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Clinical placements are terrifying


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So I’m a first year, first semester nursing student and we have our first clinical placement coming up in 3 days and I am so stressed just thinking about it.

 

I feel like I’m gonna mess up so bad and make a fool of myself in the ward and I have no idea what to do.

 

I’m still have difficulties when taking blood pressure and I’m so slow when taking a set of obs and I just feel like a mess. And this is just in practice labs where we’re conducting it on healthy people!

 

The lecturer told us to impress the facilitator but I just feel like I’m gonna embarrass myself and I wouldn't be surprised if I fail the course.

 

Idk, I just needed to get that all out. Also dunno if this should be here, but it’s related to uni so...

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don't worry that much, I'm also a nurse student. you are in school to learn and to become a nurse. they cant expect you to be as good as a real nurse this is your first year. just watch some videos , learn the procedures and do your best. and also be calm its actually very important to be calm cuz if you are stressed out you will forget everything and mess up  hwaiting ahmagahplz.png

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i've seen a couple of my friends worry about clinicals and stuff but you're only in your first semester/year so i'm sure they'll be understanding smile.png

 

good luck!!

 

 

don't worry that much, I'm also a nurse student. you are in school to learn and to become a nurse. they cant expect you to be as good as a real nurse this is your first year. just watch some videos , learn the procedures and do your best. and also be calm its actually very important to be calm cuz if you are stressed out you will forget everything and mess up  hwaiting ahmagahplz.png

 

That's what I hope but considering how the lecturers were talking about it... But true, I should do my best to calm down lol - stressing out's never helped me before, doubt it's gonna help now. Finished all my paperwork for tomorrow so I just have to wait and see.

 

And thank you for all your good luck's smile.png

I'll let you know if I've survived in a week's time lol

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just graduated from my 4-year nursing program!

 

I remember being stressed when I was first placed into clinicals. 

 

Good luck! Don't feel stressed over it. Just remember to be polite to the patients and the nurses. As soon as you get on the unit introduce yourself and shake hands with them!

Always ask for help and ask questions when you don't understand.

Ask them if they need help when they're busy, if there's anything you can do. Nurses hate when the nursing students act entitled and stuck up and just sit at the nurse's station waiting for the day to end. Answer the call lights, help a nurse's aide with a bed bath or cleaning someone's BM or ambulate to the bathroom. If you've never done these before, now's a really good chance to learn! I work as an aide at a hospital and I love it when students offer to help me take vitals or turn a heavy patient :D extra hands are always a blessing.

 

Regarding blood pressure, I had trouble with that and pulse in the beginning but everyone does. It's literally all practice. If you can and your school gave you a cuff, practice manual BP on as many different arms as you can. Your parents, grandparents, friends, siblings. Listen to your healthy friends' heart and lung sounds and get a feel for understanding what "normal" sounds like.

 

Good luck and I'm so excited for you! School is difficult but it's very rewarding when you finally finish rlytearpls.png rlytearpls.png rlytearpls.png

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It's okay! I remember that feeling when I was a first sem nursing student! I'm already going to my senior level next semester. Always practice and review everyday!! I'm one of the weakest in terms of skills in my class.

A lot of my professors and preceptors had scolded me for not getting something right during clinical but I keep practicing and try not to let it get to me! I embarrassed myself a lot of times. Breathe! Be calm and always be prepared. smile.png

 

Be assertive and have good time management.

I even made checklists of what to do in clinicals because I tend to forget something. 

Ask the nurses or even classmates if they need any help when you have a lot of free time.

Make this a good learning experience! This is something I wished I had done in my first year. I just wanted to get it over with back then.

Be polite, and you will face rude people rlytearpls.png  

Patients, your preceptors, and other nurses may ask questions to test you lol. 

Know your meds. Listen to the endorsements because every patient is different.

I almost offered a whole tablet to one of my patients when endorsements said to crush it and mix it in water.

 

So yup, always be prepared. Read a lot. Ask your professors and classmates if you have questions or for help. 

Don't do skills beyond your scope of practice unless your preceptor said it's ok (i.e. Can't do IV meds until I was a junior)

I usually make a list of things I need to improve on and work on it until I'm confident.

I watched a lot of videos. For BP, I bought my own sphygmomanometer and practiced on my family members. 

 

Yes, there will be a lot of stress and I broke down a lot ilikeitplz.png

Just remember why you want to be a nurse in the first place. It's going to be challenging.  

Good luck! 

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