NO Common Sense ðŸ˜ž

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Aug 9, 2017

Of course it will get better. Remember when you learned to drive? I gave whiplash to more than a few people before I mastered the art of gently braking! And I helped teach all four of my kids to drive. They did the same thing but are now experienced, capable drivers.

Castiela · Aug 9, 2017

My technical skills are very subpar. In the clinical setting I am very fidgety with the tools and I get nervous when I'm told to do things. Yet, when I take a test I am very relaxed and I do well! I'm about to graduate in December and I am nervous that I won't last for long. I mean book smarts can only go so far.

I was wondering how you are at applying your knowledge to clinical situations? If a patient has chest pain, or abnormal swelling on a limb that is painful, or who's o2 sats are suddenly dropping, would you be able to do the appropriate assessment and interventions, know who to contact etc?

Some of what is considered nursing common sense is learned from school, but I feel the majority comes from experience. Will you have a chance to consolidate your practice (ie a preceptorship) before you graduate? Could you ask for more experience clinically to consolidate?

Once you grad, I would recommend working med surg for a couple of years you learn valuable skills such as assessments, time management, and a lot of technical skills. My province won't consider you for icu without a min of 2 years med surg, and then you have to complete an advanced diploma (4.5 months solid in class/ clinical) before you are able to work. Of course you have orientation after that. Hopefully this gives you a could things to consider. Best of luck

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Aug 9, 2017

There is nothing 'common' about the equipment you'll encounter in the hospital setting, not even the blood pressure machine. If you don't know how to use it properly, there is the risk of abnormal readings that may lead to undue medication or treatment. Not asking for help in this and similar situations shows a lack of common sense.

Being that you've openly admitted that you have no common sense shows that you actual do. What's happening here is fear, in my opinion.

Books are a comfort zone for you, and kryptonite for others...and vice versa. Once you get familiar with the equipment, you'll become an old pro. This, too, shall pass.

anxiousnscared · Aug 9, 2017

This was very encouraging. Thank you. í ½í¸‡

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 15, 2017

Okay! A little background history. I like to read and I like to analyze things. It's very easy for me to figure things out. I am the type of person who is really book smart. I say that to say my grades are pretty good in nursing school. HOWEVER. I lack in the common sense department. Even in life. My technical skills are very subpar. In the clinical setting I am very fidgety with the tools and I get nervous when I'm told to do things. Yet, when I take a test I am very relaxed and I do well! I'm about to graduate in December and I am nervous that I won't last for long. I mean book smarts can only go so far. SN: I aspire to be an ICU nurse which is very technical. But the ICU was my favorite rotation. Can anyone relate somehow? Will it get better for me? And is there anything I can do to help myself?

"Common sense" (also known as "critical thinking") can be learned, and the fact that you're worried about it tells me that you'll go out of your way to learn it. So yes, it gets better. And yes, you can help yourself. When you're studying, try to understand how things work -- if you understand that Warfarin/Coumadin makes the blood clot more slowly, you can start to figure out why a fall might be a bigger problem (bleeding) for the patient or why a dropping hemoglobin might be a cause for concern (again bleeding). You can go deeper and deeper into the reasoning (should you give Vitamin K or fresh frozen plasma?) with that, and every other question -- but if you get into the habit of understanding why and how things work, you can understand what to look out for when you're in clinical. What lab values should you keep an eye on, what side effects of this drug and why do those two drugs interact?

You can ask questions in clinical or on the job -- just make sure your questions are asked of the appropriate person and at the appropriate time. When I was a new grad, a medical resident took the time to show me how ABGs worked. I think he was prepping for rounds, but it helped us both clarify our thought processes. Later on, I could show another new grad and that helped to solidify the information in my brain. A nephrologist explained the difference between dialysis and ultrafiltration and made the process sound so interesting I became an ICU dialysis nurse for several years. A cardiologist helped me to learn to read 12 lead ECGs, and every morning we'd look at the ECGs in CCU rounds -- and applied the information from the ECG to what we were seeing in the patient. Respiratory Therapy explained ventilator settings (and why an IMV is a bad choice for a paralyzed patient) and a PCT showed me how to make that dressing look neat and tidy while the Wound Care Nurse explained why that particular product was the best choice for that wound.

In nursing, if you're not learning something new every day, you're not doing it right. Book smarts is what keeps you interested in learning.