Nerves, Nerves, nerves everywhere!

[new gal]

Holy smokes! Does anyone have tips to calm the nerves during skills checkoffs? I practice, I understand the material and I actually do enjoy learning and applying the skills, but I have been in the first semester for almost two months (early, I know), and shaking in the front of the instructor is just getting awkward. I have worked with real patients before and I dont get nervous at all. Just performance anxiety I guess. Ugh any tips....or current suffers?

[quarterlifemess, ADN, RN]

Ignore the instructor. I just talk loud so they can hear me and talk to the manikin like they are an actual patient. If I have to inform them of anything I just basically just state it as if I were talking aloud to myself. I find their writing and attempted lack of facial expressions distracting.

[new gal]

Ignore the instructor. I just talk loud so they can hear me and talk to the manikin like they are an actual patient. If I have to inform them of anything I just basically just state it as if I were talking aloud to myself. I find their writing and attempted lack of facial expressions distracting.

I dont have to be loud, our teacher stands 2 feet away, and you hit on the nail with facial expressions. I thought maybe it was just her. Makes it that much more nerve racking

[oceanblue52]

Take some deep breaths prior to check off. In addition to ignoring the instructor, have a good routine in place that is well reheorificed. Enter the room, address yourself, do safety checks, etc. "Setting the scene" can help you feel less anxious an approach whatever issue more naturally.

As an aside, I also got very nervous about check offs. Enjoy the process of learning and realize that *most* instructors are just looking for safety and basic competency. All of us nurses on this site have gotten through something similar, and you can too.

[Nightmaren, BSN, RN]

Yup! I agree with the "routine" approach oceanblue52 suggested! Repetition helps a lot for the basic stuff and also ground you if you are at a loss for what to do during a sim-encounter. I wasn't someone who got too anxious per se, but I would often forget dumb things like hand washing... despite the fact that I already worked in a health care job where I habitually sanitized my hands before entering every room.

Also, when talking, try not to pay attention to their faces too much. Just talk to their eyes if you must address them at all -- some instructors are more stone-faced than others and can cause anxiety with their lack of affirmation that you are doing the right thing.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Tactical breathing: Tactical Breathing Can Stop Stress on the Spot | On Resilience

It really does help with some practice! It also comes in handy in other areas of life. :)

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

Think this is normal. I didn't realize I was even shaking until my partner and instructor pointed it out to me after I (passed) checkoff. I was told by my instructor to take a deep breathe before starting. Like you, when I'm with actual patients, no problem, no hesitation. One of my instructors put it to us this way, checkoff is everything to us at this point, failing a check off or making a major (failure) mistake in check off is a big deal because we are in nursing school, we had to go through a lot to get in and even more to stay in and many of us are dependent on financial aid or have life situations where failing is not an option, so of course we get anxious when an instructor is standing over us critiquing every movement, every thought process and everything we accidentally forget to do. So, the last 5-10 minutes before I get called in for check off I stop reviewing (because I know I know it) and just focus on relaxing, take deep breaths and give myself a mental break. It's helped.

[Lizzie7800]

I wish I had good advice, I'm a nervous wreck during skills check offs. We had our head-to-toe on Tuesday and before I walked in I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach. It's ridiculous. í ½í¹„ So know that you're not alone!

[Glycerine82, LPN]

Breathe and know that IF you don't pass a skill you just re-do it. The world does not end, the sky does not fall, the patient does not die. You just start over (granted, usually at a different time with a different skill, but still).

[HarleyGrandma, RN, EMT-B]

Practice things out loud, by actually doing and saying them. There is a world of difference between reading over something and actually doing it. Recording yourself practicing them on your cell phone, and then watching it back, can also help you see what needs improvement. I spent this summer (the break between my 1st and 2nd year of my ADN) getting my EMT and wow did that require a ton of practicals/checkoffs. Using this same techniques from my nursing checkoffs helped me be much calmer.

You can do it!