omg ginving heparin and insulin

[AngelofSeduction]

i know these are not hard to give but today was my first time giving insulin and heparin and let me tell you i was so nervous. i felt so slow.it felt like everything i was doing from maneuvering between the plunger was going wrong and when i had to inject i guess i didnt dart the needle into the skin enough.since we dont recap ,after i was done i tried to push this little button up on the syringe to cap it and needle fell on the floor. i feel weak in clinicals because we never do the skills we practice on patient,we've just been reading so now that i'm thrown into med surg and have to give meds(although the professor around ) i found myself not remembering things. am i the only one who feel like that? i just pray that i dont fail clinicals because im doing good in lecture. Also i find that i cant mamnage my time.usually in the moring we have post conference until 8 we get on the floor and have to give meds by 9 so how should i go about it?should i start with my VS right away and leave am care for later since that takes longer but then what do i do if my patient has to get insulin early in the morning after i get on the floor? i don't know if anyone understand what i'm trying to say but any tips would be helpful please. i really want to be confident and do my best.btw anyone here watches youtube videos to help with giving meds?because i'm more visual sometimes. but sometimes i can be slow on catching things up maybe because of my nerves

[Student Mom to Three]

Are you taking just one patient right now? If so, I would take a minute to look at their meds first thing and determine what types of assessment you need to do for those particular meds. For example you will need to know BP and HR before giving a beta blocker...you need to know last BM before giving a stool softener and so on. Then you can go meet your patient and do quick VS and assessment pertinent to the meds. Grab the meds, give them to the patient and do a more thorough assessment and your morning care at that time.

I would do this a little differently if I was taking several patients, but it should work okay with just one. You'll find your groove!

[AngelofSeduction]

thank you and just one for now. urgh i feel so slow sometimes! i want to be able to go in there and be like all these other nurses and just be confident

[Student Mom to Three]

Slow is okay and don't let anyone push you to go too fast. I know....easier said than done. It took me quite a while to find a process that works for me. It's hard when you're nervous and there is someone breathing down your neck watching what you're doing. I remember one nurse muttering "faster, faster you have to go faster" under her breath as I was trying to scan and open those stupid unit dose med packets.

I truly feel that you need to take whatever time you need with meds. You will find ways to save time in other areas such as doing a bunch of things when you are in the room, carrying needed supplies with you so you aren't running back and forth to a med room, etc.

I think youtube videos are great. It can give you an idea of what a process or procedure really looks like. Just make sure you are always following your school's/facility's policies.

It will get better. I promise. I am going to be done in less than two months (YAHOO) and am just now really beginning to feel confident about things. You cannot compare yourself to nurses who have worked for a while. It's not fair to yourself and will make you crazy....I know because I do it, too.

I can't believe I am saying this, but nursing school actually does get enjoyable near the end. You just have to get through a bit of jitters and nervousness. Keep hanging in there!