2nd Semester Student: What Did You Know?

[Squidelle]

I am a second semester student in an ADN program. Yesterday at clinical I had two patients and passed meds for one of them at 8am, only about four po meds, no problem. At 10am I had to do a second pass this time both pts had scheduled doses. Patient A was on Citalopram, Finasteride, Tamsulosin, Docusate Sodium, and Albuterol/Ipratropium while Patient B was scheduled for Aspirin, Enoxaparin, Losartan,Clonidine, and Metoprolol all po as well as two topicals and Levofloxacin and Vancomycin IV.

My instructor told us not to come to her until we had looked up the trade name, side effects, intended action, and classification as well as the gtt/min for any IV drugs. While I was grabbing my tubing and calculating my drips our theory/lab professor showed up and saw me as I was telling the RN that I had to go get my instructor before administering the meds.

She seemed to get angry for some reason, she has an abrasive personality and brags about it, I helped her find the instructor and they started to talk about other things so I went to find a peer to help me double check my calculations as our instructor had advised us to do. She came into the hallway and started yelling my name and shouting that we had to give meds right now. I went out and saw my instructor waiting for the professor and she began telling me to just let it roll of my shoulders but I broke down a little but got a tissue and got it together immediately.

She came back and started asking me about my drugs for Patient B. I told her I had written everything down and she said "Well you need to know it". My instructor doesn't make us memorize everything because she thinks that is not realistic right then and there. She said we'd be doing the IVs first and I let her know that I was very unsure of myself on IVs because I had not done well in that lab and hadn't yet had my scheduled review of the skill. We went in and we were setting up the pump and she asked me what my calculations were and I told her the gtt/ min like my instructor said we needed to know and she said "Obviously we're not doing gtt/min because it's on a pump it's mL" she began asking me to do new calculations right there on the spot and I let her know I couldn't and needed to use my calc. I did, got the answer told her, she said no, did it herself got the same thing and said "I know that's not right so whatever lets just move one and set this up". We did and then she came to me during break and said that I needed to be more assertive or no one would take me seriously and that I had to work on my speed and just basically be better because three weeks from now this won't be acceptable.

Now I know I am lacking in many areas but I feel that that is normal considering that all of this is new to us. Did you know all the info off the top about every medication in your second semester and were you able to set up an IV by yourself after doing it once in lab? I don't see how I could have memorized all of those medications in just about 10 minutes. I just feel that I was treated harshly but I am open to the idea that I really am just a failure. Any advice, criticism, etc is appreciated.

[Squidelle]

advice? anyone?

[Squidelle]

Bumping

[Squidelle]

Bumping again

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I'm also in my second semester of nursing school. I think your instructor was being hard on you. Mine is also. She criticises me constantly and whatever I do is never good enough.

I struggle to keep from feeling like a total loser and keep enough confidence to continue to learn.

My advice is to keep your head up and try to learn as best as you can. Just make it through, and spend some time with people who are nice to you as much as you can.

[tiffany91]

I just graduated and I can tell you that you are not alone. My advice to you now and until you graduate is "fake it until you make it". I always felt like I didn't know what I was doing or how to please my professors. Watching my peers who remained timid and cowardly towards professors made me realize that the more confident I acted the less the professors would question me.

From here on out, you're only allowed to freak out on the inside. You act super calm, collected, and confident on the outside. You're in your second semester for a reason. You're smart. You got this. Don't ever doubt yourself.

[tiffany91]

And professors will treat you harshly. That's just life. All college graduates will tell you that they encountered a professor just like you mentioned at least once. Just pray that said professor finds peace and stops being a poopoo head. [emoji56]

[Squidelle]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm just keeping my skills as sharp as possible to avoid any part I could possibly play in future encounters.

[Squidelle]

And professors will treat you harshly. That's just life. All college graduates will tell you that they encountered a professor just like you mentioned at least once. Just pray that said professor finds peace and stops being a poopoo head. [emoji56]

lol I think poo poo head is a chronic condition so no hope for that to change:D