Advice needed about my clinical instructor

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I'm a first semester nursing student. We are learning how to give meds in our clinical. I really like my instructor most of the time. The other week 4 students were set to give meds at 0900. We did all the research and checked all the meds. It took her almost 3 hours to supervise 4 students giving meds. The meds we were giving were not complicated. The problem was other students coming into the room and asking her questions about their "pie" and other things while she was supervising us giving meds. She also left the room of another student who was giving meds about 5 times. She seems easily distracted. I was getting annoyed and the nurse on duty was getting annoyed because the meds were late. Finally I suggested to her that maybe the other students questions could wait till a student was done giving meds. She said no....she could answer other students questions and watch us checking/giving meds at the same time. It kind of concerned me because I felt like she really wasn't supervising me that closely.

Any advice or input from nurse educators out there?

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I am not a nursing instructor, but I remember similiar situations in clinicals. Although I do find it ridiculous I can see how it happens. I am suprised that the facility has not commented about this. Especially since a lot of pts. get the same med later in the day.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
I'm a first semester nursing student. We are learning how to give meds in our clinical. I really like my instructor most of the time. The other week 4 students were set to give meds at 0900. We did all the research and checked all the meds. It took her almost 3 hours to supervise 4 students giving meds. The meds we were giving were not complicated. The problem was other students coming into the room and asking her questions about their "pie" and other things while she was supervising us giving meds. She also left the room of another student who was giving meds about 5 times. She seems easily distracted. I was getting annoyed and the nurse on duty was getting annoyed because the meds were late. Finally I suggested to her that maybe the other students questions could wait till a student was done giving meds. She said no....she could answer other students questions and watch us checking/giving meds at the same time. It kind of concerned me because I felt like she really wasn't supervising me that closely.

Any advice or input from nurse educators out there?

I agree, that is quite an excessive amount of time to oversee four students giving meds. Is she a new instructor? If so, it just may be her inexperience. First semester students can also be very challenging time-wise, as they need guidance in just about everything (from taking vital signs to making the bed to knowing how to safely ambulate or toilet a patient, etc., etc.).

At our last clinical site, there was a special room with a sealed metal door (almost like a "vault") that was dedicated entirely to medications. The MARS/ med carts and medication Pyxis were there and this was the only place we could use to discuss medications. I really liked that set-up and thought it most conducive to patient safety and also patient confidentiality.

Medication delivery is extremely important (in fact, one of the most vital functions of the licensed nurse). It is vital for your instructor to find a place in which these medications can be discussed in a somewhat secluded environment without needless interruptions. Otherwise, medication errors might occur :o

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i'm a first semester nursing student. we are learning how to give meds in our clinical. i really like my instructor most of the time. the other week 4 students were set to give meds at 0900. we did all the research and checked all the meds. it took her almost 3 hours to supervise 4 students giving meds. the meds we were giving were not complicated. the problem was other students coming into the room and asking her questions about their "pie" and other things while she was supervising us giving meds. she also left the room of another student who was giving meds about 5 times. she seems easily distracted. i was getting annoyed and the nurse on duty was getting annoyed because the meds were late. finally i suggested to her that maybe the other students questions could wait till a student was done giving meds. she said no....she could answer other students questions and watch us checking/giving meds at the same time. it kind of concerned me because i felt like she really wasn't supervising me that closely.

any advice or input from nurse educators out there?

wow, that is a long time to give medications. perhaps the instructor could go through the process of giving the meds first and check understanding of the moa later in the clinical. i agree with you that maybe there should not be any questions about other things until the meds are passed. i am suprised that the nurses in the facility are not up in arms.

my first 2 weeks as a clinical instructor, it took me 2 hours to get 8 students 0800 meds done. i started at 0730 and got done at 0930. by 0900 i had nurses complaining to me about the need to get the meds done. it is important because if they get the med again later in the day, this could mess up the dosing.

anyways, if she is a new instructor, give her time! just be patient!

hugs,

emma :balloons:

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