Terrible clinical day!

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I THINK this could be considered a vent... or even me asking for some tips from people who have dealt with anxiety.

Today at clinicals I was making my best effort to have a good day despite a very emotionally draining week relating to family issues and a handful of stressful things. Right when I got onto the floor I had to give an IVP med with my instructor. No biggie. The woman would be in so much pain when her line was touched, let alone getting meds infused into it. I guess all of her IV's she has ever had were like that, it was a new line, intact, and had no signs of erythema, swelling, or anything. I swear it took five minutes just to do the flush since its a saline lock. She kept telling me to slow down and was in so much pain. I went so slow i couldnt even see the plunger moving! I started getting nervous and a panic attack started and I held it off so I was sweating, could barely hear, and felt like I was so close to going down. Worst feeling ever, especially while trying to keep my professional image in front of my instructor and patient! So I said I had to sit down and did, then asked my instructor if she could just try to finish it. SHE SAID NO!! I HAD TO DO IT! It was terrible. I told her I felt like I was passing out and she didnt care.

I am so dissappointed because I have anxiety but I control it very well and never had an attack in that situation. Ugh I am so nervous now that fear of one will send me into another one in similiar situations. Or when I am in the OR. Mind over matter I guess. Any students or nurses with anxiety out there? How can I get away from this self fulfilling prophecy. I am now set back a little back with this and am back to where I have that fear of anxiety, which causes it. Round and around.

Thanks everyone!

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Oh and to add...

That whole IV issue in itself? Baffles me. Never heard of it happening before.

:thnkg:

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Hey, you know I read post after post on anxiety in nurses. There are many on this website who put down people on antianxiety meds...ROFL... I figure these people, angry at those nurses, are probably chugging the Nyquil during lunch, am I right?! You all know I am.

Anyway... you seem to have had a full blown panic attack. Seeing that you say that there is a lot of stuff going on also in your life, and these things we cannot control, (or we would). I think you should visit your Doc and discuss it... he/she will understand. You should work on an intervention for yourself ASAP.

Keep it between you and your doctor. :heartbeat

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Yeah this past week was a blow up of any and everything that could go wrong. Definantly exacerbated the anxiety. I think I just needed to get it out. I see now I probably wont get coping advice from any fellow sufferers with this post. It was worth a shot though.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I also deal with anxiety especially in the clinical setting. I get anxious with the feeling that I dont know what I am doing and what if I do something wrong. I asked my clinical instructor if I could talk to her about my anxiety issue and I was so sensitive in talking to her about it I started crying. I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown that week because I never been in the hospital setting before and missed the first week being there since I was at another facility. But after I talked to her about it, I felt better. She said that she too has felt the same way while in school and after graduating.

For me, it takes me a little while to become comfortable with people and in situations to get over my anxiety. If you begin to have a panic attack, take deep breaths and help clear your mind so you can focus on what you are doing. I am still working on feeling confident about what I am doing and learning every day. Good luck with school! We can do it!

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I have anxiety as well. However, not so much in a clinical situation than I do during tests.

There's only been a few times I've been anxious during clinical and one was when I had to put on sterile gloves in the OR. I was so worried about contaminating, I thought I was gonna past out at any moment. Especially when you are doing a foley and the surgeon is sitting there waiting on you to do it so he can begin the surgery.

Luckily, I got it on the first try and didnt contaminate. But I understand how you feel.

What works for me is taking deep breaths in and out.

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