How long until you stop feeling like you got your butt kicked?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2010

I guess I never felt that way because I was always so excited for clinicals because that is my area that I shine in. We would only do 10 hours shifts but we had lab after that for another couple hours and was some long days. Totally fun though.

I really loved the Hospital clinicals myself too (99% of the time), but I still would feel exhausted. I did the 1-11:30 shift though so I am not sure if that had something to do with it. I would get home close to midnight and then find it so hard to wind down for a couple hours. Then would have class in the morning at 8, so I would have to be up at 5:30 (I have 4 kids)and the other day would have to go into the hospital about 10 to do all my patient research and labs for my 2 patients. I am sure that had an impact on my exhaustion lol I have back problems to and arch problems so I would be hurting pretty good after too.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Apr 1, 2010

wait til you have 12 hour clinicals. I do 3 a week for my preceptorship.

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Apr 1, 2010

The hospital in my area actually doesn't have 12 hour shifts. Everything is 8 hours. So Management students (our final semester students) come in 2 or 3 times a week for 8 hours at a time.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

We have a 12 hour clinical as well as a 8 hour clinical every week. I am young so I am fine after a long day. Once I told my classmates at conference that I could do another 12, they all looked at me as if I was crazy. However I realized I cannot study after a 12 hour. The focus isn't there even though I'm wide awake. Anyone else have this problem?

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

I try and sneak in some studying at clinical, if things are slow. I always bring one of my books. Also, make note cards if you need to.

If my clinical days are not back to back (it varies by the week) then I study on my days off.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

I can't do anything after clinical; I have no idea how you folks with families do it. I go home and nap on couch for at least 2 hours.

Here's how we do it: we go home and nap on the couch for 2 hours!

I could not make it through this program without my husband. He picks up my slack, and he feels soooooo good when I need a cuddle. :redpinkhe I'm in awe of the single parents, but, fortunately, most of them have said they have extended family that helps a lot. Support systems--whether you're single or married, with kids or without them--are so important.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

I try and sneak in some studying at clinical, if things are slow. I always bring one of my books. Also, make note cards if you need to.
If my clinical days are not back to back (it varies by the week) then I study on my days off.

Seriously? If we had time to read textbooks or notecards our instructor would give us another patient!

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

Seriously? If we had time to read textbooks or notecards our instructor would give us another patient!

I am the only student on the floor (I am in my semester long preceptorship). I'm doing maternity, so yeah, there are some slow days and I take full advantage of the down time.

In my regular clinical, this situation never presented itself, but I was always prepared in the off chance that it did.

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Apr 2, 2010

I worked full time as a tech while waiting to get into school and it honestly only took me about 2 weeks to get over the newness-tired.

It helps if you exercise.

Michaelxy · Apr 3, 2010

I'm pretty useless after an 8 hour clinic once a week--just really tired and achy, even if the day went great. So how long, once you started working did it take for you NOT to feel like someone set you up on an energy-drain machine?

I think this feeling continues all the way up to the point where you turn 65 yrs of age, qualify for retirement, and are eligible for the Denny's senior dinner plate special. :smokin: