Will this ever get better or am I not cut out to be a nurse. I could just sit here and cry:crying2:

Thanks for listening!

Bless your heart! I think we have all felt overwhelmed at times.....don't let this get you down. All this stuff comes w/experience & when you are more comfortable w/what you are doing you will relax. Have you ever started a new job & felt like you would never learn it all? but you do & after a while it is just not a problem. This will be the same way...you will learn & develop your own ways to deal w/things.Next time maybe just ask the visitor to step out for a few mins & explain there are some thing that you need to do. What time do you start your clinical day? If its early then make it your priority to get your assessment & vitals before breakfast is served. Don't be too hard on yourself we all have to learn....no one was born w/all these skills it takes time & practice. I am still a student & I bumble & stumble all the time...feel like an idiot a lot but I am learning & you will too! I just wanted you to know you are not the only one who has felt like this but don't give up! You will be fine! Good luck & here's a big :icon_hug:

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.
crb613 said:
Bless your heart! I think we have all felt overwhelmed at times.....don't let this get you down. All this stuff comes w/experience & when you are more comfortable w/what you are doing you will relax. Have you ever started a new job & felt like you would never learn it all? but you do & after a while it is just not a problem. This will be the same way...you will learn & develop your own ways to deal w/things.Next time maybe just ask the visitor to step out for a few mins & explain there are some thing that you need to do. What time do you start your clinical day? If its early then make it your priority to get your assessment & vitals before breakfast is served. Don't be too hard on yourself we all have to learn....no one was born w/all these skills it takes time & practice. I am still a student & I bumble & stumble all the time...feel like an idiot a lot but I am learning & you will too! I just wanted you to know you are not the only one who has felt like this but don't give up! You will be fine! Good luck & here's a big :icon_hug:

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, it means so much I start clinicals at 7am, first we have report and then we head to our patients room. Today went much better, I was sure to get the assessment done first thing. I was determined that no one was going to get my patient before I did. I had my assessment done by 8am:yelclap: The RN I was working with was wonderful. It makes a day go so much easier when there is an experienced nurse there who does not mind having a student. I did not feel so overwhelmed, but do you ever feel like you will never know as much as the more experienced nurses? I admire the nurses I have worked with, they are so knowledgeable and they look as if they could conqer the world. I sure hope that is me someday. Anyways thank you again, the hug meant alot!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
nd_mom said:
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, it means so much I start clinicals at 7am, first we have report and then we head to our patients room. Today went much better, I was sure to get the assessment done first thing. I was determined that no one was going to get my patient before I did. I had my assessment done by 8am:yelclap: The RN I was working with was wonderful. It makes a day go so much easier when there is an experienced nurse there who does not mind having a student. I did not feel so overwhelmed, but do you ever feel like you will never know as much as the more experienced nurses? I admire the nurses I have worked with, they are so knowledgeable and they look as if they could conqer the world. I sure hope that is me someday. Anyways thank you again, the hug meant alot!

Yeah!! I am so glad you had a good day!& I am so glad I was able to help ya a little. I will graduate in May & I feel like I don't know nearly enough! I am constantly in awe of the nurses....they seem to know so much & are so confident & I hope maybe one day I will be like that too. Just do your best & let your heart be your guide...ya can't go wrong. ?

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Instructors do not understand where you are in your life, ask them some questions that they won't know the answer for, ie research something like how much glucose is in a liter of blood, than ask them questions like this once a day. It will make them realize that they are just as confidence as you. Try not to become confrontational or defensive, they love to eat you alive when you are like this and write about it to their managers. If your preceptor does not like you, you may be up sh*t creek without a paddle, but relax because you will get another job ;). ICU psychosis is real, but unfortunately you will not have time to step outside or enjoy a breath of fresh air or loom at your desk with your morning coffee as your preceptor does.

Find a friend you trust outside of work to complain about your preceptor to and make sure that the complaints are reciprocated (from your friend, mutual venting).

Now, you are in nursing boot camp, welcome to hell (why is it that so many nurses don't believe in hell?) . This is your time to prove yourself. You are a knight in shining armor, an angel sent from God believe that. When someone challenges you be ready to be the bigger person. Think of someone you know who was highly successful and live their life in the face of adversity. Ask yourself what they would do? This is the worst time of your life, REVEL in your pity!

So glad that you found a new preceptor. best of luck and intelligence.

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