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Hi, I'm retaking my med surg clinical because unfortunately I didnt pass last semester. One of the most difficult things I struggled with was with the Sim lab for my clinical. I always get so nervous that I forget what I am planning to say in the scenarios when we have to act out being a nurse. Sim always makes me scared and I'm always dreading to go to it. I'm pretty shy when it comes to people watching me as I am playing the nurse. Our school also records us when we do our scenarios and some classmates and our teacher watch us in the other room on the tv. Being on tv makes me even more nervous as they are criticizing me. Any advice on how I can prepare or be better?

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Hello! Sim lab and practicums are always so stressful- for everyone! Try not to think of it as "playing the nurse". You ARE the nurse. Treat the situations as if they are real and try to completely forget that you are being monitored. Fake it til you make it! If you pretend that you are confident people will believe it and you may even convince yourself. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Thank goodness my university doesn't have enough money for a sim lab--- I don't think i'd perform well if I knew that so many people were watching (I don't mind if my instructor /classmate/ patient's family observe, but not so many people!!!)

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I can't stress enough that you should treat SimLab like its real life an you are working as an RN. Any mistakes you may make are a learning experience an it's much better you make them in Sim! Don't be nervous, it's your chance to practice independently as a student!

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Thank you for the advice! I will try my best to be confident, I just feel like I'm more quiet and not outgoing compared to my classmates. But I try my best to just "be the nurse" and try to not forget anything I'm planning to say. Recently we just did a head to toe assessment and it was difficult because there were many things to remember! I did the best I can and I did better than last time, thanks :)

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Just remember that it takes all kinds of personalities to provide care to a patient and you'll do a great job. You don't have to be outgoing; be yourself. You can't be too quiet because you'll need to be sure your patients can hear you, but the most important thing you can be is competent. Take every critique they give you as a gift and work on it, knowing that by the time you get to actual patient care you'll be that much better a nurse.

Head to toe was tough. We can get there!

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