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Discussion

Stressed

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice from some nurses/future nurses. I am in week 10 of clinicals, did my first med pass today and it wasn't so bad. I wanted to ask is it normal to still feel lost at times? I don't ever feel confident instead I am sick before clinicAL and I stress about it all week long. After clinical I'm fine because I survived it! This is going to sound odd but I have never had a Job in health care and the things that you all may think is nothing is indeed something to me. For example ambulating a patient?!? In 10 clinicals I have only had to do this 1 time with help and it makes me nerve, oh and we learned Trach care, injections, suctioning, feeding via gastric tube, I have not had the opportunity like some of my other peers to complete this clinical tasks, I am doing clinical on a post op floor and most of the patients are gone in 2 days. I just want to know if the feeling I am having is normal, I feel like Just because we learned it we are expected to know how to do it and I'm so scared because I have never done trach care and I'm scared the day I have to.now it's on to IVS and I'm terrified! We have to do all this assessing and I feel like half the time I'm not even sure what I'm doing? Feeling defeated =(

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    Welcome to nursing school! This all sounds VERY normal. If you felt totally comfortable, that would be worrisome. I know I had at least one classmate who would cry every day on her way to clinicals, and I know others that threw up those mornings. They all made it, and are doing great as RNs now.

    Ask questions (when you can- be careful what you ask in front of a patient), and do your research whenever possible. Have faith that you will learn, as long as you're open to it (sounds like you are). It sounds like you're learning a lot! Think about how far you've come in those 10 weeks, and imagine where you'll be come preceptorship! :)

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    I think we get caught up in the academic side of things. When you are doing something like ambulating a pt, just remember; this a person. They are sick and possibly scared. Talk to them. Support them emotionally. Think about what could be in their way. Just look to the basics. Help them out. Talk to them. You will never go wrong doing that.

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    I don't ever feel confident instead I am sick before clinicAL and I stress about it all week long. After clinical I'm fine because I survived it! This is going to sound odd but I have never had a Job in health care and the things that you all may think is nothing is indeed something to me.=(

    Try not to think of it as being defeated. All of us have had to have our first experience at some point. We were all newbies. When you go to clinicals, tell your cohort that you would like to do a certain skill(s) and if they have something come up to get you so you can experience or do it.

    When I was in school, I utilized the heck out of youtube videos to see how stuff was done! Some of the med surg books, or the fundamentals books have a website that you can go to and see how to perform them as well, in case you are not sure about a certain skill.

    Don't be afraid to tell your preceptor that you have never done something before and the first time you do it, make sure you are getting help from your preceptor - or instructor! As long as you treat the patient as you would want your family member to be treated, you will be fine with patient relations. Don't hesitate to tell the patient (or family) that you are not sure of anything and need help. Most patients/ families KNOW when a student nurse is BSing (or lying) about something, so be honest. You will earn respect, and you will forever remember what you learned with the hands on experience!

    Best of luck! Keep us posted on your success stories!

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