??? for those in ADN program/2yr rn program

My classes start September 20th and I go to Belmont Technical College. Our first clinical is supposed to be at the school, but after that we go into the health facilities. I was wondering for those of you in the Associate or two year RN programs, what were your first clinicals like and did you practice any skills?

thanks, julee

[FarmgrrlRN]

First semester clinicals we did AM care, meds, injections, foleys, wound care, assessments, charting...things of that nature...it was expected that you would know how to do the skills once you took the practicum.

Now I'm in my second year and I do all of the above plus IV stuff.

[BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN]

I'm a 2nd year now and it seems that I can hardly remember the 1st semester. I do however remember our 1st clincal day at hospital (does anyone forget?).

We started slow with AM care - sheet changes, bed baths, oral care, assist with feeding, VS, etc. It depended on how much the pt needed. By the end of the semester we were giving oral meds and doing some charting.

Relax, take a big breath, and jump in. You'll be fine!

Good luck to you!

[shortsteph12]

We started at the nursing home for the first 8 weeks and then went to the hosital for the second 8 weeks. At the nursing home we did AM care, vitals, bed making, assisted in serving and feeding the patients breakfast or lunch if need be. The second 8 weeks we were in oncology and did AM care, po meds, vitals, I&O and there was alot of emphasis on our paperwork. They ease you into it bit by bit. Just this year are we doing anything with IVP or IBPB tubing and bag change. It isn't until the spring before we can actually hang IV's. Dont worry everybody is nervous it just takes time, maybe buddy up with someone who has worked as an AIDE so you get used to patients.

[nursecompassion]

Thanks for your reply's. My program is divided into quarters. I go fall, winter and spring quarters with summer off,,,,,,,for two years. I actually am an STNA at a nursing home, so direct pt care won't be too difficult for me. I was wondering when we start charting, meds,iv's, etc and get to the more indepth skills of nursing during clinicals.

Julee

[maire, ASN, RN]

Hrm let me think...

Meds we started in the first semester, but oral only. Injections we did starting the second semester. IV meds last semester.

Charting we did from the start, but for the first two semesters we had to write everything down on a separate paper and show it to our instructor before we could write on the chart. After that we were on our own, although the instructor did have to co-sign the flow sheet/nurse's notes at the end of the shift.

IVs we didn't start until the last semester.

HTH. Your mileage may vary. :)

[nursepearl]

We started out at a senior center where we learned to just get comfortable taking histories from people and with talking to them. We then went to senior homes and the hospital were we did more of the CNA skills and then oral meds and injections.

Good luck!

Pearl

[Iluvhospice]

Like the other posters, we started out with ADLs (what the rest of you are calling a.m. care) and very quickly moved on to meds (po, pr, ng tube, injections) We also were expected to be able to do trach care, foleys, ng tubes, etc... but not all of us got to do all of them. This semester we have IVs - and everything that goes along with them. My clinicals start tomorrow at 0630... wish me luck! My instructor says that this is the semester when we start to feel like a "real nurse." I expect she's right!

Good luck with your studies! Sarah

[klone, MSN, RN]

First semester clinicals we did AM care, meds, injections, foleys, wound care, assessments, charting...things of that nature...it was expected that you would know how to do the skills once you took the practicum.

Now I'm in my second year and I do all of the above plus IV stuff.

Ditto that, except we also do NG tubes in first semester. We do our clinical rotation at the local VA hospital, either the extended care facility or the sub-acute ward.

[rn undisclosed name]

We just had our orientation yesterday and it is pretty much basic care like everyone already mentioned. Plus we are doing a head to toe assessment and have to go up the night before to look at the charts. Luckily, they are starting us out with only one patient. I did work as a CNA for a short time and that helped me to feel comfortable with patients so I'm not nervous about that part. I'm just nervous about doing the assessment and not being able to find their blood pressure.

But they did show us suction cups, heating pads, and these velcro bandage type things that go over the TED stockings so I suppose we will be doing that also.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

You will probably find that your clinicals start out kinda slow. That's partly because a good school doesn't want to risk a patient (or get sued), so they make sure the students pretty much know what they are doing, and then they don't actually get to do anything major (like, invasive) unless the instructor is standing right there.

Another reason for starting off slowly is that you are learning nursing process, nursing diagnosis, medications and how to chart, while you practice caring for patients, so there is a lot to do.

I loved clinicals. I hope you do too!