Stage fright Question for Nurses

NeosynephRN · Mar 13, 2007

Talking to patients and families is very different then standing in front of a class giving a speech!! You are usually only talking to one or two people..in my experience..I am still in school, but graduate in May. It is more like having a conversation...you teach them and then you see if they hae questions, act like you are talking to a friend. Actually it may help you to practice with a friend. And yes I think that it will get easier the more times that you do it and the more comfortable you get with the information you are teaching!! Good Luck!

lizzyberry · Mar 13, 2007

Thanx for your input Im sure Ill be fine with experience :uhoh3: Thanx

AirforceRN, RN · Mar 13, 2007

Its all about the preparation. Remember, especially with patient and family teaching, you are the expert. Although the patient may know what it is like to go through the experience, you know what is happening and why. I find that as long as I am comfortable with the subject, I can talk pretty easily. When I don't know enough about the topic, I get really nervous. So...before presentations, I learn as much as I can. I try and think of questions my classmates might ask and research those too. There is NO need to be nervous when you are prepared on a topic. You wouldn't get nervous teaching a 5 year old how to tie his shoes right? Hope this helps.

Damien

(Um, I'm just assuming you aren't a velcro person :)

Melina · Mar 13, 2007

I used to be terrified of presentations, and I still have my moments. I find that I do much better if I can sit down, but that's not always possible. It is a fear that many people have and most people are sympathetic to. Just do your best, and don't apologize for your nervousness. It probably doesn't show as much as you think it does, and you'll only be pointing it out.

The best advice I can give when you talk to patients and families, make sure you fully understand what you are trying to explain. If you know your stuff, you will project confidence.

Still, make sure you have something prepared to say if (or I should say: when) there are questions you can't answer. There is nothing wrong with not having all the answers, but I hate to get nervous and flustered because I've been caught off guard, and I find it hard to recover my credibility if I stutter around to much. Even something like: "That's something the doctor would like to go over with you. let me find out when he will be in to see you." and make sure to follow up.

~Mel'

lizzyberry · Mar 14, 2007

I find what works is knowing that people only care what you have to say they dont care to noticed ur nervousness :idea:

OnTheRoad · Mar 14, 2007

I think calla is right on. I am a student and was afraid because I am expected to teach my patient something in each clinical. My last clinical it didn't enter my mind because I was so busy and at the end of shift I almost freaked realizing I had done no teaching. Till my instructor commented on my teaching... HUH?

I had simply had a conversation with my patient about her pain management and how she was prescribed certain meds PRN and could ask for them and that rotating her meds could prevent her from having severe pain rather than taking them only when she got really bad.... OMG that was teaching?

lizzyberry · May 18, 2007

I started this post before speech class and I was really nervous at that time. So now I just finished speech class this week and Im pround to say I actually like giving speeches now and I am really good at it. I got an A in speech! Just because your nervous at doing something doesnt mean that you cant conquer the fear I did and it was not that hard.