2 patients/clinicals

[FNPhopeful]

Anyone up to 2 patients yet in clinicals? Is it tougher?

We start passing meds next week so Im predicting things are gonna get a bit more stressful and we'll also get 2 patients.

Any organization tips? mental or otherwise?

I tried carrying the clip board around but it got irritating to tote so I switched to a small pocket size note pad.

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

Daytonite brought up good organizational skills. I sort of use this system already. I have a little pocket book called "RN-Notes," and it has tables, grids to keep pt info seperate as well as assessment skills and reminders. You can write on it with your ball point pen and erase it with an alcohol pad. It's a wonderful little tool. You can find it on amazon, or any book store and it's not expensive at all.

I have that book "RN-Notes" as well & I took out the 2 needed 'glossed' pages and hooked them to my lil' spiral pocket-sized notepad. That way, I can have the glossed 'assessment' pages to remember everything by, as well as have regular paper to jot anything else down that I may need to do throughout the day. :)

I have a big clipboard 'case' and brought it to my first clinical. I soon realized there's not a whole bunch of room to put a clipboard when the client's belongings, etc is covering the tables. (Also, if the patient is MRSA, etc I don't want to put my clipboard down on something he/she has just touched, then go to the next client's room! ....My lil' spiral's covers are plastic, so I can wipe the covers down.)

(I don't want the whole book in my pocket because I have my PDA with a med-surg program, etc.)

[RNinJune2007, RN]

Personally, I found it easier to give care to two patients. We didn't start that until third semester, though. I thought it was easier because (usually) when you do something on the first patient, you do the same with the second. (I.e. morning assessment on #1 then #2...) You start to get in the "swing of things" and can just knock all of the stuff you have to do more quickly.

It is also extremely helpful for learning skills, because instead of just having the one patient to perform skills on, you have two. It allows for many more experiences, which is definitely a positive.

I agree with the person that said get the A.M. assessment done first... then you'll be set for the rest of the day! (And if you don't get it done first thing... you're LOST for a bit and get behind.)