What is wrong with me?

There is nothing wrong with you. It is a huge transition from school to the real deal and the real deal is very stressful for an experienced nurse.

I will give you some advice that I wish I had been given, if your preceptor and yourself don't mesh, ask for a new one right away. This happens all the time for many reasons. In regards to patient care, research every night after work so you understand the whole patient and what they are going through. In addition, watch your patient very carefully, you really can't check too often as they can turn on a dime.

But really just try to not be too stressed, take some deep breaths, count to 10 and then refocus. You can do this if you want to.

P.S. There are some really good threads here on organizing your day, so check them out.

I would suggest being completely honest with your preceptor about your skills. I have to ask, how did you make it to the end without a catheter insertion???

Day Surgery really isn't the best place for a final preceptorship as it is a very controlled environment. In my hospital it's for experienced staff with a good knowledge base and who are sure in their assessent skills.

Can you go back to your school and use the lab for skills? I know we could.

So sit down, write a list of what skills you need to brush up on. Talk to your preceptor. The final placement is about honing your skills and working out the details of nursing. It also really isn't your preceptor's job to teach them to you.

They are there to mentor your development and help build your confidence. They will be happy to stand by and be there for you to insert a foley, etc.

But in Day Surgery there isn't a lot of skills other than good assessment, interviewing, IV insertions &removal, followed by a lot of teaching and documentation.

I hear you Fiona59, nobody in my class consolidated in Day surgery. I too thought it was just where you go after many years of experience. I don't work in a hospital so I guess things have changed in some hospitals.