JMG2207

So I know I'm just feeling down, but I'd love for all you experienced nurses to give me some tips on how to interview better! I'm entering my next to last semester of an 8 semester long BSN program. After completing an unpaid internship in an Intermediate Care Unit, I started to apply for externships. I had an interview today, and I feel (no...I know) that I blew it. For a little background about myself, I wasn't initially a nursing major. I studied English literature for a few years, then realized I wasn't happy and made the switch. I absolutely love what I'm doing and am very dedicated. I have a 4.0 and speak Spanish (I live in Southern CA, so this is a big plus). I love my patients and am an extremely hard worker. I spend countless nerdy hours reading nursing-related material on my own time. The thing is, I'm not an extrovert, and I think this stood out a little too much today during my interview. I've worked hard on this and have gained a ton of confidence in nursing school. I'm not "in your face", but I'm friendly, warm, and no longer afraid to ask questions and stand up for myself and especially my patients (and if I am, I hide it!). I prepared quite a bit for my interview, but when I was in there, it was as if all my plans disappeared! I was very professional, made eye contact, and thanked everyone profusely for their time. But, towards the end of the interview, I could pick up on the fact that they just weren't that into me! I realized that my voice, which is naturally very quiet, was probably drowned out by the huge fan in the corner...I didn't sit up straight enough....I took too many sips of water....Mostly, I didn't elaborate enough on my good points...the fact that I love to learn, and that I'm so passionate about what I do. If you can believe this, I actually at one point mentioned the fact that "I'm a worrier"...I don't know what is wrong with me. They were asking me what kind of feedback I've received from clinical instructors. I've had nothing but positive feedback, so I started to feel like an a$$ because I thought I sounded conceited, so I blurted out that "What I feel I need to work on is...". They didn't ask for it. I just GAVE it to them, and I don't think I made it sound very good! Then I found out afterwards that several other students were offered positions. I'm happy for everyone, and a few of them absolutely deserve it, but the rest are people who I know for a fact couldn't tell you why this or that happens when you give a medication, or how it links to the disease, etc...But, they're bubbly and confident and know how to socialize! Something I'm not great at. I kind of felt like I was in a popularity contest and quickly losing. It's frustrating because although I know that grades aren't necessarily an indicator of what kind of nurse you'll be, I think it's important to know why you're doing things and what the possible outcomes could be. I've avoided several potentially life-threatening situations because I know my pathophys. I just don't seem to have the necessary confidence and interview skills yet. Should I be worried about getting a job when I graduate, or should I just write off this day as experience, and hope that I can fix my weak spots for next time? Thanks for reading my long, self-pitying post! Signed, The Introvert :wink2:

I agree, and I did discuss the issue with my instructor. I know that in the real world things happen and meds are not always passed on time (I'm a prime example of this), but from what I've learned about seizure medications, especially Dilantin, it's not exactly something you want to wait too long to give. Plus she was NOT "really busy" as she told me when she came back in the room, I could SEE her at the nurses' station chatting with the doctor.

Once again, thank you to everyone who has responded to my desperate post :wink2:, I appreciate all of your input so much and I'm starting to feel a little better about things...any further advice is welcome, and a big "Thank you!" to all who have taken the time to reply.:heartbeat I hope one day I will be able to look back on these experiences with a sense of humor, and perhaps even help a student in need!

Haha..."genuis".... Ah well....

:wink2: Yes, I think I'll be ok....thank you everyone for your replies, it makes me feel better and it means a lot to me! I'm just under a ton of pressure right now and sometimes I need a little reassurance. I think last week was especially hard because the nurse I worked with was...well, interesting. She was all over the place and instead of helping me give my meds she left me in the pt's room with a cup of Dilantin, in full PPE, with a leaking G-tube so she could go flirt with the doctor...even though I was calling to her...to ANYONE... for 15 minutes straight....eventually she came back with the physician and a smile on her face. I couldn't leave because the pt was in distress and was attempting to pull out her trach. Anyway, this genuis of a nurse told me that I better make mistakes now, because otherwise I will be eaten alive when I graduate. I was baffled. She followed this up by telling me, "The good news is, I think I got a date with Dr. So and So"... Anyway, I really appreciate all of your replies, any other advice you can give is greatly welcomed!

