Nursing student - need advice

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Hi all,

I am a nursing student that will be graduating in May. I am in my last semester and I am precepting on a unit I did not want at all. In fact, I asked specifically not to be assigned to this unit. Even though I was assigned this unit, I went in with an open mind knowing that I will learn a lot. Even though I am learning a lot I dread going the nights I have to go ( i work noc shift). I spend all day crying and my anxiety is so high before I get to the hospital. I always anxious and nervous around my preceptor. I only have 10 more shifts left to do, so I am just trying to get through it. I have never disliked a unit more then the unit I am on. This literally has ruined my last semester of nursing school experience that I thought would have been the best. Any advice how I can get through my last 10 shifts efficiently?

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Just keep your eye on the prize... graduating from nursing school!!! :yes:

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

You can get through this, just take it one day at a time. I am just curious, what type of unit are you on? And what precisely is it about this unit that gives you such great anxiety?

I felt that way about med-surg. But to help decrease my anxiety, I would just visualize my day, try to be organized, and if there were skills I was nervous about performing, I would just read as much as I could about them and watch videos. Hang in there! You CAN do this!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

So precepting on a unit that is not your first choice gives you THAT much stress and anxiety?!

Why so anxious and nervous around your preceptor? Sometimes you don't always get your desired specialty as a new grad and may have to get some general medical floor experience first.

Just think, only 10 more shifts. You are not staying there forever. Sometimes nurses have to do things they don't want to do but have to do.

With each pt interacting you're going to gain experience even if it's assessments, educational teaching or therapeutic communication.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Without knowing what it is you hate so much, what makes you so beyond anxious and why you aren't able to trust and bond with your preceptor, it is hard to give you advice. In a generic sense all I can say is "you can do anything for four weeks". However, you do need to use this as a time to evaluate why you are reacting as you are and how you can fix it NOW before it becomes a problem as a new grad nurse and leads to difficulties getting or keeping a job. You didn't say what the specialty is. I hate to hear any new grad drawing these kinds of lines in the sand when the opportunities for work are so slim to begin with.

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