Please tell me I'm not alone

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I'm in my second semester and currently in Med-Surg 1 clinical. Each morning when I arrive I tell myself that this will be the day I'll finally feel confident in my abilities and not feel like a complete idiot the entire shift. Well, that day has not come yet. Today was the first time I had two patients, both of whom had a ton of issues and meds and I felt soooo incompetent. We have to go through the MAR to write down each med, including all pertinent information for each one and that takes quite a bit of time. By the time I'm done, I'm already running late on everything else I need to do. I feel like I look like a frazzled fool.

To make matters worse, I made a mistake this morning that shook what little confidence I had in myself going in. My pt was deemed NPO after I arrived as he was waiting for a swallow eval. Well, stupid me, I gave him water when he asked for it (completely forgot), and both my instructor and the RN were furious with me. I wanted to crawl in a hole.

And to top it off, on more than one occasion classmates of mine overheard the RNs say they are fed up with students and one even said if another student asks her another "stupid" question she's going to scream. Really? Then why work at a teaching hospital? They were all students once too. Perhaps some questions may seem "stupid," however, we are still learning and most of us have no prior healthcare experience. We are just trying to learn and do our best.

I really love this field, but with each passing day I feel like this field does not love me. I think to myself, "how in the world will I ever reach the competency of these RNs??" They know so much and I'm in awe when they can determine a pt's status based on lab values, or their ability to seamlessly care for up to 8 pts when I struggled so much with only two.

Anyone else feel this way? Will it get better? It seems my classmates aren't struggling as much as me, unless I'm just more vocal about my struggles. Knowing I'm not alone would really help me put my mind and my nerves at ease. :(

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Your classmates are just as nervous but take the attitude of never let them see you sweat...the lesson you should take away is that you always need to be thinking bout the little and the big things concerning your patient. You won't always feel like you know nothing...each day and semester you will learn something new for your SN bag. Take it one day at a time!

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Well, you'll never make a mistake about swallow studies, will you? :)

Now you probably know why water is the very worst thing you can give someone with an impaired swallow, even though many people think that it's probably safe because it's so innocuous. I mean, water, right?

Next thing you'll learn is why applesauce is a very poor choice for crushed meds for someone with an impaired swallow, even though probably 99% of all LTC med carts have applesauce on them for that purpose.

I hope you got to observe that patient's swallow study-- you can learn an enormous amount from the SLPs!

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Well, you'll never make a mistake about swallow studies, will you? :)

Now you probably know why water is the very worst thing you can give someone with an impaired swallow, even though many people think that it's probably safe because it's so innocuous. I mean, water, right?

Next thing you'll learn is why applesauce is a very poor choice for crushed meds for someone with an impaired swallow, even though probably 99% of all LTC med carts have applesauce on them for that purpose.

I hope you got to observe that patient's swallow study-- you can learn an enormous amount from the SLPs!

Oh, trust me GrnTea, I have learned my lesson! I already knew that water is the worst for those at risk of aspiration...I just didn't THINK. I had been feeling flustered all morning and jeopardized my pt's safety. I tend to be very hard on myself, so I'm really beating myself up on that one. And yes, I fortunately was able to watch the swallow study. You're right...applesauce made him feel like he was choking. The best thing were thickened liquids.

I know all students make mistakes, but I just get so frustrated with myself when I try so very hard to do everything right yet feel like I'm always falling short. It's funny...for years while I was completing my pre-reqs I would frequent this board and see the term "critical thinking" over and over again, and I'd think, "how hard can it be??" Well, it's definitely a lot harder than I imagined!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

A LOT of nursing student feel this way. I have one classmate that admitted to me recently (as we are now in our final semester) that she would cry on her way to clinicals each time, because she was so scared and felt so incompetent. Now in her preceptorship, she's finally had that "AHA!" moment. We ALL feel incompetent a lot of the time, and it will happen less frequently as you go. Some lessons will be learned harder than others. I've had my share, too! We ALL make mistakes. Even working nurses make mistakes. Slow down, breathe, think things through, double check your work, and ask questions when you can't get an answer through your own research. Have faith that it will all click!

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Well you'll never make a mistake about swallow studies, will you? :) Now you probably know why water is the very worst thing you can give someone with an impaired swallow, even though many people think that it's probably safe because it's so innocuous. I mean, water, right? Next thing you'll learn is why applesauce is a very poor choice for crushed meds for someone with an impaired swallow, even though probably 99% of all LTC med carts have applesauce on them for that purpose. I hope you got to observe that patient's swallow study-- you can learn an enormous amount from the SLPs![/quote']

I start clinicals this week and I'm always looking at the responses you provide for us the "clueless".

Thank you :)

Sent via my iPhone using allnurses.com ❤️

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Well, here is one for you.. I am in my 4th semester.. I gave an insulin injection with a pen to a patient.. Well, silly me thought.. Needle? Sharps?? Sure why not. Nope, come to find out that is not where it went... Shame on me! I did not realize that.. My teacher was like "girl, now we going to have reorder that." My instructor was calm about it, and I appreciated that. It happens. I could have let that ruin my day, but I said to myself.. I didn't know.. Now I know! And now I will NEVER forget it! I love my floor because we have newer nurses, and they say "no question is a stupid question." I would like to say that is a good motto. Even if you have been a nurse for 30 years, you don't know you ask. My instructor has been a nurse for years and will tell you that she learns something new every day!

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I'm sure all students feel that way. I always feel nervous especially when interacting with my patients and being asked all these questions! BUT I don't show it, I don't even voice it to my other classmates. No one does in my clinical group. In my opinion, I think we should at least act professional and even though we are not FEELING confident, ACT confident especially around patients. I always beat myself up and I am not confident in my skills as a nurse but I try my best and learn from each mistake. We are still students, this is the time for mistakes! During times when I do doubt myself, I just think about how far I've come. If we can make it this far in nursing school, I don't think we should feel incompetent at all!

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