advice on clinicals for RPNs

Fiona59 · Jan 1, 2005

Oh, ur bringing back bad memories. Our first clinical came in second semester and yes it was LTC. We did two weeks (7-1300) at the facility, returned to college for two weeks (tested and qualified to pass meds) and then returned to the same LTC for three weeks (7-1500). We had our care plans to prepare before each shift.

We lost one out of seven in the first go to work experience and then another one in week 6 of clinicals. By week five, I was nearly in tears at the thought of another day there.

Be prepared to work yourself physically to death. You get buddied up with an NA and work alongside them for the first while. By the end you have at least three residents to care for. Feed, bathe, toilet, transfer, bed making. The NA's will either be really good or foul to you. No inbetween.

Just remember that you are there to learn not be used. I know that you are guests (paying for the priviliege of being there) but if something makes you really unhappy go to your instructor.

But having said all that, I met some wonderful nurses, NA's and residents. It was just a very long hard seven weeks. I know that LTC is not my favourite place. Only ever found one facility that I actually enjoyed working at. I really respect those that can work LTC on a long term basis. You will learn time management!

Good Luck.

loriangel14, RN · Jan 1, 2005

Thanks for the reply. I wonder if they will pair us up with rpns? Our clinical is 3 weeks also ( 2 6hr shift /week)It's only a month away and we haven't been given much information yet. I don't even know where I am going. I work doing homecare so I am not really worried about the basic care. I did a placement in ltc when I took my PSW so maybe it will a similiar experience ( it was a good experience).:)

vickster · Jan 17, 2005

Thanks for the reply. I wonder if they will pair us up with rpns? Our clinical is 3 weeks also ( 2 6hr shift /week)It's only a month away and we haven't been given much information yet. I don't even know where I am going. I work doing homecare so I am not really worried about the basic care. I did a placement in ltc when I took my PSW so maybe it will a similiar experience ( it was a good experience).:)

It is VERY unlikely that you will have much to do with the RPN's at all at this early stage in your education. You will be doing personal care, just like when you work as a PSW. I'm an RPN in LTC and really only deal with PN students when they are consolidating, or are much further in their education.

My advice:

1) do you best, even if you never want to work in LTC, you never know who you will meet or how you will feel after you graduate and are working. I never wanted LTC and now I love it.

2) don't crack jokes with the residents. You never know how they will take it, esp if they have dementia you might really scare them.

3) don't act "above" the PSW's, they may have input on your evaluation, plus it's just not nice.

4) don't call the residents hun , sweetheart, dear or anything else you may also call a small child. You will offend them, even if they don't complain. Mr and Mrs everybody until told otherwise. I follow this rule absolutely and have only been asked a handful of times to call someone by their first name, out of hundreds of residents.

5) don't buy into the negative attitudes of the staff. Make up your own mind, you may love it. If you start hearing "this place this, this place that," don't get into it.

6) And most of all!!!!!!!!!!

REMEMBER ALWAYS, THE RESIDENTS OF A LTC FACILTIY HAVE LOST JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE IN THEIR LIVES. MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN THROUGH A WORLD WAR. THEY FACE ILLNESS AND DEATH EVERYDAY.

THEY ARE SOMEONE'S MOTHER, HUSBAND, GRANDMOTHER, BROTHER. TREAT THEM AS YOU WOULD WANT YOUR FAMILY TREATED!! THEY BUILT THIS COUNTRY AND THEY DESERVE THE BEST, GIVE IT TO THEM.

Good luck, V

loriangel14, RN · Jan 18, 2005

Thanks for the reply. I am already a PSW so I have some ltc care experience. Your advice was helpful thanks. We have some more info on our clinicals now. I know where I am going and the name of the RPN I am shadowing,but I haven't met her yet. I usually have no problem getting along with people so I don't anticipate any troubles there. We have an orientation before we start so I should learn more about what to expect then. I can hardly wait. :nurse:

Elly · Feb 25, 2005

I am a part time rpn student in Ontario(graduating 2007) and I have my first clinical coming up in February ( it's in long term care). I was wondering if there are any former/current rpn students out there that could tell me what to expect from my first clinical experience. Thanks.

Hi Angel::: I am an RPN in a Complex care setting in a hospital, actually on a palliative care floor...We have had RPN students on the floor for 1st semester . along with the teacher...The teacher usually asks the floor nurses which patients would be good to give the students...The list is then made and the teacher tells the student which patient it is...The student is responsible for coming in the hospital and going through the patients chart loooking for diagnosis, treatments, medications..reading the progress nots of other staff members..looking at dr.s orders. diagnostic tests.etc.etc. This way the student has a bit of insight into the patient before she actually meets them...... But at first. you will probably be given total basic to the patient and work your way from there...Then after the 3rd semester you will probably be buddied up with and rpn who will be your preceptor.........Hope any of this makes sense ...Good luck :)

loriangel14, RN · Feb 25, 2005

Thanks for the replies. I have just finished my first clinical of four day shifts. It was great. I was given an rpn to follow for the 4 days. Only 3 girls from my class were placed at this nursing home. Others were spread out over 3 other homes.

We weren't all at the facility the same days and our teacher only was there 2 of the days I was. I didn't get to do that much really, having done homecare for 5 years they didn't make me practice personal care except one morning I got 2 people up. I mostly watched the rpn do her meds and she explained charting and charting doctors orders. We had lots of people that needed help at meal time so I did a fair bit of that. I got a chance to do some vitals and was allowed to read the charts so I read up on some of the people that interested me. The afternoons were pretty slow and I was allowed to use some quiet time to catch up on homework. We had to do portfolios regarding our clinical experience so that was a good time to do that.

The thing I found funny at first was to get out of the mindset of a psw and concentrate on learning what the role of the rpn is. The nurse I was paired up with was great and overall everyone was very welcoming. I hope every clinical is as good. :)