Am I ready???

Today was our 1st clinical. Honestly, it was a mock clinical. Our hospital wasn't ready for us today so we met on campus and practiced with each other. Our instructor made up scenarios and we took turns practicing to be patients and being the student nurse. My first patient had COPD and was a cranky 59 yr old male that hated the hospital food, felt as though he didn't need a bath and decided he didn't want to walk. As I was doing my initial assessment of him my teacher walked up and put a post it note on him stating that he had begun to wheeze. I had just started with him and he was complaining about the food. Now he is wheezing. This is where quick, critical thinking is supposed to come into play. I immediately felt stupid! COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I would think wheezing is a normal symptom. Obviously not. So without any training as to what to do I notified the "charge nurse" and I was actually supposed to continue with my assessment and notify the respiratory therapist that a breathing treatment was needed. Okay, so I did that and then I had to deal with this patient that hates the offered food. How was I supposed to know that I can order different food for him??!!! So I obviously have more to learn that what I have already been thought. It is not just the basics of care but the in's and out's of the hospital and how they work things at that specific hospital. GRRRR.......I feel like a moron in blue scrubs....

Tomorrow is our orientation at the hospital and I am sure I will learn more of this tomorrow. WISH ME LUCK!!!