normal to dread clinicals?

VivaRN · Jan 13, 2008

I have 6 months to go to finish my FNP. Out of all my rotations, there has only been one that I liked and could actually see myself working in that type of setting. The others have been so incredibly awful! Is there something wrong with me? I'm either afraid because i feel totally out of my comfort zone, or I see my preceptors doing whatever they want and not evidenced based treatment....one FNP never touched her patients, had someone else in the room to "take notes" for her and spent her all her time filling out paperwork with patients..... sometimes I'm just watching the clock because I can't wait to get out of there! Does anyone else ever feel like this?

What you're feeling doesn't sound so weird based on what you describe. Are you finding clinical placements yourself or is your school setting them up for you? What do your clinical instructors say when you tell them how you feel?

Maybe you wouldn't be dreading clinical if you had a supportive, with-it preceptor. It's normal to feel out of your comfort zone at first. The mark of a good preceptor is that they help you move through that to fly on your own.

I dreaded a clinical with a physician who did things "because this is what I do." It was difficult to suggest a plan of care he agreed with and he would try to belittle me. I spoke with my instructor (who admitted other students had similar complaints in the past). After that I made sure I was placed somewhere quality.

If I were you, I would speak with your program director about working with a competent NP who likes to teach. How else are you going to learn?

yellow finch, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2008

Sure! It's "normal" to dread clinicals! Even if your preceptor was the best NP in the world! You have specific needs and requirements for your fulfillment and satisfaction of the degree program. Not everyone will be the best match. My perspective is this... take the best they have to offer, listen to their suggestions and rationale, and apply it in the best way possible to your needs. You may find one or two (or more!) things that make it worthwhile. In the meantime, get your hours wrapped up and A) get another preceptor or B) enjoy your last semester and do whatever you can to make a difference.

It's not the end of the world! Just imagine... you have now learned what not to do with patients!!!

Good luck with the end of your studies!

:w00t:

Trauma Columnist · Jan 13, 2008

My nursing experience consisted of 10 years of ER and 1 year of ICU and my clinicals consisted of office stuff - yes, I felt way out of my element! However, I intentionally chose this route so that I would be forced to learn something different.

Some preceptors are a better match with different students. I'm a very type A person and like to rush, rush, rush! However, this doesn't set well in a psych setting - lol. I did 20 hours of psych and just about ran out of there! And...they were chasing me out because I had upset the mileau (how do you spell that word?) for days!

What I'm getting at is that you WILL find your niche - it may just take time. Even after you graduate and take your first job, most APNs don't fall into the job of the dreams right off - it may take a move or two.

Good luck and hang in there - graduation is just around the corner.

Sabby_NC · Jan 13, 2008

Bless your heart.

Hang in there as others have said. You have not long to go.

Clinicals are unnerving in a sense due to the unknown factor.

I am sure you will succeed in your course and future. :)

BChapp3182 · Jan 14, 2008

I'm doing clinicals now too and what I've found out about preceptors is do your homework on them before asking. Don't just take whoever because your desperate. I ask students ahead of me who is good and use their recommendations.. So far I've only had wonderful learning experiences. Yes it's scary as heck but a preceptor should understand that your a novice and help to guide you, not belittle and scare you half to death. Even with good learning environments, I'm still scared half to death most of the time and feel like I have two left feet!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jan 15, 2008

I know it's too late now but I think BChapp gave the best advice. You have to research potential preceptors ahead of time. Don't just sign up without knowing anything about the practice your spending valuable hours of learning. One way is to ask students who had the preceptor during the previous semester. Another way is to set up a phone conversation or face-to-face meeting with the prospective precetor to figure out if their day-to-day roles fit with what you are looking for.

I did not have bad experiences with my preceptors but our program requires us to negotiate our learning objectives early on before starting clinicals with a preceptor. You have to identify what you want to learn and what experiences you want to get exposed to. I had a pulmonary NP who worked mainly in the office as one of my preceptors. I was upfront that I am an ACNP student and I need to see in-patient management as well. Because of that, this person arranged for me to rotate in the MICU and internal medicine units with colleagues. Another student wasn't as lucky. She ended up with an NP who work in Internal Medicine doing mostly administrative work. She barely saw a patient during the rotation and was complaining to the program director about it. However, it was too late to change at the time as most other good ones were already taken by other students.