Should I be more excited during clinicals?

jalilly · Mar 30, 2019

During my first semester of clinical I felt nervous before every clinical. It was because I was doing new things every week and never knew exactly what to expect. By the end of nursing school I was no longer nervous before every clinical and felt more confident. It just takes time! My advice is to write down your specific worries, make a solid bedtime and morning routine, and write down a list of everything you need to do at clinical. You may want to journal to process your feelings or talk to a therapist if you need more support. I think it's a good thing that you have a cautious personality and want to keep your patients safe. Safety is always the #1 priority in nursing. At the same time, you need to learn how to do all the skills and you can't let your anxiety overwhelm you. The only way you can make sure you won't harm anyone and are doing skills the right way is to practice! You should volunteer yourself to do things like vitals and blood glucose checks. You should tell your clinical instructor that you need more practice and maybe make more time in the skills lab. I promise the more you practice the better you will feel. In terms of being excited to do skills, I think most nursing students get excited to try new things but you aren't out of the ordinary. A blood glucose check isn't exactly the world's most exciting thing. You may go to the OR or ED and think those skills are exciting and your classmates think it's all boring. It all depends on your perspective. Good luck!

Matthew RN, MSN · Apr 1, 2019

I was nervous and anxious every clinical. It doesn't help that nursing programs start on the first day with "Here's the 50 million ways to be kicked out of our program."

Instead of comparing yourself to peers, who are probably nervous and anxious on the inside just not showing it, I would compare yourself to yourself. As weeks and new clinicals go by compare how nervous you are to give meds or take a glucose. I don't think being nervous in first semester is a sign that you won't be a good nurse.

ikuchiha · Apr 1, 2019

I am in my first semester of clinicals in my BSN program and I felt exactly the same way at the beginning of the semester. It took me quite a few weeks to get excited about new skills because I was so nervous. It will get better I promise!

allnurses Guide · Apr 3, 2019

Comparison is the kiss of death. Don't let yourself get in the habit. Your entire career will be better if you can learn to control that urge.

That being said, I can tell you that I have very clear memories from 11+ years ago of my first clinical rotation. Half of my cohorts started to weep at the idea of having to wake little old or very sick people up to do their initial assessment, because they were so intimidated and felt so guilty. They got over it. Heck, some are nurse practitioners now. You will get over it too. Confidence only comes with experience. You are far from alone in your nervousness and bravado is real among your fellow students. Shake it off.

Recognize that getting this intimate with people and assuming this kind of responsibility takes courage. Courage isn't the absence of fear but rather continuing onward in spite of it. Your nerves will be both help and hindrance. Harnessed correctly they will make you a safe practitioner. Given free reign they will destroy your career before it even starts.

Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Apr 3, 2019

The responses above me are great. For me i was never nervous just waiting for all this to be over. Im sitting in my car at this minute waiting for clinicals start and im over it already *eye roll emoji* . Two more clinicals then im done and then i take my progression and i graduate RN school.

Point being, how you feel is individualistic and you can own that. Your going to be fine. Stayed focused! OR fake it to make it like i did.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2019

I remember being so nervous and dreaded my clinicals! Now I work in a level 1 trauma ICU and am known for my cool-keeping. ?