self-confidence/autonomy???

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hi everyone. I am new to this site. I have just finished my summer clinicals (heading into my 4th semester) and have a few questions on developing nursing autonomy. My instructor stated to me that I am very smart, but I need to be confident and work on my autonomy. I only have 2 semesters left in nursing school (I am in an ADN program) I have found that I LOVE nursing, every part of it!! However, I am so very afraid of making a mistake that I question EVERYTHING that I do. This in turn slows down my routine and then I feel that I am playing catch up all day with charting and medications admin. PLEASE if anyone could tell me their story of autonomy or at least give me some advise I would really appreciate it. I am coming up to my critical care rotation soon and thinking about the autonomy needed there really scares me!!! Thanks alot!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics.

Hi Manders,

I'm glad to read that there is someone else in exactly the same situation as I am! I wish that someone else could've responded to your post with a little bit of advice by now, but I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! I have been searching online for resources on time management with respect to clinical preparation (where I really need the help), but all I've been able to find is information about how to study. Anyways, I will keep monitoring this thread to see if anyone responds. Let me know if you come across any valuable advice in the meantime!

-m.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

It just means that there will be times when you will have to take the bull by the horn and do some nursing things without checking first to get a doctor's order. It will take you years to develop confidence in your actions as as nurses. Don't sweat this. You will learn these things with time. You just haven't learned to stretch your wings yet.

To give you a simple example, when you have a patient with a stasis ulcer, it is an autonomous action for you to elevate the patient's leg after checking their history and without seeking a doctor's order.

When you have a patient who is having problems bringing up secretions, it is an autonomous action for you to show them how to deep breathe and cough effectively. You do not need a doctor's order to do that.

This all goes along with some of the nursing interventions you write to go along with your care plans. Many of those nursing interventions you list are autonomous actions (or decisions) you, the nurse, make in the care of the patient. Distinguish those from collaborative interventions which are things you do for patients that are based on orders from the doctor. As the years go by, you'll be spitting out these things like they were part of you, you'll see.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics.

thanks, daytonite :D

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