Thank you to all who responded with encouraging words

LaurieCRNP2002, MSN, RN, APRN · Jul 5, 2000

Hi Michelle!

We all have been where you are now. You don't say what year you are in. During my senior year,in my BSN program, we were allowed to enroll in an elective (in an area we were interested in) that would pair us up with a preceptor and allow us to work more closely with patients. I felt so much more confident when I graduated after finishing this course because I was exposed to so many things and was allowed (under supervision, of course) to do a lot of procedures that you don't always get the chance to do in your regular clinical rotations. I would suggest finding out if such an opportunity exists in your curriculum. Another idea for you---try to find a part-time job (weekends?)as a nursing assistant in a hospital. I think if you are exposed to patients that way you will feel much more at ease with patients when you start your clinicals in the fall. When I started nursing school, I had the benefit of having been through EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training and had been active with the ambulance squad in my hometown. If you can get exposure to patients outside of school, it will benefit you tremendously in the long run. Good luck and feel free to email me privately if you have any other questions.

Laurie

Mijourney · Jul 6, 2000

Hi Michelle,

Congratulations on successfully completing your med-surg and psych courses.

You never did indicate whether you were a junior or senior in your program. Perhaps you are a senior as you indicated that you were taking psych as well as med-surg in a BSN program.

Laurie, a preceptorship program is an excellent idea. I would recommend that the setting be on a med-surg unit as it has been established that that is the best foundation for nursing practice. Hopefully, Michelle, this will boost your confidence in your self as you administer patient care. Best wishes.

BJA · Jul 10, 2000

All good ideas!! I think that your realization that you don't know things, is a great step in learning. I once read a quote by some wise old philosopher whose name I forgot long ago, I'll try to paraphrase . . .

The better educated we become, the more aware we are of our ignorance. This ignorance becomes the inspiration for our quest for more knowledge.

Please forgive the garbled paraphrase. I hope the message comes through. Hang in there.

ClariceS · Jul 10, 2000

Hi! I am glad you made it through. Med-Surg can be tough and as a staff educator in that area, I hear from a lot of new nurses (both recent grads and new to Med-Surg) that they feel inadequate to the task even after a 6 week orientation. They are preceptored with an experienced nurse during that orientation. I encourage them to stick with it but that they won't start feeling comfortable with it until 6 months to a year. Med-Surg is such a vast area of learning and experience that one should not expect to have it down-pat in a 6 - 8 week rotation. It is also such a great base for new nurses to start their careers. It teaches critical thinking skills that can be later used in virtually any field of nursing you may later want to try. Or like me you may love it so much that you want to teach it to others. Good luck with the rest of your schooling!

bunky, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2000

Remember what I said Michelle! Just do your reading before you go in. Know the "how to's" down cold and then if you're called on to do it, it goes much easier. No one expects you to be an expert, but if you know the the step by step procedures it impresses them.

And by the way, my first sc heparin was my first injection and while I knew how to, acutally getting the needle into someones body was a different story that no book prepared me for. It was a chubby guy, maybe he had ascites, and I bounced the needle off the surface of his belly and it went flying across the room! I cracked up laughing! Thankfully so did the teacher and patient! Keep a sense of humor. If nothing else be able to laugh about it at the end of the day.

CEN35 · Jul 11, 2000

Michelle,

You already have shown that you can be a good nurse. The first thing you did is admit, you were scred about how good you will or will not be. There is nothing wrong with you feeling that way. would much rather have somebody new to the ER, ask if they don't know, then to try and make it go on their own. The other thing to consider is what you learn in school. When many students are done and graduate and pass boards, they think they know it all. They want to go out and conquer the world. I know I did? I thought, experience? who cares? I can be just as good. NOT! You will realize when you are done, that you have just touched many of the things you need to know. I learned tons after I was done and started in the ER. You only need to realize one thing. There is always more to learn, nobody knows it all.............even if they think they do. You can do this just like the rest of us.............chin up Michelle.

Rick RN CEN

CEN35 · Jul 11, 2000

Michelle,

P.S. - any questions let me know, on the board or email.

Rick RN CEN