a great clinical rotation

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I just finished a 4 week, 8 day OB rotation at one of the local hospitals. It was actually much more than that. The instructor who has taken over this particular clinical experience has been determined to expand the program (an ADN at a community college) to include public health experiences. They've previously had 99% of the clinicals at several of the local hospitals.

This instructor sent us to the VNA, Planned Parenthood, a community health clinic, the local WIC office to observe prenatal cares, preventative cares, women's health services, family cares. Plus time at the hospital for delivery experience. She made it all inclusive so as wonderful as L&D can be, this rotation encompassed an entire spectrum of female/family issues.

It's been an eye-opening experience for me. I've been considering a great many ethical, moral issues such as the cost of public health, providing cares to undocumented residents, abortion. I was determined to go into geriatric nursing - still think that's my calling but I'm feeling the tug of women's health. i'm glad to know I do have more interests. :chuckle

0 Votes
Specializes in Med/Surg..
This instructor sent us to the VNA, Planned Parenthood, a community health clinic, the local WIC office to observe prenatal cares, preventative cares, women's health services, family cares.

I've been considering a great many ethical, moral issues such as the cost of public health, providing cares to undocumented residents, abortion.

Hi Cindy,

You mentioned ethical and moral issues in your post regarding abortion, etc. I was wondering if any of the places your instructor sent you to performed abortions and if you had a choice not to go to them if you were morally against abortions?

I know as a Nurse we can't make moral judgements on our patients, but for Religious reasons I wouldn't want to be forced to spend anytime as a Nursing Student doing any clinical time in a facility that performs abortions. I plan on going into geriatrics when I become a Nurse so the abortion issue would never come up in my job. I was just wondering if going to places like planned parenthood is an option or a requirement. Thanks, Susan

0 Votes

We did a similar rotation with our Mental Health program. Not only did we do the actual psych unit but we also did an evening at the local Soup Kitchen, an AA meeting, and a special school program for troubled youth. We were exposed to many different types of mental health issues I learned a lot from this rotation.

Good luck with your schooling and I hope you find the calling you are looking for.

I graduate this Friday March 12th. And am looking forward boards and to job hunting.

JJ

0 Votes

If I had wanted to opt out of the Planned Parenthood clinical, my instructor would have honored that request. They do schedule the student nurses so that they are not there on the days the doctor is in the building performing abortions or 'terminations' as they are called there.

I did have trouble with that aspect of the agency. I would not have gone if being part of the abortions was part of the experience.

But I was fascinated by the preventative cares offered and the health aspects of the clientele that was addressed. I never knew I would have such a strong interest in that aspect of nursing so I count the experience as a success. Also because even though I knew what my beliefs were prior to this, it's just cemented them even more. If the geriatrics angle doesn't work out for me, I'll surely think about finding an agency/organization that provides women's/family health care without the abortions.

Being an older student, I have wondered what I would learn about myself as I went through this process. I determined that if I was going to make this change at this time in my life, I was going to be willing to be open to it in whatever form the learning took.

I've learned that my basic core morals and beliefs are what I thought they were - they haven't changed. I've also reconfirmed that as I want others to allow me to make my way through this world, I will do the same for them. We may discuss issues but then we'll part as independent people, determining our own way.

I feel the more the same and yet just more......

ain't life grand????

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.
If I had wanted to opt out of the Planned Parenthood clinical, my instructor would have honored that request. They do schedule the student nurses so that they are not there on the days the doctor is in the building performing abortions or 'terminations' as they are called there.

I did have trouble with that aspect of the agency. I would not have gone if being part of the abortions was part of the experience.

I think its a good thing they would honor that request. I won't get into any sort of debate here, but I'm glad they put the students requests above all else, especially considering the violence surrounding clinics and the abortion doctors. Safety should be a prime concern, and a lot of those places have "bulls-eyes" on them, if you know what I mean.

I went with a friend once to a WIC clinic. The nurses and assistants there were wonderful. They did not once treat her like a poor woman not willing to work. She was breast-feeding at the time, and gave her some great advice. It was nice to see her not be judged like she had been so many times in the past. Even after one of her children was no longer eligible for WIC, they helped her continue to get services for him, and even set her up with a work-study program when she was able, so she could find better employment than what she had.

I think that would be a great rotation. What a super opportunity! I hope whatever school I chose offers the same sort of thing.

It is nice to hear that students feelings about certain things are taken into consideration. It would be horrible to be forced to participate in something you did not believe in.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment