jdturner

I find it very helpful to remember that i am doing a head to toe examination (except in an emergent case, where it is slightly more focused on the problem at hand). If you get in the routine of doing it in a certain order you get used to it. I do it head to toe beause i usually begin by talking to the patient-at the head of the bed! Also it is important to understand that you can gather a lot of information by observation and by gathering subjective data. relax when you are doing a physical assessment, let the patient feel that you are competent and confident-this will make the patient more relaxed and ultimately the assessment will go more smoothly.

hey man...i know exactly how you feel. I have been going to school for four and a half years and finally i am a senior in my last year of nursing school. I can still remember those exact feelings that you are having. Trust me-stick with it and take all the time you can to learn because the further you get, the more comfortable you get. In the end I feel that nursing is a good profession for me and I feel as though I will be good at it. Stay focused and be confident-you will get through it!