What the hell was I thinking?!?!
Oh that’s right, that I just wanted to get it over with. Better to do it right away than sit there and stew on it longer than necessary right?
What am I thinking?!?!
I felt somewhat prepared for it until I went to open lab Wednesday night. We had a student nurse in her last semester there who decided to help us out and stage these “mock practicums”. She would give a student a list of skills to perform while she sat there and acted like one of the instructors. She did a pretty good job and it was helpful, but it really freaked me out. I mean, there were things that she said we would fail for that I never realized I needed to pay attention to. One girl would have failed the entire thing because she washed her hands for ONE SECOND less than what we are supposed to.
It all just made me realize that I might not be as prepared as I thought I was. This practicum is pass/fail. We fail this practicum, we fail the class. We fail the class, we fail the entire semester and will be repeating EVERY class over again in the fall.
Just a little pressure right?
So please excuse me while I FREAK OUT and try to bring myself back down to reality enough to go back to practicing on my skills.
OHHHH NOOOO, what were you thinking of signing up to be first? It's okay, just breathe take a deep breath and count to 10 or scream into a pillow. It'll be okay, how many open labs do you have to practice before the big day? You can do this… right??
ReplyDeleteFirst off BIG HUG!! Because the stress of those things are crazy. Secondly, yes you are doing the right thing. The worse part is waiting. Going first is a good idea. Get it over with and that way you dont have to sit around and listen to the people who went before you. I have done it both ways and getting it out of the way early and reviewing alot really helped. Also try and avoid getting into the habit of sitting with people after a test and comparing answers. Talk about stress you out. Because the debates and second guessing yourself are enough to drive you made. I think those were the two things in Nursing school I learned early and am glad I did.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be fine. Deep breath - in through the nose, out through the mouth.
ReplyDeleteI used to love to go first or volunteer for things in first semester. At least in our school you get a little more latitude for being first.
Just focus on getting your routine in place and you'll fly through.
No worries.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll do fine and I always find it's better to get stuff out the way - and you'll earn the respect of your peers being the person that volunteers to go first!
Oh my god. A second? I hated first year for that ridiculous nitpicking. RNs have way bigger things to worry about, perhaps even "life saving knowledge". As if anyone cares whether you washed your hands for 28 or 31 seconds. At least you washed them...
ReplyDeleteMy condolences and I hope you make it through with amazing finesse :)
Everything about nursing is a pressure cooker. You'll be fine. Just remember we have allll been there.
ReplyDelete