Hello-

I am in my 2nd semester of my nurg prg. Next Thurs. will be our first day in Clinicals. We will be going to the local VA Hosp. Needless to say we are all very anxious.

Any words of wisdom??

Bring a small notebook with you to jot things down. What are you doing, bed baths, vitals, etc.? Here's what I've been telling myself throughout clinicals: It's ok to be nervous. It's ok to ask a lot of questions, even "obvious" ones. It's ok to take a long time to do whatever. It's ok to have to go back and redo something!

Let's see, what else...use the nurses and other staff as a resource! Most of the time they want to help you out. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply.

We will be doing bed baths, vitals, insulin injections, and from what I understand alot of wound changes due to it being a Veterans Hosp.

Great Advice!

Thx again!

I did my first clinical rotation at the VA and really enjoyed it. The patients loved the students and were willing to let us do everything we could to learn. It's gonna be a great experience.. good luck!

I agree with ManEnough....most patients love to have students because they get more attention then they normally would from us regular nurses. You guys usually have more time to talk with them and do the "little things" that patients appreciate. Take your time with your new skills, BREATHE, ask questions, BREATHE, make friends with staff (they know where everything is), BREATHE, take your breaks & eat something, BREATHE, oh yeah, and have fun!

Smile. The vets will love you.

If you break into a sweat like I did (and still do when I'm doing something new), don't lose your sense of humor. NEVER lose your sense of humor. You will find it your most useful tool to take you through the long haul.

In the beginning, the instructors are looking for the first ones out of the gate. Translation: don't be afraid to take risks. You will probably be doubled up at first with another student. At some time the instructor may ask for volunteers to go it alone. Remember, this is beds and baths we're talking in the beginning. There's not much you can do to mess up. You will not be asked to exceed your competency level. The students who are the first ones out of the gate generally get the confidence of the instructor and her personal mentoring. Very helpful when evaluations are done and does a lot for your own self-confidence.

Forge respectful professional relationships with the nurses on the floor. Approach them on equal footing. They may seem like they bite but they really don't. If you catch a wiff of an attitude, don't take it personally. You may have caught them at a particularly bad time. So far I haven't met a nurse on the floor yet who hasn't been helpful, respectful and genuinely friendly.

Remember that you're in a sacred place. People come into the world and leave the world and suffer illness and pain in this institution called the hospital. You might be tempted to forget that at times when you see things you will see. Remeber, it's about the patient.