nervousSRN

Hi, I am in my last semester of an ADN program and have somehow made it this far without knowing that some schools have preceptorships for their seniors.... Mine does not. My question is, is there a way for me to participate in a preceptorship independently. I really feel that this would be an extremely beneficial experience for me and am disappointed that it is not a part of our program. I am located about 20 miles east of Pittsburgh PA. I would appreciate any input or suggestions on this topic, even if anyone has another idea of something that would give me a more complete idea of a more day to day nursing job is really like. I am just not in a Clinical rotation for long enough, nor are we allowed to do enough for me to ever get really comfortable, and I am getting very worried because I graduate in 9 weeks! TIA

so true, and a worthy point! my house is a disaster, i havent eaten anything that i couldnt microwave straight from the box in over a year, i dont do my nails or hair or makeup anymore, and my kids and family MISS seeing me. but do try and make a small amount of time to do something for yourself..... if for no other reason than to give yourself a "end" to each period of time spent sacraficing.

Absolutely it IS an overwhelming experience! it is the most overwhelming in the first semester. getting used to how everything works and developing a "flow" takes time. But you totally have the right attitude for success. you are being given too much information all at one time right now to make any sense of any of it quite yet, but relax and roll with it, ask questions (even if its the same ones) and get comfortable with being uncomfortable for a little while. You have already noted that you are a great student and acknowledged that you are okay with getting a B sometimes if it happens. But it might not, you may surprise yourself. They accepted you into this program because they considered you to be an exceptional student with a high likelihood of success. Don't lose your confidence in your abilities now. It is all new. Remember back to a time when school first seemed overwhelming, but you are still a 4.0 student now. My best advice is 1) look at the material more often for smaller time increments. try to fit something in every day for at least 20 minutes. This will help you to absorb the "language" which can be a barrier to learning the actual content. Long study sessions are okay too, but I have found that my test scores are better with a direct relationship to the frequency of studying vs the length of studying. 2) Don't freak out. Don't think you won't do well because of one bombed test (especially the first ones!) remember they are teaching you how to PASS a certain test.... that is set up a certain way and it can take a little bit to get used to this testing method. Take time for yourself, even if you have to pencil it in your datebook otherwise you will crack up. For me, I made it a point to go see a movie with my bestie every Saturday night at 8 no matter how much work i had (the work will always be there). This gave me a reason to get through every week just so i could have my saturday movie time and it was always there in my mind all week long. 3) Dont believe the hype. LOTS of naysayers target this particular field of study, and i am not sure why. Usually it comes from people who have not done it, which is ironic i think. Either way they can be hard to ignore, but once you get going in the program, you will forget all about them. You will be surrounded by a "family" of peers who share the same common goals and fears and struggles as you do and you will all be lifting each other up, and the people who drag you down will fade into the background rather easily. You got this! dont get discouraged, it gets easier to manage, and 2 years flies by quickly when you are busy. And you will have constant opportunities to impress yourself by doing things you didn't ever think you could do.

Hi Lovlina, I am in a very similar boat! I also get enjoyment from the academic part but nothing but horrible fear and anxiety from the clinical experience. I am 2 semesters from graduation and am freaking out. I am going to stick it out because I have spoken to advisors as well and have concluded that it would be a huge wast of money to do otherwise at this point. I really am worried about finding a job afterwards that I can even stomach. I have no idea what I am supposed to do but pray! I certainly hope that things work out for you. Maybe you can continue your education to include a specialty. I am certainly considering this as an option. I just keep telling my peer that "I am just going to keep on going to school until I dont have to touch anyone!" I am not entirely sure that this is realistic, but I mean it, Ill do ANYTHING! it fills me with wonderment that my fellow nursing students seem to get such enjoyment out of performing clinical skills..... I guess it takes all kinds!

I am a second year ADN nursing student, and I am beginning to wonder what I was ever thinking when I decided to go for this career path. I am so conflicted because I can't seem to get any more comfortable with being in a hospital. Clinicals are my worst nightmare and I dread them every week. When I say I don't like tubes, I am not just talking about a mere dislike. The sight of them makes me queasy and lightheaded and any time I have had to perform an insertion on a patient (urinary catheters, ect) I start to sweat profusely, I stop being able to breathe, my vision cuts out and I have to excuse myself to avoid passing out in a sterile field. I knew, going in to this, that I was phobic of doctors, nurses, and especially needles, but I thought facing my fears would help me grow as a person. Now I am not so sure that those fears will ever subside. Worse yet, I have no idea what I am going to do once I graduate and obtain my RN license. I was under the impression that I could obtain a position outside of the hospital and originally wanted the degree to work with psych patients anyway. I am also interested in possibly pursuing my MSN sometime in the future to to specialize in research. But I am really concerned that I will get stuck being a floor nurse in a hospital because of my lack of experience and I dont feel like I would last one single day doing the things I do at clinicals (especially at the pace of a hospital RN). I also am freaked out because, while I know she is just trying to help me, my clinical instructor is making me do things involving tubes almost exclusively because she says "If you are going to be a nurse you are going to have to do nursing things." And I am the normal scared of hurting someone because I cant hold it together! Any advice from RNs who can sympathize with this issue is welcome, especially if you had this problem yourself and, like me, were crazy enough to just keep on showing up every day despite it. TIA, The laughingstock of my whole school