Starting clinicals

[Medsport, LPN]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and have some questions. Just to let you know, I'm 36, single, no kids and have a house, but have major school loans taken out for accounting and now nursing. I currently work in a factory and had to cut back to part-time for school. I've been going for 2 years and just got in to clinicals. All was going ok, I'm getting pretty good grades, but am having a little trouble with the lab check-offs. I'm passing them, but I've had a couple instructors tell me I need to talk to the "patient" more and be more vocal. I know I'm quiet and not really a "people" person, but am getting alot better than I used to be. Never even considered nursing until my sister (who was a CNA at the time) suggested I try it. I thought why not, there is a shortage and the pay and working conditions are alot better than at the factory. I guess I had no idea what nurses actually did until recently. I knew you had to draw blood, take vitals, maybe clean up an occasional "mess", but I did'nt know we would have to give bed baths, shave the client and give NG tubes. We had a demo on that this week and I have to admit it kind of grossed me out (having to aspirate the stomach contents, weigh it and put it back in). Now I'm getting nervous about clinicals starting next week and having second thoughts. I hate to throw away the 2 years of school and money I have invested. My gf, who is also in clinicals now, says I just have to make it thru this year and then I won't have to do alot of the "messy" stuff and can delegate it to the nurse aids. Is this true and is it normal to be nervous and a little apprehensive?

[ms_orion]

I have been a nurse for over 13 years now. The hardest part of nursing school for me was "talking to the patients". When we did our clinicals (in the very beginning) they assigned us to pts as a team. Two students together. I am so glad they did because if I had been assigned pts to care for by myself I think I might not have made it. After awhile you learn what to say, and at this point in my life I have learned that we all have one basic need: to have somebody care. You will get more comfortable as you go along. As far as the "messy" stuff, you will find that when you work with other team members you share the tasks. I absolutely hate mucous...others cant tolerate vomit so you help each other. Not all nursing deals with the "messy" stuff. You will find your place. Don't quit. Push thru all the trials. Congrats on the life change.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

As you gain for self-confidence over time you'll be able to talk to the patients more. Keep practicing and trying with that.

You're CNA isn't going to be at your beck and call the entire shift. It isn't like "I'm the nurse, I don't do CNA stuff" because when the CNA isn't around, it's just you my friend. But there are areas of nursing that isn't messy that you can get into.

However, don't buy into what your GF is saying because it isn't entirely true in the real world. Please don't become one of those RNs that goes from room to room looking for your CNA who is knee deep in work him/herself to put a patient on a bedpan when you could do it yourself.

[ms_orion]

A good leader would never order somebody to do something that he wouldn't do himself. Lead by example.