Urgency vs Anxiety

[elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

As a nursing student (and pretty much as a person) im told all too often i'm too complacent and laid back

i often get scolded about lacking "urgency" in matters because i always seem disinterested, and while my proficiency isn't lacking, the fact that i'm not frantically grabbing materials or running down halls or screaming at colleagues is then associated with me just not taking the task "serious enough"

however my outlook on it is that i simply dont want to get over excited. anxiety causes for increased errors and results in cut corners and while it may be time efficient, may not always be the most effective approach. i dont do well under pressure so without a clear mind, im essentially useless. In the midst of chaos, im not "dawdling" as it would appear on the surface, but i am to the best of my ability collecting my thoughts, and planning ahead. I dont need to scream, i dont need to run, and i dont need to throw instruments everywhere to get things set up for a procedure--id much prefer to get it done right

but alas im still scolded for not being twitchy and in a state of collective disarray to match my team. Does anyone else encounter likewise situations ?

do you often have to inhibit preservation in order to make it look like youre in fact trying your hardest ?

how many of you thrive on anxiety and pressure ?

do you feel that separating yourself from situations serves you and your clients better in the long run ?

how many of you have had to change your clinical style in order to appease a preceptor, instructor, supervisor etc..

disclaimer: this is more of a 'share your experience' post than it is a 'tell me what you think about my nursing style' post.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Is it possible that your laid-back attitude as perceived may have some element of "I don't care," even if you don't mean that? You may have to change your "clinical style" if that's what people think of you. If all your work and assessments are done completely, timely, and well (not all the same thing :) ) then it shouldn't be an issue and the only person you have to satisfy is your instructor. If your instructor is the one telling you this, though, you might do well to step back and give it some serious thought. You don't want anyone to mistake "laid-back" with "lightweight."

[tulip5]

I'm an instructor. But my approach to sizing up students is much like my clinical style... I don't make judgements based upon one thing. If (1) the student looks way too casual during clinical, and (2) isn't answering call lights when not with their patient, and (3) isn't going up to their fellow classmates and saying "hey, I'm caught up with my patients, what can I do to help you?"... that would be one assessment.

I would get some feedback from that student's clinical preceptor especially as it involves eagerness to be a part of the team. That would be another factor I'd consider.

If when I express a coherent (hopefully factual) concern to the student, I don't get engagement (eye-contact, good questions, contrary opinion and input) that would be another assessment.

If I suggested changes (which hopefully would be specific and not just vague rah-rah-step-it-up kind of stuff on the clinical unit)... and got butkis... that would also inform me.

AND if, when I look at a student's written work (especially about their clinical experience... SBAR, Care-plans, etc.), and gave them ways to improve, and their next papers look like they phoned it in... well, now I have a pattern. At that point, you bet... I would pull you aside and ask you to examine how badly you want to be a nurse.

If you are faultless in all those things, and if you're hearing this criticism from multiple sources, I'd work on my affect. Maybe you're doing all these things right, you're working hard and putting your shoulder to the wheel, but people just read you wrong. Rather than pretend to get hysterical and such, I'd suggest you work on making eye-contact, giving non-verbal cues that you're listening... that sort of thing. If you're getting this from people other than your instructor, then maybe you need to think about how you project yourself.