Hello all, Thanks for taking the time to read my (long) post. I would love to hear from experienced RNs who can give me some advice as to whether or not my worries are valid, or if I'm making a big deal out of nothing. I'm currently in my 5th semester in a BSN program which is 8 semesters long. We are finishing up our Med-Surg 3 rotation. Over the summer I'll do an internship as well as Peds, then the fall and spring semesters will consist of paid externships as well as community health and leadership classes. Right now clinicals consist of working on a tele floor, as well as a few days in the ER and the ICU. I really love what I'm doing, but after last week, any self-confidence I had managed to muster up has really plummeted. I was responsible for only two patients, and it felt like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get things done on time. My clinical instructor tells me I'm doing very well, but that I'm not "aggressive" enough with the staff. I also notice that when I get overwhelmed, I forget how to do the simplest of things. One of my patients had a trach with a T-piece and needed to be suctioned. Afterwards, RT asked me to grab the Yankauer and suction her mouth. It suddenly dawned on me that I had had very little experience with suctioning, and in my anxiety attack, I couldn't even figure out how to attach the yank to the suction. I felt like a complete failure. I'm supposed to be an "advanced" med-surg student, and here I can't even figure out how to set up a simple suction device. I later had my instructor come in and help me learn the in's and out's of my pt's respiratory care set-up, but I felt so bad. My question is...little things like this keep happening to me, and it makes me feel terrible. I hate all the "little things" that I forget and/or take me forever to figure out. Generally speaking, I have good experiences during clinical, but sometimes I get a nurse or pt who obviously thinks I'm a complete idiot and it destroys my confidence. (I'm 24, but I look about 16, so that doesn't always help, either!) I'm a great student, but I feel I'm lacking in the clinical area. I've struggled with depression and anxiety and extreme shyness my whole life, so the transition to nursing school has been a real accomplishment for me. I love my patients and work hard to communicate well with the staff and to offer my help when needed. If I need to perform a skill, I ask for it. If I feel my pt needs something he or she isn't getting, I advocate for him/her. Unfortunately, I still feel that my organization, prioritization, and overall timidity really holds me back. I would try to get a job as a student tech but honestly I don't have any time, the program is very demanding and if I worked, I think my grades (and my marriage) would suffer. Am I asking for trouble when I step out next year as a new grad, or will the upcoming internship and (hopefully, if I get hired) externships provide me with the experience I need to patch up any holes? Thank you in advance!

Thanks guys for all your support!! No, I have been bad and I have not been to the doctor recently. I guess I am tired of them :-) I am planning on going when school is out (I literally have no weekdays off until December 9th). And no, I don't get enough sleep. I need to just make it through the next six weeks and I'll be ok... I just have always struggled with low self-esteem and even though I think one day I will be a great nurse ( I love my patients!), I am not the most "aggressive" personality, which is sometimes a negative in such a competitive world. I know its something I need to work on. If my patient needs something or I feel they aren't getting the right care, I always speak up, but if I personally am having a problem, I tend to keep it to myself.

Thank you everyone for your responses :nuke: Our program is actually 3 years (34 months) rather than 4, which is accomplished via the two summer semesters that are very intense. This does not include any of our prereq's, and while we are in the program, we are required to take several additional upper-division classes at the university we attend in order to graduate (medical anthropology, bioethics, etc). Like I said...no breaks! After next semester (Med-Surg 3) we will begin our interships over the summer. I am really looking forward to it, so I'm very appreciative to hear of someone else having a positive experience. I can't wait to feel that way again!

I guess I just need to vent...I'm in my fourth semester of an 8 semester BSN program (not including prereq's). We go all year, with short breaks in between. We're wrapping up our Med-Surg 2 clinical rotations. I wish I felt more enthusiastic about learning, but I am incredibly burnt out. I no longer absorb the material, can barely focus, don't participate well in group work, and am depressed all the time. The workload is so intense, and in addition, I have classes outside of nursing school to fulfill university graduation requirements. So far I am still a straight A student, but I don't know why. I barely study, which makes me feel very guilty. At clinicals, I feel like such an idiot. I still fumble around not knowing what I'm doing. I'm good with the patients, but I hate that I'm still not even confident about putting on a freaking blood pressure cuff or listening to lung and heart sounds. I'm basically "faking it till I make it". I understand pathophysiology and pharmacology very well, but I feel like a loser when I'm on the floor and I can't even figure out how to empty the new urine bags (happened to me last week). I can't stand most of my classmates. I want to volunteer and make a difference, but I'm too exhausted to even clean my own apartment. My poor husband does his best to support me on one income. What should I do? Are these normal feelings? I want so badly to be a nurse but in the back of my head, I can't help but think I'm not good enough to do it. And I'm terrified that when I graduate, I will be so inexperienced (I haven't even yet inserted a Foley or started an IV successfully) that nobody will want to hire me. Plus, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the stress. I have four papers due in one week, along with all my regular assignments. I feel like if I had 100 hours in the day, I still wouldn't get everything done. Any thoughts?

Hi everyone, I have applied to San Diego State's nursing program, and I hope to be accepted in the fall. My question is, how good of a chance do I have of actually getting in? I have very good grades, but no work or volunteer experience, and very little "leadership". I am fluent in spanish, though. I think the maximum number of points I can achieve on the point system is 72 out of 77. For those of you who have been accepted, how hard is it really? Thanks so much!