Do you enjoy med surg clinicals? Vent...

LiLev · Sep 1, 2012

I also started a drug database, which has made a huge time difference (sometimes it's the meds that take the longest for me esp in med-surg where some people have ridiculous amounts).

Coco.nut, sounds like a good idea about the computer. How did you make a drug database? Like Access or just in a word document? I'm always looking for time management ideas.Linda

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Sep 1, 2012

I was wondering how everyone felt about their med surg clinicals? I hate mine and can not wait to rotate to a different area. I am in my 3rd semester and have 4 patients. I am expected to do everything for my patients: all adl care, vital signs, assessments, meds, IVs, procedures, electronic charting, calling the md and pharmacy ect...
This wouldn't be so bad if I could get more than a couple of hours of sleep before going to the hospital. We have to pick our patients the day before, then go home and fill out the clinical prep packet. This prep packet takes about 3 hours per patient! So, I usually get about 3-4 hours of sleep before clinical days, and I am not the type of person who can function well on little sleep.
I think the worst part of clinicals is the dread that builds up waiting for my clinical instructor to come follow us around, interrogate us, and rip us to shreds. I am so stressed about clinicals that I have diarrhea and a constant headache the day before clinicals, and both clinical days. I assumed it was just me, but recently found out 6 out of 10 students in my clinical group have the same problem.
Sometimes I think med surg is just not the area for me. But then sometimes think about it and realize that RNs can just come in and do their job. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I could get enough sleep, pull my own meds, and not have to spend 30 minutes looking for the instructor every time I have to do a procedure.

I didn't like MS clinicals, either, and I know MS isn't for me. You shouldn't be responsible for calling the MD and pharmacy since you can't take orders. And, if you have to wait for your instructor to pass meds that aren't given in time, that is placing the RN who is in charge of those patients at risk, also. Can you discuss with your instructor the meds beforehand in pre-conference, pull them, and give them with your nurse instead? Same with procedures. You should have been checked off on some of those skills in the classroom. But, of course, that all depends on your school and hospital policy. I had to do the paperwork just like you did, pick a pt the day before and spend the night doing paperwork. It's a pain, but you can do it. Just try to get a little more sleep!

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2012

Wow, I just started third semester. We currently have 1 patient and we are allowed to pull and give our own meds. I thought that was normal. We do have to wait for either the instructor or a nurse if we are doing procedures though.

Yikes, working under whose license? I would think this could put both you and your instructor at risk if a mistake is made.

SoHappyToBeRN · Sep 1, 2012

We are also pulling our own p.o. or injection medications (SQ heparin for example), (not insulin of course) by ourself. We will discuss our meds and be prepared to say what they are and why they are given to that particular patient. But we give them under our name. any IV drugs are given with an RN present, either our instructor or the primary RN. We are only having two patients but expected to be up to 3 by the end of the med surg rotation.

eleectrosaurus · Sep 1, 2012

LiLev said:
Coco.nut, sounds like a good idea about the computer. How did you make a drug database? Like Access or just in a word document? I'm always looking for time management ideas.Linda

YES drug card database is a must!! I also broke up my careplans into individual nsg dxs and saved them individually. My last clinical I was able to cut/paste a lot, saved myself hours.

What worked well for me was powerpower point believe it or not. Each drug card was a slide, then set it to print 4 or 6 per page and it would literally print drug cards.

Bouncyball · Sep 2, 2012

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Starting a electronic database so I can copy and paste is a great idea. I'm actually starting on it today. As far as all of the paperwork goes I am desperately trying to figure out how to spend less time on it. I think I'm going to start gradually not going into so much detail. If the clinical instructor does not say anything, I will contunue to do it.

On a positive note, at least I'm learning time management! Only another month and a half and I get to rotate to another unit. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

LiLev · Sep 2, 2012

Thanks coco.nut!

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Sep 2, 2012

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Starting a electronic database so I can copy and paste is a great idea. I'm actually starting on it today. As far as all of the paperwork goes I am desperately trying to figure out how to spend less time on it. I think I'm going to start gradually not going into so much detail. If the clinical instructor does not say anything, I will contunue to do it.
On a positive note, at least I'm learning time management! Only another month and a half and I get to rotate to another unit. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Time management and prioritizing are important to get down now. That is an extremely useful skill for later, too!!

Sbrown9531 · Sep 2, 2012

Wow! Four patients? I am in my third semester also and there are six of us with two patients each. You will make it though!Hang in there

Racer15, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2012

Oh wow, I would lose my mind. The MOST patients I have ever had was third semester when I was the manager. I had three, but I had a student under me that I was "managing", so my workload wasn't so bad. I'm in my final semester now and I only have two patient care days with two patients each time, and there is a student manager so we only really have one patient each. I guess the bright side is that you'll have some great time management skills by the end? We can administer meds by ourselves as long as the instructor has checked off on them first, which saves me loads of time.

coco.nut · Sep 3, 2012

LiLev,

I just use a table to input info name, action, etc. Then you can search for the drug in your doc with ctrl F. I started off using Word, but switched to Google docs for several reasons:

It's always accessible wherever I am

I can share it with others to use - just give them the doc address

I can allow it to be edited so others can add drugs as they run across them as well ( I love this aspect, lol)

I wish i had done something similar for my care plans! They are all on the computer, but I have to sift through them for specifics. Often it's just as quick to not use them.