Experience Handling a Difficult Learning Situation in the Clinical Area
During one clinical rotation in the surgical ward, a student nurse was assigned to assist with preoperative preparations but appeared disengaged and hesitant to interact with the patient. Upon gentle inquiry, the student confided feeling overwhelmed due to a previous negative experience during a return demonstration, which had affected their confidence.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, I paused the technical task and shifted focus to emotional support and guided reflection. I used a calm, nonjudgmental approach to validate the student’s feelings and reassured them that mistakes are part of the learning process. I then adjusted the activity by having the student first observe, then gradually participate with supervision and encouragement.
By the end of the shift, the student was able to assist more actively and even reflected that the support helped them rebuild their confidence. This experience reinforced for me that emotional readiness is just as important as clinical competence, and that creating a psychologically safe environment can transform difficult learning situations into growth opportunities.
