Experienced my first clinical today

[fnimat1]

My first clinical was in an extended care facility in my area. At the beginning of the day we watched tapes on elder abuse, infection control, Alzheimers and dementia. After lunch we went to the unit that our patients are on and they all have Alzheimers or Dementia. We had a scavenger hunt, the purpose of it was to locate the things on our list. We found most of the items. My professor then took us to the nursing station to go through the Accountability Book. It was at that moment that I started to feel light headed and faint. I said to myself, "C'mon Fatima, get it together...do not pass out." I don't know if it was the woman who kept screamin' for Veronica or what??? But I did get it together and felt better once I walked through the unit with my classmates. I am excited though, a little nervous. I don't know why they put us on this unit for our first semester in nursing school. I guess it's all a part of learning to be a nurse. I don't know how we are going to verbally communicate with these patients, some of them looked like they couldn't talk back. I will get my patient assignment on Monday.

Fatima

[mariedoreen]

I don't know if it was the woman who kept screamin' for Veronica or what??? Fatima

LOL! Our first clinical site for my CNA class last summer was at an LTC facility so I can definitely relate to that. I remember walking in so nervous and thinking "What have I gotten myself into?!" We did half of our clinicals at the LTC facility and half at the hospital and by the time I was done with LTC I didn't want to leave to go to the hospital, I loved it there! We're doing LTC our first term of nursing school too and I'm happy about that! I think it's a great way to get all the basics down. Good luck to you!

[RedSox33RN]

Don't think you're the only one that felt a little light-headed this week! LOL More than once I was ready just to walk out the door, saying "What in the world am I doing HERE???" I'm glad I didn't though - I'll bet next week will be easier, now that I know what to expect.

We did have one student leave our clinical group the first day we had a patient. She wasn't feeling well (maybe stress?), but I keep thinking how much worse it's going to be for her next week, when all of us HAVE done our bed baths and stuff with pt's, and she has to do last weeks stuff and this week's also.