Struggling with skills

I am in my winter term, second year of the BSN program at Oregon Health and Science University. I am struggling a lot with mental health because I feel like I am the only one who still kind of sucks with skills in clinical and simulation. Does anyone else have this issue?

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Specializes in Nursing student OHSU.

So I am in my second year of the BSN program, and I am in my Winter term so I am exactly halfway through nursing school. I have been struggling with some skills in clinical due partially to anxiety because I am so afraid that I will mess up and that my instructor will fail me, because if I do not meet certain competencies by the end of this term that will happen. It is like a negative spiral of stress and anxiety that I feel like is impacting my performance. Does anyone else have this issue? If so recommendations would be much appreciated! I am currently going to counseling to try and help with anxiety, but sometimes I just overall have a sense of self-doubt on whether or not I am even going to be cut out for this profession. 

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Hello,

Hang in there!  I also struggled with skills during my ABSN.  Some people just take longer to learn them.

1.  Ask your instructor about extra help/practice programs.  Sometimes they can open a lab room up for extra practice at specified times.

2.  Ask if tutoring is available.

3.  Practice, practice, practice.  My school allowed us to take some small items home with us for practice - bandages, sterile packs for changing catheters, etc.  I practiced and practiced at home.  I also watched YouTube videos.  Also recruited friends and family for practice.  I even practiced on my dog!

4.  Mentally reheorifice the steps for various skills.  Doing this before bed is a good way to help retain the material.

My instructors were very worried about me and my (lack of) skills.  ?  To their amazement, after all my practice, things "clicked" and I passed all the skills.

Today, I am an NP and doing very well.

So, hang in there!

Best wishes

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