What have clinicals/nursing school taught you about yourself?

[loveoutloud]

Have to write an essay on it, and I have no idea what to write...I was self aware coming into school and have not learned anything about myself that I can think of...

[Glenna, LPN]

I learned grace under pressure. You have so many things coming at you and have to deal with everything in a nice calm manner and trying not to show people on the inside you are freaking out.

I learned how to deal with doctors. Some of them are very nice others I've noticed kinda look down on you. I learned how to talk to them and being firm if I needed to be for what I knew was right and stood my grounds.

[Glenna, LPN]

I forgot to mention, I learned to be more assertive and not so much passive aggressive. I didn't realize how passive aggressive I was until classmates commented on it.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Yeah, I didn't learn anything from clinicals either. Well, I know that if I had to go to work in med-surg I'd forgo nursing as a whole. Screw that mess. It goes without saying that OB and such forays are out.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I have learnt how to be an actress, and to just keep running. I've also learnt to be proactive and assertive, because lord knows no one will pay attention to you as a student unless you take the initiative. I've learnt that time is a scarce commodity in the hospital, so have your stuff ready before you ask for help. Don't waste anybody's time, or they will be angry at you. That goes for your instructors as well as your primary nurse.

I've also become aware that I am less patient than I used to be. Of course people don't know that because I keep my mouth shut, when all I want to do is bite someone's head off. At home, my lessened patience has come out.

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

i learned that even though i came into nursing school knowing i wanted to be a nurse already, it further confirmed that fact to me :).

I have also learned that im good at keeping my mouth shut when you have other care team members trying to tell you how to do your job, & questioning your judgment. Instead I just smile and nod. hehe

[Gal 2:20]

Good question loveoutloud - I learned something just this week about myself. That I am naive and WAY WAY WAY too trusting. I was betrayed by my clinical instructor who was not supportive but was secretly documenting things to fail me. Also I learned that nurses can be really petty, catty, and rather mess with students than take care of patients.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

That there is so much more for me to learn.

That, if motivated by the final goal, I can make myself spend a lot of time jumping through pointless hoops like Care Plans, papers about how I feel (in APA format), and regurgitating esoteric nursing theory that nobody actually uses or understands.

[Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP]

I feel like nursing school has been more of a personal detriment to me HOWEVER, I have learned that not everyone thinks like me and there are those who will dislike me, judge me, develop negative opinions about me because I think and act differently.

So what I learned was tolerance and acceptance.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

That I forgot how much I hate GenEds and will never go back to school.

[ama8215]

I have learned how to appear confident even when I'm not. This has actually increased my level of confidence and I find confidence goes a long way with clinical instructors. Of course I'm not talking cocky or over-confident, just the ability to portray confidence in myself and my abilities even when I'm nervous as all get out!!!

"Fake it until you make it"

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I have learned to look at myself for solutions.

I have learned sometimes I have to work hard to find solutions.

I have learned I can survive on far less sleep than I ever would have thought.

I have learned I have things that make me squeamish that I never suspected they would (being asked repeatedly by a patient to scratch his back - made me feel icky and that surprised me). I have also learned I have things I thought would make me squeamish that just don't (poop, pee, vomit, blood).

I have learned there is no greater high than leaving at the end of a 12 hour shift and feeling like what you did mattered.

I have learned when I am uncertain about something I tend to hesitate. From learning this I also learned that sense of hesitation should be a clue to me to slow down and double/triple check myself because it pretty much always means I am missing something.

I have learned clinical instructors are not the nemesis they frequently get made out to be on this website.

I have learned that taking something personal is largely a matter of choice, whether from a patient, another student or an instructor.

I have learned that all it takes to make my world right again is a heartfelt thank you from a patient.

I have learned that I am new, I am going to struggle, I am going to get frustrated and that there is nothing else at this point in my life that I would rather be doing.

I have learned that there is an endless list of things I still need to learn.