Where should I start?

[Maria22]

I'm a first year nursing student since I have scaled down to part time in school I want to persue more clinical experience. During my clinical rotation this semester I realized that teachers make all the skills look easy, but when its time for me to do some skills I shiver and lack confidence. I need suggestions as to where should I start my clinical foundations since I have no previous experience I have to get working to gain confidence. Some said the best place to start is the ER others Med/surg floor- I'm confused I can't make up my mind.

Pls Help! Maria.

[JentheRN05, RN]

I would highly suggest med-surg. Sure you'll get alot of IV sticks, and maybe some foleys in ER, and assessment skills, but in the ER it's very fast paced and from scratch I think it would be a rough start.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I agree that the ER is not the place to start. Its realy fast paced and often they want a year of school experience besides. A floor tech position is great, med surg or anywhere else that interests you. remember that you may not get to practice all the nursing skills being unlicensed but what you will gain in leaps and bounds is the confidence in yourself when you just touch someone or provide them basic care and ADL's.

I know how you feel about skills; I was a nervous wreck the whole first semester. I failed my sterile wound care testout several times and had myself up in knots about it but then after passing it I did it several times on a real pt next semester and it was cake. You;ll see that it gets better with practice.