The clinical fun started durning "Spring Break" which was actually not a break at all. I did homework, my mentor shadowing, paniked, and organized paperwork and instruments for the first three days. Then on Thursday was all of our Local Anesthetic clinicals.
I was a little nervous for them because I have done a grand total of ONE other IA injection this semester, and it was my mockboard, which I failed. Yes, I was very nervous. But I studied my little tush off and had my mom come in to practice angles with a Q-tip so I figured that whatever was going to happen was going to happen. I was as prepared as I felt I could be without practice.
I had one of the later times for the test. I was not scheduled until 2:15pm. After orientation at 7:30am I went home because I couldn't handle the stress of everyone else going. I was very productive and wrote my mentor paper and then watched some of Pride and Prejudice, my go-to show. Then I headed back to the school about noon to see how far ahead they were.
The examiner came in and got me about 12:30 and told me I could go set up my unit and I would start my test after they got back from lunch at 1:10. I went and set up my unit. Emotions were crazy back there. People who had not passed the first time were preparing for their second attempt.
When the examiner got back I brought my wonderful mother back and was chit chatting with her until the other examiner was ready. She was all friendly and smiles. As soon as the other examiner got there and the test began it was a total change of atmosphere. All smiles were gone. It was extremely unnerving. But I was confident.
I did the IA without any incidence. I slid right in, in the exact right spot thanks to my mothers perfect landmark triangle and anatomy. It went smooth as butter. Then to the PSA. My confidence was so high. I had my hard one out of the way and it went perfectly. I could do the PSA in my sleep.
I went to the PSA, got in the right position, and started. I immediately hit osseous. They began the countdown, literally. We have three attempts when we have hit osseous before it becomes an automatic fail. I repositioned and again, immediately hit osseous. I heard them say "third and final attempt." I started to get really really nervous, confidence was wavering. I repositioned and it slide right in. Perfect angle, everything was great.
The examiners said they needed to go behind the curtain and talk. My confidence was soaring. I knew I had passed, I was ecstatic. They came back and told me that they needed to see the PSA on the left side. I had no idea why but I said okay and repositioned.
I retracted my mom's cheek and brought the needle into position. Immediately the examiner behind me yelled, I mean literally yelled, "Stop and hold! You just touched the needle to your glove!" My heart sunk. I didn't think I had touched it. They left to go talk behind the curtain. I was close to tears. Touching your glove without noticing is an automatic fail. A 120 dollar mistake and a chance I might not get licensed that day. I was on an emotional ride. I was mentally preparing for them to come back and tell me to go get my backup patient. Even my mom was close to tears at this point.
They walked back to me and said to get a new setup and do the left side again. My only explanation is that one examiner saw that I hadn't touched my glove. I did the injection again. My confidence was shattered by this point. It didn't go that well. I was sure I had failed.
I didn't even break down my unit until after I got my paper because I was so sure I had failed. I talked to Jodie. She felt the same way. When I walked out and pulled the paper out, the pink one that meant I passed, I just broke down.
That was intense.
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