The following are some tips and recommendations I've collected from my own nursing students, other faculty members, and this board over the years. I hope you find it helpful.
Supplies and tips for clinicals
Load your smartphone (if your facility allows them) or PDA with apps such as NCLEX review and RNNotes, software from Skyscape and Unbound Medical (such as lab programs, drug books, Epocrates, etc) and also find freeware for nursing. Buy a high quality stethoscope and have it laser engraved. It will make it less likely to "walk off" during clinicals. Buy the best shoes you can afford, your feet will thank you. Set everything out for clinicals the night before, such as your bag, care plan forms, uniform, pens, penlight, stethoscope, books, PDA or smartphone, parking pass, etc.
Carry emergency supplies with you such as change (if you forget your lunch), feminine hygiene products, hair bands, breath mints, tylenol or other headache medicine, kleenex, lip balm, hair pins, bandaids, hand lotion . Carry an extra pair of scrubs with you (you never know!) Good supplies to have- a small notebook, retractable sharpie pen, 4-color pens, bandage shears, pocket assessment and care plan/nursing diagnosis book, watch with second hand, calculator, clipboard that closes for privacy, pocket hand sanitizer (for lunch), mini stapler. Always save your care plans and any drug cards you make.
Clinical tips- clinicals are what you make of them. Look for things to do and ways to help. You shouldn't be standing around unless you know everything about every diagnosis on the floor, and no one needs help. Show up early. Tell the staff nurse what you are capable of doing and what you would like to do that day. Have excellent communication with the staff- tell them what your plan is, what you have done, when you are leaving the floor, the patient's status, etc. Report any changes you note immediately. Ask questions! Realize that sometimes staff members may be overwhelmed, this is not a reflection on you; do your best to be helpful.
Look up as much information as you can. Ask your instructor about common diagnoses on the floor you will visit. Be familiar with them and the nursing care expected. Do the same with common medications.
Each time you enter the room, perform a quick scan of the patient and the room. Are the IV bags nearly empty? Is the room safe? Does the patient need anything? See how many things you can assess while you are in the room. Find a routine that works for you in clinicals. Never give a medication without knowing what it is an repeatedly performing the rights of administration.
For the classroom- use technology to your advantage. If it is allowed, consider recording with Microsoft OneNote or a recorder. You can listen to this while you exercise or commute, and there are also many great podcasts available on iTunes; some books also come with audio notes. Buy an NCLEX book (or several) and use them constantly to prepare for your exams and to practice. Start doing 20 questions each week and build up from there. Don't take any test without first trying NCLEX practice questions reviewing the areas you will be tested on. The more you practice, the better you will be at nursing exams. Buy a great backpack, and have a "daily folder" that you can carry the information you will need for that day (ex- power point, assignments due, notes, etc); you can then transfer it to your main class folder when you return home and you won't break your back carrying an entire semester's information with you.
Use Facebook for study groups if you live far away. Create a study area with plenty of pens, pencils, highlighters, a sturdy bookshelf, post it flags, notecards, printer paper and extra cartridges, flash drive, and a dry erase board/calendar. Use a smartphone or calendar and fill in all due dates ahead of time. Color code notebooks and highlighters for each class, especially if you use one book for more than one class. Don't get behind, and ask your professors for help early if you are in trouble. Try out a study group with people of similar abilities, you might like it.
Reminders- you will feel stupid and out of place at times, especially in your first semesters. This is normal. There is nothing wrong with you. You can do it. Never be afraid to ask. Take time to do something fun for yourself each week, even if only for an hour. Exercise. Cook large healthy meals on the weekend that you can reheat during a crazy week.
Most of all-take lots of pictures and enjoy this short time in school as much as possible.
