Advise for upcoming clinical

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Hi folks,

I am just wondering any advise for me for my upcoming clinical next month. I'm in the ADN program. Thank you much.:)

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Specializes in Peds and Home Health.

what clinical are you having? Maternity, Peds, MedSurg, Psych? That would help to know, since the advice depends on that :-)

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Hi,

I do not have anything specific. Nothing was mention to us, maybe later on. just a general advice, if you can. Thanks:)

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Specializes in Hospice.

listen , have a positive attitude, and if your available answer call lights even if their not your. good luck

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listen , have a positive attitude, and if your available answer call lights even if their not your. good luck

Thank you:)

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Just remember that clinicals are your time to learn. Go, have fun, learn, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If you aren't busy, ask the nurses if they could use some help or have any skills you can help out with. Nows your time to practice starting IVs, catheters, and all that stuff with someone there to help you. Good luck!

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Thank you:)

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Ahh, clinicals. I'm a recent grad, and they are quite fresh in my mind. Hope this helps!

This may seem obvious, but don't forget to bring your own necessary equipment, such as a stethoscope, watch, scissors, penlight, kelly clamp, etc. Nothing infuriated my instructors more than a student without the basic tools. It sent a message, they said, of being unprepared and unprofessional. That being said, keep the rest of what you bring to a minimum. Bring what you need, but only what you need. There is no place to put a backpack or purse full of unnecessary items in a clinical setting, and the staff will resent tripping over your stuff in the nurses' station or break room.

Also, don't take up space at the nurses' station. Space is at a premium! I used to chart while standing in an unobtrusive corner at the nurses' station, so as not to take a chair away from any of the staff nurses.

Don't hog the monitoring equipment! This was a chief complaint of the nurses at our clinical sites, which we shared with 2 other schools.

And, if you value your life, don't touch the nurses' coffee! One person from a different school made the mistake of helping herself to a cup of the nurses' coffee...she didn't do it again, believe me. Besides, you won't have time to drink coffee anyway.

Of course, there are more examples, but it all comes down to being considerate. A bit of consideration to the people who work at your clinical site every day can make a huge difference as to how you are treated by the nurses!

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Thank you and congrats. I hope I will do fine. I'm just a little nervous. By the way, what is a kelly clamp?:)

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By the way, what is a kelly clamp?:)

A Kelly clamp is a set of forceps without teeth. You probably won't need that, my school didn't require it. Your school should provide you with a list of supplies that you need to bring to clinical. For us it was a stethoscope, scissors, watch, penlight, and our iPod touches.

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Thanks:)

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Be on time. Be prepared. Be willing to jump in and try your best.

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