Advise for clinical success

Nursing Students General Students

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I am a nursing instructor. I want to know what I can do to make clinical more comfortable for the students and does anyone have words of advise from student to student about how to be a success in clinical

As a nursing student I can tell you that if clinicals are the "blah, blah, blah" type it gets very boring and hard to pay attention. If there is any way to make it fun or tell stories of when you were doing the same thing it seems to make things more interesting and more memorable.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply this is a great board I am going to tell my students about it

My clinical instructor was wonderful for Med-Surg. She knew I hated it, and that I hated working with Geriatrics, so she gave me the most complex "going downhill fast" patients. That kept me so busy the whole time that I didnt have time to think about how much I would rather be working in another area.

One thing that I would ask is that you not embarrass the students infront of their patient or other nurses. Ask questions out in the hall if at all possible. We have one instructor that tended to ask very complex questions when you were in the middle of assessing a patient, or reporting changes to the primary nurse. Many of her students left crying at the end of the day because they were so embarassed. I was just so thankful that I was in the other group! She is a nice lady, very smart, but trying to teach my embarassment wont make a hard situation better, it just makes it more stressful.

The fact that you are ASKING for student input leads me to believe that you really care about your students, and WANT them to leave with a positive experience... I am sure your students will appreciate that!

BrandyBSN

Hi, make clinicals more comfortable, thats a hard one:) There is always going to be a level of anxiety to anything you do new. My instructor was great. When doing skills during clinical time she was patient and helpful. Soft spoken but had a way with being encouraging.

For student:

1. Be realistic, when first going to clinicals you are not going to be handed a syringe and be expected to give injections right off the bat. But be helpful to the RN you report to, example go get supplies. Ask what you can do to help.

2. When you get skill under your belt, let the staff know exactly what you can do and what you can't.

3. Make sure you report anything that seems abnormal to the RN and instructor. (get a set of vitals before you report)

4. Be assertive!!There is no room for wishy washy nurses. Volunteer to do new skills, put yourself out there. You will be so glad you did.

5. Anything of interest tell your instructor, they love to hear your clinical experiences.

6. If you take a pt chart, tell the unit secretary. That way they won't bark at you. They are such busy people.

7. Prepare, prepare prepare!!!!!!!!

8. sometimes pt get discharged. It is a pain especially after you spent 3 hours on clinical prep. Take a new pt that is how it is going to be when you get into the real world.

9. Ask questions!!!

10. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,i'm a second year student at unitec, i found having an experienced tutor during clinical is very important,they able to expand my knowledge and skills when needed. i also find when the tutor is watching what im doing, knowing they testing my skills even though i can do it right when they not their i still make mistakes, having a good relationship with tutors not too formal can help students feel more relaxed and confidentin what they doing.

I think, both as a LPN, and an ADN student, the best thing the instructor can do is let us practice, practice, practice.

I must have done 600 Catheters during my student days, cause I was missing something in the early days. Now I can do a cath with both hands tied behind my back.

My instructors let us touch, feel, do, watch, everything under the sun, and most of us were ecstatic at the opportunities.

But, they remembered how scared we all were, and were quick with encouragement and hugs if needed.

We learned a lot, and we cried a lot, but we are ALL better nurses for all of it.

I just hope my ADN instructors are as good as the LPN ones were.

Thanks for asking.

Marla

Marla,

You can do a cath with both hands tied behind your back????

Oh god PLEASE tell me that you use your feet to put the cath in and not your teeth!!!!

Just kidding :)

But GROSS!

BrandyBSN

Most of my clinical instructors have been extremely difficult and expect us to already function as RNs, and it is a challenge for me to relax in clinical. I have had one teacher that made things so much easier, but I think it was just her personality. She is a very laid back person and insists that doing skills is no big deal...you just have to be confident in yourself. If you act relaxed as a teacher, then your students can act relaxed. Also, give continuous feedback, both positive and negative. Encourage your students to be more assertive and to relax! If all my teachers were like that, then my clinical experience would be so much better!:cool:

Brandy,

YUP!

And with my eyes closed.........

:)

Marla

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