Anyone having second thoughts about nursing based on their clinicals?

sproeber89 · Jan 24, 2009

I have not gotten into clinicals yet, but I am a CNA and the only time that I have second guessed my choice for nursing when I realized that I can't deal with vomit, however, I realized that while it is difficult for me to deal with it, I am planning on being a mother at one point and will need to deal with it. So why not learn how to now.

86toronado, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

I guess it depends on what clinicals you are in. If you're in your first semester, you are getting a very basic idea of what it is like to take care of a patient, and most of the work you are doing is more like CNA or PCA work (don't flame me, I know we will still be giving baths and toileting and whatnot as RN's, but it won't be the main focus of our work).

On the other hand, if you've been in clinicals for a few semesters, and still feel out of place, and aren't starting to "put the pieces together" then maybe it's not for you. But if you've come this far, there's no reason to not stick it out and try to graduate. With an RN degree and some hospital experience, you could get some sort of non-bedside job that may agree with you more.

Example: I know a woman who graduated with her ADN, worked a year on a med-surg floor, and realized bedside nursing wasn't ever going to be her thing. She got an RN job with a local health insurance company and has been there for years. She's still nurse, but she hasn't worked at the bedside, ever, except for that first year!

Fermin Hernandez, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

Your gonna see far worse then vomit :chuckle

Good luck :)

RNDreamer · Jan 24, 2009

No, not second thoughts. I know exactly where I want to work after I graduate, but don't think I will get any clinical experience in the specialty during school. For now, I'm just getting through the clincals, even though I don't have any interest in most of these areas.

marie-francoise · Jan 24, 2009

I guess it depends on what clinicals you are in. If you're in your first semester, you are getting a very basic idea of what it is like to take care of a patient, and most of the work you are doing is more like CNA or PCA work (don't flame me, I know we will still be giving baths and toileting and whatnot as RN's, but it won't be the main focus of our work).
On the other hand, if you've been in clinicals for a few semesters, and still feel out of place, and aren't starting to "put the pieces together" then maybe it's not for you. But if you've come this far, there's no reason to not stick it out and try to graduate. With an RN degree and some hospital experience, you could get some sort of non-bedside job that may agree with you more.
Example: I know a woman who graduated with her ADN, worked a year on a med-surg floor, and realized bedside nursing wasn't ever going to be her thing. She got an RN job with a local health insurance company and has been there for years. She's still nurse, but she hasn't worked at the bedside, ever, except for that first year!

Thanks. I've been through three semesters of clinicals, and am now starting my last semester. The 13-hour rotations I find a bit daunting, esp in the med-surg setting. My last rotation was in an ICU, and the patients were so sick they could hardly move, with lines coming off of them everywhere. I know I need much, much more clinical experience, and will be getting much more clinical experience this semester, in the med-surg setting; but I think I should have shadowed nurses or done CNA work before nursing school. The psych, clinic, and OB rotations were OK - it's those med-surg rotations where reality really hits hard.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 24, 2009

I hated most of my clinicals but was prepared for that that going into nursing school. I just did my best and slogged through it. Now I get to do what I love. Good luck.

Ms. Nurse Assistant, LPN · Jan 24, 2009

Do you get graded on clinicals?

jackson145 · Jan 24, 2009

Clinicals has taught me where I do not want to work (OB!). Other than that, I don't feel like I've learned much at clinicals. My patient assignments haven't provided me with many opportunities for procedures and we don't do procedures on patients we aren't familiar with.

I don't think that my clinical experiences have prepared me for life after graduation.

marie-francoise · Jan 24, 2009

Do you get graded on clinicals?

We just get a pass/fail, with each day graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and a certain number of unsatisfactory grades adding up to a fail.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

My clinicals start on March 5th and we are on a med-surg unit. Our rotation for thesummer will also be med-surg. At first I was really apprehensive about it, but I figured its best to start here and really get a hard dose of nursing right off the bat...and the rest should come a bit easier. At least thats what I keep telling myself.

I know it wont be easy, but I know that what I learn will be invaluable.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

Yes we are graded on clinicals. One of our final assignments for the semester is a full patient care plan. And we have to keep a weekly journal and write about our experiences.