First day of clinicals

loriangel14, RN · Feb 23, 2014

Don't be late, eat breakfast, answer bells,leave the phone at home. If you run out of things to do ask who needs help.Have a good day.

ixchel · Feb 23, 2014

Eat breakfast.

So. Much. Breakfast.

Protein, and bring a banana with you. Get there early. Bring your clinical firms and your care plan stuff. All of it. Pack your bag the night before. Don't forget your name badge.

It's your first day. You won't be expected to know anything. But you will be expected to be prepared.

And full. Eat breakfast.

ImKosher · Feb 23, 2014

Good job on getting through your first semester. Before clinical, always make sure that you have done your study and learned about your material and pt information. Eat a good breakfast. Always be available to help. Never stand around and talk especially when they congregate at the nursing station. Answer the call bells. Get to know your techs, they're your biggest help and friend. Pull policies for every skill (you will impress the clinical instructor). Just be willing, and able. I have always enjoyed clinical, so don't get nervous. Get excited and be ready to learn. Take Care.

BusiestBSN · Feb 24, 2014

I third eating breakfast... And get a good night sleep the night before! Hard to do when you are nervous/excited, I know, but well worth it the next day.

laKrugRN · Feb 24, 2014

I too, agree with eating a good breakfast, and a good cup of coffee!

Don't be nervous! Trust me, they are not as bad as you think! They let you put your skills to practice! Bring pen, paper, clipboard, drug guide, scissors, watch, and of course your trusty stethoscope! Always volunteer and offer to do things! Good experience! Go in with confidence! You've got this!

ahinson07 · Feb 24, 2014

Thanks so much for all this great advice everyone!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 24, 2014

I also highly recommend a big breakfast. I don't know why, but it seems like I get ravenously hungry around 10 AM (our clinical day starts at 7). We usually don't eat until 11:30/noonish, depending on the shift. We only get 30 minutes, so by the time you get your purse out of the locker and get through the line in the cafeteria, you only have about 10-15 minutes to wolf down a partial lunch and get back on the floor. A big breakfast goes a long way.

We've had some students get light-headed because they didn't eat. One almost passed out when she observed in the OR. We are not allowed to sit down, so standing for 6 hours straight really zaps your energy.

The other thing I highly recommend is to not stand around doing nothing. If you've completed everything you need to do with your patient, ask your nurse or the techs if there's anything you can do to help. Answer call lights, do Accu-checks, toilet/bathe other patients, etc. If you go out of your way to be helpful, the nursing staff really appreciates it and the nurses will let you know when there's a "cool" procedure to watch. The techs will also appreciate the help and usually will go out of their way to return the favor.

It certainly makes the day go by faster :)

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 24, 2014

Hon, if you're using your own picture as an avatar, I strongly suggest that you remove it. You don't want to advertise your 'real life' on any social network, particularly one in which you may end up ranting about your school, challenging patients, bad faculty, etc.... stop problems before they begin.

You're going to be fine. We've all been there and we made it through just fine.

ixchel · Feb 24, 2014

Hon if you're using your own picture as an avatar, I strongly suggest that you remove it. You don't want to advertise your 'real life' on any social network, particularly one in which you may end up ranting about your school, challenging patients, bad faculty, etc.... stop problems before they begin. You're going to be fine. We've all been there and we made it through just fine.[/quote']
Oops! I hadn't noticed that but also, consider changing your screen name.