3rd semester student can't keep up need time managment

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Feb 13, 2014

Some things you might try:

Go to the skill lab and practice in a lower-stress setting. Gain confidence there.

Make yourself brain sheets of the things you need to know about your patients.

Practice good self-care like exercise (cardio/yoga), eating healthy, getting enough sleep the night before clinicals so you have the brain energy to focus.

Your classmates are probably no better or smarter than you and are really just faking confidence.

It sounds like you are having a lot of anxiety. If you have counseling available, I would take advantage of it. Being anxious hinders your ability to learn and then it leads to more anxiety.

I felt similarly in school. It is stressful-- but doing some of these things might help. Best wishes.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2014

Your post sort of feels like I'm reading about myself. I get really flustered and always blank out when I'm in the middle of something and the instructor stops me to ask a million questions. I to like the more laid back instructors because I learn a bit slower than the others when it comes to clinical. Sometimes I would spend all night preparing , thinking I got it all down and then I would be asked a question I don't have the answer to. I don't know if it just me or the method of teaching but the pop quizzes during clinical is not my style.

I know there are certain areas not for me and as you go along you will find out the many avenues of the nurse of which some you like and others you don't.

The only pointers I can give is take short notes, bring assessment form with you to clinical or make one up yourself so you don't miss anything and finally practice at home. I'm in 4th semester and I too really don't feel like I've learned a lot in the school environment.

Finally stop comparing yourself to your classmates. We are all different. Sometimes a week of clinical will go by and all I did was a glucose stick...while my peers would be talking about all the fantastic procedures they got to do this and that. My time will come is how I see it. I think once we graduate we will be able to learn better on the job and with repetition and time things will become faster, clearer and more efficient. I'm sticking with it though, I gave up too much to switch careers.

StudentOfHealing · Feb 13, 2014

I want to take you back to when you began your prerequisite work. I now want that previous you to imagine current you doing everything and coming as far as you've come already.

Crazy huh?

Whether you are able to recognize it or not. If you've made it to your 3rd semester, chances are that you mean business. The fact you care so so so much about your performance goes to show so so so much. You care and that's great. You realize your deficits and that's the first step!

You sound like me during my 2nd semester (medsurg 2).

I would miss little details. Have to redo assessments because I forgot this and that. I would not understand half of the equipment. I felt like I was a fraud! Like I wasn't good enough and I was lying to myself.

But you know what?!?!? All those falls. All those scrapes. All the critiques. Late night care planning. All the re assessment. All the re checking. All the re doing stuff. I think it has paid off.

Find YOUR groove. It's trial and error.

You CAN do this if you want it bad enough. I sense so much anxiety in your post. Relax. Take a deep breath.

WE are in Nursing school to learn.

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2014

Every RN I have ever posed this question to answers it about the same: How long once you were a nurse before you felt like you really "Got it"? And the answer is usually, "About a year." Relax. I feel like a bumbling idiot in clinical too. If I were you and you have a good relationship with your instructor, I would talk to her about your concerns. Maybe she has some helpful advice. Hang in there!

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2014

Every RN I have ever posed this question to answers it about the same: How long once you were a nurse before you felt like you really "Got it"? And the answer is usually, "About a year." Relax. I feel like a bumbling idiot in clinical too. If I were you and you have a good relationship with your instructor, I would talk to her about your concerns. Maybe she has some helpful advice. Hang in there!

You brought up a good point so I want to ask, If you and some students and new grad alike also feel like "bumbling idiots" how then do we display that as confidence rather than as literally bumbling idiots???

I ask because some of my classmates display such confidence even though they don't have a clue what they talking about or even if they are wrong. I'd ask them later and they would be like they were so nervous, but their way of talking and body language does not show it..but I would be just like...uhh i dont know and just blank out - to my instructor. Its something I gotta work on. I think this is a point we need to get to...showing more confidence.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 14, 2014

I would add to the wonderful tips that were added: how about using SBAR/ADPIE to organize what your patient is here for, and for anything related to nursing care-meds, documentation of visit, etc. it helps organize thought and what is needed to be done for the time you have your patients.

Using ADPIE/SBAR helped organize my thoughts and gather information for my patients, and it also help me communicate to my instructor what was happening; I also would blank out, however I would state what I looked up, and I would state I need to find it again, and pull the information up; we are not going to know it all, and they know that; being able to find the information is paramount to patient care; when you are out in the trenches, looking up and collaboration HELP one to become a better nurse. :yes:

xoxJanexoxDoexox · Feb 14, 2014

You really need a good brain sheet to help you stay organized! When you first come on the unit you can fill out your sheet with..diagnosis..patient history..any tests ordered for the day..the times of the meds that need to be given (times only! It takes to long to write out the meds and you can always look them up) and make a little box next to them so you can check them off as you give them..critical lab values..latest vital signs. Then use it as a guide while doing your assessment, that way you make sure you went over every body system. Use a highlighter for to-do tasks. You said you do the ADLs? Do you have techs where you are doing clinicals? Remember..you are supposed to be acting in the role of the nurse first and foremost..if you have time to do a bed bath or ambulate that's awesome, if you don't then ask for help. Ask your classmates for tips how how they stay organized and don't be afraid to ask your professor too!

Lost2014 · Feb 15, 2014

Thanks everyone for the great comments. I spent today in the lab and yesterday I made a brain sheet that I hope will help me out next week. One thing that makes me nervous about next week is my instructor said I'll be giving meds. and I need to be ready to pass them at 7:30. We start at 6:45 and get report at 6:50 then I need to know my meds. and look them up and have my vitals done by 7:30 to pass them. And she will quiz me on the meds and not want me to look at my notes on paper to know why they are given and what nursing interventions need to be taken and any major SE/AE. Now if my patients have meds I'm familiar with and they don't have too many it probably will be OK, but if there are 20 meds each it's going to be difficult. Also you know report may be at 7:50 but our nurses find the hand off nurse and report to them when they are ready so you have to pay attention or you'll miss it and many times it's 10-15 minutes before they actually report. I know the instructor arrives at about 6:20-6:30 so I plan on getting there for 6:15 and getting my assignment 1st so I have a little time to figure things out. We do have techs but honestly they have not introduced themselves to me asked if I needed anything of them nor gone in the rooms I've been assigned to. In my last clinical the techs seemed to think they were relieved of duty because we had their patient. Does anyone have a good way of asking the PCT to take care of AM care? I will be busy with meds and obviously don't seem to have enough time when I do everything myself so I need to free up some time and still have the patients needs met. I also agree with Man Nurse2be, its hard to show confidence when your still learning. The only thing I can do it try. If I am prepared I will come across as more confident. So hopefully I am well prepared next week. I'll also have to try the ADPIE/SBAR to help me get organized for her pop quiz. If anyone else has suggestions please keep them coming! I'm feeling much better I hope things go well next week. Thanks again everyone, I appreciate your input and time!

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Feb 15, 2014

Good, I am glad you are building confidence! As far as working with the PCAs or CNA's I found that working with them is the best way...introduce yourself (initiate- don't need to wait for the other person to do so) first thing in the morning and let them know if you have more than one patient that you will for instance be doing one patient's am cares and can they please do the other one. However remember that doing cares can be a great time to assess your patient (mobility, skin, listen to lung sounds when they are sitting up to do the bed bath, etc) as well as give you time to get to know the patient better, so your instructor may want you to do all the cares for these reasons.