Who has been to clinicals?

missjennmb · Nov 12, 2008

We've been doing clinicals for about a month now and I love it. I had so much apprehension and was a bit worried that I would be all grossed out by the poop and all of that and after seeing the patients and realizing how HUMAN they all are, it doesn't even phase me a bit. I'm excited by clinicals and it has just reinforced for me how much I need to become a nurse. I will say though that it has brought out a really bad side in some of my classmates. Who has helped who, who is doing what right/wrong, who is going to "hurt a patient" (nobody, but they still speculate and its mean) Its sad, but I try not to think about it too much. I cannot WAIT to do this for a living! If it was not for the low pay CNAs get, I would probably just go do that. I really enjoy spending time with the patients that much.

As for what we do... right now we are doing CNA work and that will change next semester and so on as we get more indepth knowledge in the nursing specifics. So right now, I go in at 6:45, greet my patient (who may or may not be able to interact with me), get an idea of her status/needs from those who have cared for her prior to me, do a full bed bath and change her brief, change her bedclothes and her clothing, take vitals, note any abrasions or other abnormalities, flush G tubes, change bandages or watch an LPN change them, talk to the patient, rub them down with lotion, do oral care, feed them if needed, note their bowel movements/urine output/food % eaten, turn them on their schedule, refill ice pitchers, take patients outside to sit in the sun, get a verbal history if they're able, read their chart, note their meds/diagnoses/lab results for my care plan assignment, help others with similar tasks, and thats about it.

Its fun. I love it. The patients/residents REALLY appreciate it in the nursing homes because they do not get enough visitors or attention other than when we come and "pamper them". Its a great place to start clinicals IMO because of the general temperment of the patients and that fact that they are used to being "messed with" and whatever their current condition is so are not as stressed out as the hospital patients might be.

Nurse n Training · Nov 13, 2008

I started clinicals about 5 weeks ago and I was a little nervous on my first day, but it was not bad at all...we start out in nursing homes and work with the cna's for the first two weeks...mostly it was bed making, pt. feeding, changing diapers, getting the pt's dressed ect...you are going to notice that their is a big difference in what is taught and what is actually done...and there is a lesson to be learned...my advise to you is to try to get as much exposure to as much as possible...just jump right in there and during the down time...try to go with the treatment nurse and you will get to see more of what your job as a nurse will be like.

crochetangel2 · Nov 16, 2008

I am in the LVN program and there is four weeks left of our semester.

My advice is not only care for your patient do others,ask nurses or questions,look in the charts(history,careplans,nurses notes ) or treatment books, ask if there is anything you can do like: vitals signs,blood glucose levels, cath insertion or care,GT flushing or feeding,wound care,etc and do physical assessments. Always ask questions till someone answer them even the patient may answer what you need.

Ask your teacher if she can go with you to some of these things to get checked off.

whippoorwill · Nov 16, 2008

Yes! The more questions you ask and seem interested, the better your experience will be. The staff will help you and interact with you. If you act shy or don't interact, they will do the same to you. The best advice I was given was to do what makes you uncomfortable. Meaning if you are afraid to ambuate a patient, shave a face for hte first time, remove a cath, anything that makes you uncomfortable, BE THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER TO DO IT. Face your fears, it is the only way that you will become confident. GOOD LUCK!

Peachez8207 · Nov 19, 2008

This is our first week of clinicals and today is day 3 the last day for us, until next week. I too was excited because this was my very first clinical as a nursing student. The first day I was kind of disappointed by the attitudes of some of the nursing staff and CNA's, you see we went to this same facility last quarter during prereq's for CNA and we were limited to doing the same thing we did last quarter. There was one nurse willing to let us do meds with the supervision of our instructor but their was one that was just not willing. It's crazy since the facilitiy knows when were coming and for what reasons. This is supposed to be training for us and for the most part we weren't getting it. I want to learn and and desperately need to learn this is an important job and not one that should be taken lightly. This is what we were supposed to do on clinicals:

Head to Toe Assessment, Assist with ADL's, Total Pt care, draw up and push meds and work on our care plans. I'm still enthused and can't wait for next week to get here so I can get more experience from the the current nurses. We switch to a different ward so maybe things will be different next week. Good luck with your clinicals it will be herebeforeyou know it.

CLUVRN, MSN, RN · Nov 20, 2008

I'm in my 2nd clinical rotation at the local hospital. It's very interesting; it's like going through on the job training, but you're not getting paid.:nuke:

TRISHA,SN · Nov 21, 2008

HELLO THERE---I ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ILLINOIS AND I AM IN MY 13TH WEEK OF THE NURSING PROGRAM. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE FLOOR AT THE HOSPITALS IN OUR AREA SINCE WEEK 5. AT FIRST ALL WE DID WAS HEAD TO TOE ASSESSMENTS, CNA DUTIES, AND LEARNED THE SYSTEM FOR COMPUTER CHARTING. THIS 8 WEEKS WE ARE DOING MED PASSES, WHICH INCLUDE EVERYTHING THAT IS ORDERED FOR THE CLIENT, WE ALSO DO THINGS LIKE WOUND DRESSINGS, NG CARE, CATH INSERTIONS, INJECTIONS, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT THE PRIMARY NURSE DOES. I WAQS NERVOUS AND STILL AM EVERY WED. MORNING WHEN IT COMES TIME TO STEP ON THE FLOOR, BUT ONCE I'M THERE ALL FALLS INTO PLACE AND I REALLY ENJOY THE REAL WORLD LEARNING THAT I AM GETTING.

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T STRESS TOO MUCH, AND NEVER EVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT!!! :yeah:

MrsBradyMom · Nov 22, 2008

What do we do? What should you expect?

Here was my week:

My first patient's room looked like something out of a SAW movie. He ripped out his IV, ripped out his Foley and proceeded to walk down the hall, gown flapping in the wind, trailing blood.

My second patient came in with suspected MI. Well, 2 hours into shift it was no longer suspected....he was having one right in front of me. Screamed for RN, called First Response.

Found 3rd patient lying in pool of poo, urine, and liquid food (TPN). I have no idea how a peg tub can become dislodged, but figures it happens on my shift.

That all happened on Friday. So I came home and had a glass of wine.

Hang on kiddo, it's one helluva ride! :nurse:

LPN_thts_M3 · Nov 24, 2008

Thanx for the replies. Looking forward to the unknown. We tour the facilities Tuesday..can't wait

crochetangel2 · Nov 25, 2008

I have 2 weeks left of this semester. Yet we began clinicals right away.

We provided patient care like CNA's do in the beginning. Yet every week you will progress by doing such homework assignments as doing head to toe physicals,and careplans on a pt. with the steps of the nursing process. passing PO meds(looking up on MAR indication for your pt., in drug book:trade/generic name,classification,pertient lab tests,adverse effects,blood sugars, vital signs,applying skills such as catherization,and charting in the nurses notes.

Ask questions(nurses and patient) and look in the patients chart for info.

Help other patients and search for something to do pertient to nursing to learn new things. You'll do fine don't worry keep your assertive excitement.

I am exhausted and looking forward to a break in between semesters. I work and go to classes. I have done well. I have one assignment left and a couple of finals soon.

Enjoy! :yeah:

ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2008

Clinicals were my favorite part of LPN school...it was nice to put all that theory to practice.