Confidence during clinical year
Hi! Just started my second clinical rotation (pediatrics) and I can’t figure out how to be less nervous. My first rotation was psych so I wasn’t doing any physical exams, and the history taking was really short and easy.
Today was my first day and I mostly shadowed, but I know tomorrow I’m expected to be seeing patients by myself, getting a history and doing the physical exam, and then reporting to the doctor (who I haven’t worked with yet). The doctor is also known to have a jam packed schedule. So far I barely know how to use the EMR system so I don’t even know how to read up on the patient and their prior visits, which makes it especially hard to orient myself. I’m also so unfamiliar with pediatrics in general and feel like I’m not gonna know what questions to even ask when gathering my history or how to get the kids to let me do a physical exam on them.
I know I should be excited to actually start working with real patients, but I’m just so nervous. I also don’t wanna look like a doofus in front of the patient’s mom or dad as they’re letting me examine their child. I know confidence will come with time and that I probably just need to be okay with feeling uncomfortable at first, but how do you get through those initial jitters? Any tips or funny stories from your own rotations would be greatly appreciated!