need help with nervousness

[becky5438]

I have only had two days in clinical, but I need to get over my nervousness. Yesterday my patient could tell I was nervous, as could a senior nursing student that wa there to help us out, she noticed my hands were a little shaky when I was listening to the apical pulse. I tried to take a minute before to get myself together before I went into the room, but I still got nervous. does anyone have any advice to help me? I know it will get better with time, but I don't want my patients to be able to tell that I am nervous because that may make them nervous and distrusting.

[muscadinewine]

Are you a nervous person otherwise? Or is it just this situation that gets you?

[becky5438]

No im not a nervous person. both of my patients were in there 90's, which does make me a little worried about hurting them because they were so thin and frail. I don;t know what my problem is, i was fine until I actually went into the room. I am not a cna so maybe it is my lack of any kind of experience with health care, but I really need to find a way to get over it

[muscadinewine]

You nailed it- just a lack of experience. I asked because if it's just this one thing, I've found several things to help:

Practice your skills - as much as you can. Have a friend/classmate or family member get on a bed and practice rolling, sitting up, etc. techniques until you both get sick of it. Also, it has eased my own anxiety to ask patient, "Are you okay? Anything hurting? Tell me if anything hurts" while moving them (so far, it's been 'no'). True, gentleness is important, but they look a lot more delicate than they are if they don't have a spinal or cervical problem. The senior is correct in that you must project confidence- practice rationale explaining in the mirror for that inevitable patience who wants to be difficult. It's just getting used to your new role- be observant, know your skills and communicate. It gets easier with practice, I promise.

[becky5438]

thanks for the advice, i appreciate it.