Rough night in clinical, feeling discouraged.

[Superdude87]

So I'm finishing up my last term of nursing school, doing my senior practicum in ICU. I have always had an interest in working in ICU, so I applied for the spot and got it! I guess my professors thought I had what it takes. They had mentioned that they wouldn't put someone into a spot such as ED or ICU if they thought the student wouldn't do well, so I felt pretty good about getting it.

Long story short, everything has been going pretty well until last night. I feel like I'm learning a ton, becoming more independent, getting better at my assessments/time management/various nursing skills. However, for whatever reason, last night (I'm on night shift) I just felt "off". Things just weren't going well, I was slower than usual, fumbling with routine stuff (IV tubing, programming the pumps, ya know, basic stuff). By the end of the night I was so tired and getting kinda frustrated that I gave the shittiest report in the history of reports. My preceptor was there to watch me give report to the day shift nurse, and my head was just in a fog. I spent the last 30 minutes of my shift catching up on charting that I totally forgot to make a little "report cheat sheet" (I use this so I don't forget to leave out any important info and to keep it organized). The night was so chaotic that I barely had a chance to sit down and review my patient's history or diagnoses, so I barely had any information to give the day shift nurse. I just felt so stupid!!

The nurses I've worked with so far have said I'm doing a good job and they've already put in a good word to their manager on my behalf, but last night I just felt like I sucked...bad. Definitely not a good representation of my abilities or knowledge. I keep telling myself it was just a bad night and I'll redeem myself next time. I walked off the unit this morning just feeling...defeated. Gahhhh.

I suppose to happens to everyone at least once, I guess it just makes me extra anxious because I'm almost to the end of nursing school and a night like last night feels like a huge setback when I was slowly gaining confidence.

Just needed to vent, thanks for listening hahaha.

[lmccrn62, MSN, RN]

We all get those days regardless of how long you have been a nurse. I've had days where I wondered where I placed my brain. Brush yourself off overall it sounds like your doing well. Learn to laugh at yourself!

[Superdude87]

Yeah, at the very least I'm taking some learning opportunities away from this. It just was a hectic night and because of this, I wasn't as caught up on tasks or prepared for shift change as I should have been. I guess next time I'll make more of an effort to make sure certain tasks are done at certain times so I can be caught up and ready to go when it's time to give report. I just don't look like I'm "just a student" (even though I am). I guess I'm a little hard on myself but I just want to be a good nurse, but obviously as a student I'm not going to be nearly as good, experienced, efficient and "have it together" as a seasoned pro...and I should know that it's not expected that I do.

[Ms Kylee]

You're fine. Everyone has shifts like that. It sounds like you have your time management and assessment skills down. Stuff happens. Don't be so hard on yourself, and congratulations on your upcoming graduation. :)

[Remilekun]

Look on the bright side, at least you know that you had a bad night; it would be really bad if you didn't know that. The good thing is that you know that you have things to work on and you can improve. Stuff like this happens to the most experience nurses as well, so don't sweat it.

[veggie530]

When you're on the road to accomplishing goals and creating a better version of yourself, there are days that are good, easy, bad, and hard. Sometimes, you flat out fail.

Come back stronger, keep steady.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

Don't sweat the small stuff, you will learn this as you go. Yep yep, it happens to the best of us. It becomes an issue if it is the same person all the time, every time :) If your pts were alive when you left, it was a good night. Some nights are just putting out one fire after another, so when it happens there is nothing wrong with telling the next shift and apologize..The mistakes you make now will help you grow into the role, learn from each and every one of them.. Questions asked by on-coming shift will help you grow and you will learn from them as well..