Stepping Away from the Bedside and Moving To Center Stage

This quarter, in my leadership course, one of my assignments was to give a presentation on a topic of my liking to the nursing program’s student body.  Firstly, I am not a good speaker, especially in front of that many people.  I even have difficulty speaking in front of my small, close-knit cohort.  This was going to be a nightmare

Apparently, I am not the only nurse who suffers from this fear.  Many nurses suffer from the fear of public speaking, just like the fear of spiders, snakes, and the boogieman.  Since this problem is so relevant, I am going to provide you with tips, that I had to learn first-hand, on how to lessen your anxiety and prepare a great presentation.     

1.       Make Note Cards: Take the time to make note cards, but keep them brief.  Print clearly and leave pace between key points.  If you know your material well, putting the note cards in outline form will allow you to speak more spontaneously.

2.      Stay Calm: Becoming nervous is a totally normal thing, but there are many techniques that you can use to remain calm such as giving yourself a positive self talk, use relaxation techniques, stimulate audience participation, and keep moving. 

3.      Practice: Before the big day, practice by recording yourself on a tape recorder or a video camera.  You may be surprised at what the audience really sees and hears.

4.      Make it Simple: A simple delivery will hold your audience’s attention better than a speech filled with long, complex terminology.  For us nurses, avoid medical jargon and slang if you are speaking to others who are not familiar with that language. 

5.      Inject Humor: Humor can make your speech unique and interesting.  It can also make you feel more comfortable. 

Hope you found these tips helpful and felt reassured that you are not the only nurse who would rather give a suppository than stand up in front of a crowd J

Please share with me your tips for public speaking.