clinicals

[janleb]

Last year in clinicals many fellow students complained about some nurses during their clinicals. The rude remarks, looks,you know what I mean. I realize that nursing is stressful (my sister is a RN). Anyway what I found that helped in some cases.

1. First and utmost come prepared, do your clinical prep, be knowlegable.

2. your first clinicals you can't do much, but do what you can to help. (go get supplies and set them up)ask what you can do.

3. First thing I did on clinical days was to find my pt nurse and introduce myself and ask questions regarding her pt.

I think if you show confidence, act respectful and be concerned you will on the most part get along fine. One way to get brownie pts. if you take a pt chart tell your nurse so she will not have to hunt you down. Any other ideas or comments I would love to hear and I am sure others feel the same. I am excited about starting back this fall Janice

[USA987, MSN, RN, NP]

Janice,

You have a wonderful way of handling things. When I was out clinically most of my classmates had a problem with one particular nurse. Finally, one afternoon, I went to her and said, "I understand how difficult it must be to have six student nurses 'invade' your space. Thanks for being patient with us." From then on, we didn't receive one dirty look or snide comments from her.

Christine

[Ladybug]

Yep. I totally agree with you, Janleb. I have been to 6 clinical sites so far in my career as a nursing student, and if there's one thing I learned, its confidence.

Yah, so what if this is my FIRST injection... I'm going in with my chin up and a smile on my face.

Real Nurses (RNs) pick up on the confidence and seek you out to experience some-more!

-Ladybug

[TravelingTexan]

It's all in the attitude. You've got the right idea. Speaking from the other side of the fence... when a student comes into "our territory" (and many nurses do feel territorial about thier units) we take our cue from them. If they show us that they are willing to learn and are enthusiastic, they will get the attention and "we" will go out of our way to help them learn. On the other hand, if the "intruder" just stands by "waiting for experience and knowledge to drop in thier laps"... it aint gona' happen, and they are wasting my time.

You will go far with the right attitude and approach.

[VgsNrs]

Hey everyone...I am just interested on other students' approaches on prepping for clinicals to hopefully learn some new techniques. Fo me I am the type of person that NEEDS a routine when I get to my clincal that morning, and sometimes I just find myself running around like a chicken without a head, worrying about when to do my assessment, what to inlcude in it, what I have forgot to check, when to chart everything, etc. So I guess what I am asking is what and how do you guys plan out your day at the hospital in order to stay organized and less stressed?? Some nurses have shown me their own worksheets that they have created in order to keep track of every pt., I just have NOT found anything that works for me yet! Is there anyone else out there that feels like this?? ANY feedback would be much appreciated!

[PennyLane, RN]

Well so far we only have one patient at a time, so I rarely feel like a chicken with my head cut off, but I have seen nurses taking sheets of paper and dividing it up with rows of their patients, and columns for each hour. Then they put in relevent info for each hour--meds, procedures, family visits, transfers for tests, etc.

I basically try and do my assessment asap after getting the 8 am vitals and make sure I know when their meds are due. Also if something is pushing over the syringe pump I write down when it started so I can be there when it's done.

I'm sure some others will have better suggestions...

[twarlik]

One way to get brownie pts. if you take a pt chart tell your nurse so she will not have to hunt you down.

When we take a chart, we're required to leave a form with our name and location of the chart just in case anyone needs it. Seems to keep the nurses and docs happy.

[Carolanne]

QUOTE -- "3. First thing I did on clinical days was to find my pt nurse and introduce myself and ask questions regarding her pt.

I think if you show confidence, act respectful and be concerned you will on the most part get along fine. One way to get brownie pts. if you take a pt chart tell your nurse so she will not have to hunt you down."

This is awesome advice and works great. Show the nurses that you're on their side, you're there to help them out, and always be professional and treat others with respect. Great advice!! :)