Overcoming Clumsiness

Clumsiness, an issue that I have considered as a hindrance in pursuing nursing. Yes, I was once a victim of clumsiness. The most painful part was if the above questions were the same words coming from someone dear to you. With strong desire and confidence, I knew I had to make a major decision.

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Overcoming Clumsiness

Commonly Asked Questions

  • How can you become a nurse when you often break the glass?
  • Where is your presence of mind?!
  • Are you sure you can do it without tripping or breaking?

Clumsiness, an issue that I have considered as a hindrance in pursuing nursing. Yes, I was once a victim of clumsiness. The most painful part was if the above questions were the same words coming from someone dear to you. With strong desire and confidence, I knew I had to make a major decision.

It was not only the glasses, but also the plates, spoon, fork, platter, almost any breakables that I can get hold of consistently get broken. It will accidentally fell on the floor or I would wonderfully trip over. Indeed, it was all act of clumsiness. So I asked myself, how I can truly be a nurse when literally everything falls apart? Up to date, the clumsy person that others knew of is not so clumsy anymore. As nursing school passes by, merely 5 semesters of learning nursing skills, I was not aware that I grew out of clumsiness until for quite sometime now. There are some things that I have learned but not really considered that it would really help me a lot. Hence, I would like to share some tips for those who are in doubt of pursuing or continuing nursing just because of being clumsy.

Yes, A Clumsy Person Can Become A Nurse

  • Get a grasp of it. When holding an object, whether a medicine bottle or a thermometer, hold it very well. Take control of what you are holding.
  • Control your thoughts by thinking positive. Clumsiness is all in the mind. If you are receptive of this idea that you are clumsy, then you will. It is all in the thinking process, if you are doing something that involve breakables, think that you will not drop it; think that you will get it done without breaking it and last but not the least think that you are not clumsy. Always think positive!
  • Presence of mind. Look around the environment, the people around you and the path you are walking in to. This is one thing that I was very poor at because I cared less of the people and the things around me which is a bad habit. It may take a while to overcome this and takes a lot of practice.
  • Know what you are doing. In each nursing procedure, every step has a rationale Try practicing before doing it. It will prevent mistakes and lessens the anxiety.
  • Do not skip thoughts or think of more advance thoughts. This is also one bad habit of mine. I usually think of advance steps in the process without paying any attention of what I am actually doing at the moment. For example, while in the act of injecting, do not think of massaging the muscle for this will only distract you. A great deal of attention is important in what you are doing. Think of the next step before finishing or after you have finished a certain step. You can learn thinking in advance when you have overcome clumsiness first.

Correcting clumsiness is not a one day process. It will take ample of practice, time, and knowledge of what you are doing and about to do. Organization of thoughts and presence of mind are essential tool. Do not force but give time to learn ways to overcome clumsiness. I believe the tips above may vary from one person to another. You can also add what have worked for you based on your experience.

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gemini_star

About gemini_star, BSN, RN

2 year(s) of experience in Oncology, Medical

1 Article   403 Posts

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical.

It's funny after I posted this article, I saw my previous post in one thread about clumsiness last January 19, 2007. I was seeking for some advice. It really did help. Thank you guys. See similar articles below.

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I'm a very clumsy person, it is good to know it is something can be overcomed. Thank you for those useful tips!

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Can we change...right now I'm so moody because my instructor said that I cannot be a nurse because I'm clumsy

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Some of us never grow out of it, it just depends on the setting. I have walked into doorjambs at work but I only injure myself at home. Haven't hurt anyone else since school-in the '80's.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I'm clumsy but have fast reflexes.

So when I trip over a patient's pedal arterial line, I'm quick enough to jump over the tubing before I rip out the line.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I am either clumsy or extra large, or both. I find though that with confidence I seem to become not only less clumsy but effectively smaller.

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I think its a matter of common sense!

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Thank you for this. I found this article after accidentally cutting myself twice in a row with the same knife trying to slice bread, and then googling "can I be a nurse if I am clumsy?". As someone starting nursing school in a month, your advice and story are very encouraging to me, and I will try not to beat myself up anymore while becoming more aware of my actions/surroundings.

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My dad tells me the same thing whenever we happen to talk on the phone as I'm heading into work. "Keep your eyes and hands in the same place."

Basically, be cognizant of what you are doing at all times. Don't think that you can absentmindedly do anything, even after you've been practicing for a while.

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