April 8, 2012
I often wonder what my students see when they look at me. By default there is some anxiety and trepidation. After all, I am their clinical instructor, and they’ve heard that I’m tough. I’m tough but fair. I try to put them at ease during those first couple of weeks because clinicals are stressful enough without the added worry that your instructor is a drill Sergeant.
Once they get to know me they realize I’m not a student nurse destroyer. We work together to help them learn things they never thought they could. They will survive and come out on the other side with more confidence, lots of skills, and the unexpected and weird ability to think critically at six in the morning.
So what do you see, my fledgling little nursing students? I hope you see a little of yourself in me. That scared little newbie I once was is still in there, and she understands. She really does.