I am nearing graduating as a 5th semester student. I completed a rotation in an ICU and felt completely lost...I have not been able to see or experience a whole lot during my previous clinicals and was made to feel incompetent this week by the nurse I worked with. I misunderstood a direction she gave about having an IVPB..and she got so upset and became so indifferent to me...from this point on the entire day was a flop. Anything that I could mess up on, I did. I was just so anxious, I shook the whole day and could not think clearly. I said I would withdraw air out of the foley while removing it...I told her our pt had LR hanging when they actually had NS.....I had no idea what any of the meds were being given would do to our patients...I spike the bag she wanted for an on deck replacement because she handed me secondary tubing with the new bag (there was half a bag running) and I did not slice the threading anchoring out pts ART line to his skin correctly, so she had to cut it herself. There were man other little things as well.
I heard her bashing me to a graduate nurse outside of my patients room...and when I came out she made a comment about common sense very aggressively and while looking directly at me. She also made a comment about talking to me instructor.
All of my peers have told me they see me in a high acute setting...but I completely flopped.
I think I am burnt out from running myself so hard for so many years now, surviving on three hours of sleep or less....that I'm struggling cognitively.....and with minimal energy, focus, and motivation. Its been a very intense program to juggle with a family and job.
I just don't know what to do and feel like I am a lost cause, one of those who won't make it.
I have been a 4.0 student academically but feel like a fish out of water clinically. I do not feel competent piecing this all together while hands on...and feel like nursing is just not for me. I do not have the tough skin...and apparently lack common sense.
This is so disheartening to realize as a third year nursing student and realizing that I likely need to just remove myself from the program. I feel that I function at a fundamentals student level rather than a critical care student. I suddenly realize I have no idea what I am doing and do not feel able to handle all of the responsibilities a nurse does, and in a safe manner.
I have been sick to my stomach and in tears non stop the last few days.
Glad you have received such wonderful support here! I have had preceptors like that and at a certain point I confronted one. I said "it seems like you are pretty upset that you are stuck precepting me today. How about I go talk to the manager about having someone else?" She backtracked really quick-like and was a bit kinder the rest of the day. I know it's hard and terrifying to stand up to these nurses but if you do it in a kind and respectful way, gently pointing out that they seem "upset", "angry", "Frustrated"... it holds a mirror up to their behavior and puts THEM on the defense, and they might ease up a bit. I simply got fed up with being treated like sh*t by cranky preceptors and KNEW that it was possible to have a different experience.
As far as the rest of your lifestyle: Something has to give. You DO NOT need a 4.0 to be an awesome nurse. No one is going to ask or care about your GPA when you land that first job. You DO, however, need a functioning and well-rested brain. Sleep is absolutely paramount and should be prioritized over perfect grades. Maybe allow yourself a 3.6, and get closer to 7 hours of sleep a night.
Hey @BSN89, I am currently a student waiting to get accepted into a nursing program, so I do not know exactly what you are going through, but I know what it's like to feel that way. I just wanted to say that you are so close! Hang in there because you are about to reach that light at the end of the tunnel. Don't let a bad day get to you. Although those days suck, sometimes they are ones you can learn from the most. I'm sure there are a lot of people cheering for you to do well and want you to succeed. It sounds like things are getting better, I hope things stay like that for you. Good luck, but you got this! Also, I hope you get some good rest. Sleep can make all the difference. Eating healthy is just as important.
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skydancer7, BSN, RN
83 Posts
Glad you have received such wonderful support here! I have had preceptors like that and at a certain point I confronted one. I said "it seems like you are pretty upset that you are stuck precepting me today. How about I go talk to the manager about having someone else?" She backtracked really quick-like and was a bit kinder the rest of the day. I know it's hard and terrifying to stand up to these nurses but if you do it in a kind and respectful way, gently pointing out that they seem "upset", "angry", "Frustrated"... it holds a mirror up to their behavior and puts THEM on the defense, and they might ease up a bit. I simply got fed up with being treated like sh*t by cranky preceptors and KNEW that it was possible to have a different experience.
As far as the rest of your lifestyle: Something has to give. You DO NOT need a 4.0 to be an awesome nurse. No one is going to ask or care about your GPA when you land that first job. You DO, however, need a functioning and well-rested brain. Sleep is absolutely paramount and should be prioritized over perfect grades. Maybe allow yourself a 3.6, and get closer to 7 hours of sleep a night.
Hope things are looking brighter for you!!