A day in the life of a nursing student

dudette10, MSN, RN · Mar 26, 2011

I start my Practicum soon, but prior to the Practicum, since 3rd semester clinicals, we as students are allowed to do everything as long as a CI instructor or Co-Nurse is present. We can take on a full patient load with our nurse as long as we are watched. Now the level of independence really depends on the nurse you are with. When we move onto our Practicum it is basically supposed to be much the same, but in this case the nurse is very clear that she/he is to shadow us basically, be there for assistance and guidance but try to let it be as if we were on our own. So depending on the CO-Nurses prior, some of us have got to come pretty close to that already.

We had more independence at the end of clinicals, too, but the difference is, to me, that the RN was lead, and the CI was overseeing us. We did full assessments, charting, med pass, tasks, etc. However, in my clinicals, certain things were still the responsibility of the RN: taking off orders, prioritizing the new orders, etc. We may have implemented the orders, but we were not taking them off or prioritizing them.

I'm finding it intimidating, I guess, to be lead in practicum. I take report, not her. I do all paperwork from start to finish, except for a few things we are forbidden to do. The RN will not let anything happen to the patient, and she's overseeing me, but it's *my* thought processes that are leading care, and she steps in to correct me and be available for questions. Of course, she's doing it slowly based on her trust in my competence, but I was lead by day 4. Many, many of my classmates are surprised at the difference between clinicals and practicum based on our experience in practicum. One was lead by day 2!

Your experience may be different, of course. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on practicum once you get there. For you, it might not be that much different than clinicals apparently!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 26, 2011

We had more independence at the end of clinicals, too, but the difference is, to me, that the RN was lead, and the CI was overseeing us. We did full assessments, charting, med pass, tasks, etc. However, in my clinicals, certain things were still the responsibility of the RN: taking off orders, prioritizing the new orders, etc. We may have implemented the orders, but we were not taking them off or prioritizing them.
I'm finding it intimidating, I guess, to be lead in practicum. I take report, not her. I do all paperwork from start to finish, except for a few things we are forbidden to do. The RN will not let anything happen to the patient, and she's overseeing me, but it's *my* thought processes that are leading care, and she steps in to correct me and be available for questions. Of course, she's doing it slowly based on her trust in my competence, but I was lead by day 4. Many, many of my classmates are surprised at the difference between clinicals and practicum based on our experience in practicum. One was lead by day 2!
Your experience may be different, of course. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on practicum once you get there. For you, it might not be that much different than clinicals apparently!

Thank you for clearing that up, I went back and re-read some of your posts, like when you had said this "If you have a practicum at the end of your program, be prepared to "start all over again," regardless of your grades during class." So I wasn't sure if I was missing something.

But you are right on something I didn't think about, the thing with the orders and stuff, we can't do that as students. It's a struggle here to because we have 2 major health-care systems and 4 hospitals locally. When they say people can chose healthcare, a lot of times that is a pretty lose saying. When there is 1 hospital in a 100 mile radious. Here, within 1 hr drive, there are at least 7 different hospitals I can think off hand. Within 35 mins about 5. (my town is not a major city either, it's crazy) Our school works with 4 of them which are 2 competing companies. So anyway, I have had clinicals at 3 of the 4 hospitals. The companies are a lot different with what students can do and so on. Just the whole environment. So it's been a struggle to go from one place where you can do all of this, but the staff was different, or another where the facility says you can't do that, but the staff really supports you to spread your wings and wants to be able to. If that makes sense.

Anyway, I get my Practicum assignment Tuesday. I am a nervous wreck about it. We got some disheartening news regarding them at the start of the semester so I am just hoping I get in a hospital period at this point. I will let you know how it goes. Outside of some of the charting though and the orders, some nurses have really let us take the reigns on a lot. It's been nice. This week though I had a nurse that seemed so flighty and disorganized I pretty much just had to shadow here. As a 4th semester student in clinicals that was hard. But than we ended up getting a code and I watched that and the afternoon I got to go in on a patient that came back from Open Heart surgery.(on this unit they pretty much take the patient right after the surgery when they start warming them up and all that) Since it was such a critical patient students weren't allowed to really do care, but it was still a lot more interesting than what I was doing that morning.

Anyway, thanks for the explanations. Schools vary so much that I was just curious how yours went. Doesn't actually seem that different though. I will let you know how they go!

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 27, 2011

Oh I don't have to study because I have a degree in another field (what they're really saying is "I'm smarter than you are because of this.")
My program is the BEST. All the nurses love me. My patients love me. They cried my last day there....(Yeah, OK, Everyone's program is "the best"...the "other" programs are "sub-par" and that's why your snooty behind isn't in them).
"I'm there for my patients, which is what nursing is all about." (Then why are you always texting/hanging out at the nurses station, or complaining about the purse that Ashley/Brittany/Michelle brought to class).
OMG I finished the NCLEX in under an hour. It was sooooooo easy. There must be something wrong with you if it takes you longer or if you can't pass it.

Well...um...yeah? You didn't know this?(hope you know what sarcasm is).

And it seems that when other people find something easy, it makes you mad...wonder why that is?? :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: I'm texting at work right now...I guess I better shape up or leave cuz I'm not making it as a real nurse. Snoot on! :yawn:

BrigidG · Mar 27, 2011

I have two lecture days and one clinical day.

On lecture days, I get up at 0630 and class is from 0800 - 0945.

After that I usually go see my boyfriend until about 2, eat lunch then go home and study until dinner.

After dinner I relax, study some more and sleep.

On clinical days, I get up at 0430, and either eat breakfast at home or during the 45 minute drive to the hospital.

Clinical is from 0630 - 1530.

Then I go home, write a care plan that night and the next day.

On days with no class or clinical, I usually sleep in, study and MAYBE work out.

That's kind of taken a back seat.