the BEST advice you can give...

Jules A, MSN · Jul 7, 2008

answered in your other thread

Pretty in Ink · Jul 11, 2008

1. Don't be late, not only do your instructors hate it...the nursing staff at your clinical site will as well and will not be to nice to give you extra bits of advice

2. Relax, your new to this...you don't know everything and aren't expected to. Better to ask questions than really mess up!

3. Bringing food in makes you the favorite student haha

4. Grin and bear it...you will hear the craziest things you have ever heard and sometimes there is no right answer when an elderly client asks "is mine the prettiest you've ever seen?" yea...you can guess what she was talking about...

5. Try to treat everyone like they were your family or you

6. Poop is poop....deal with it

7. Wash your hands!!!!! Glove up!!!! Seriously...alot of older nurses don't... or maybe it was just the hospital I was at but either way...gross!

8. Leave your drama at the door...nobody cares

9. Try not to be sick on clinical days or feel like you can use up some hours and not go in, you won't get to finish all your skills anyway, the more clinical experience you have the better...no way to see it all

10. Remember....YOU WANT TO BE A NURSE!!!!

DoeRN · Jul 11, 2008

Do exactly what your clinical instructors want you to do. Even if it is different than what you did in your last clinicals just go ahead and do it. Unless it is unethical. I have done this and have always done fine in clincals. Good luck. :up:

4x4country · Jul 11, 2008

Here are a few GREAT threads that does answer your question and has extra information. It has great replies, https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/clinical-tips-255077.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/surviving-nursing-school-7996.html

Hope this helps!

p.s. all i did was type clinical tips in the search box on allnurses.

midcom · Jul 14, 2008

Sounds stupid, but eat before going to your site. We had one gal who hadn't eaten all day & got light headed & had to sit down. Our instructor was livid when she discovered that she hadn't eaten & only because she forgot to. She lost credit for that day of clinicals & she couldn't afford that loss. She ended up repeating that class, not just for this reason but it was a big part of it. I bet she never forgot to eat again.

Another thing, be honest, even if you did make a mistake.

Dixie

ray_GN · Jul 15, 2008

(1) study before going to the clinical area

(2) when you get to the area, be polite, and respectful to the doctors, nurses and other members of the health care team

(3) if you feel really nervous, don't forget to take deep breaths

tiggerdagibit · Jul 15, 2008

This is one that I have a hard time doing myself, but... don't think you are JUST a student!

I sometimes feel like I'm in the way or that I don't know anything, but I try to remember that EVERYONE that works there, at some time or another, was a student. (Some just seem to forget that they were :uhoh3: )

Ask questions. Some nurses are very willing to let you assist/watch them with procedures that you can't do yourself. Get as involved as you can. Some instructors are really good about talking to the nurses and letting them know that students are willing/able to do some procedures on their patients, but if your instructor isn't that way.. let the nurse for your patient know anyway. Tell her/him that you would love to do or watch procedures for their other patients (with your instructor's guidance if necessary.) It really helps to see things with a real person as opposed to a manikin.

That being said.. try not to get in the way. lol For example, if a doctor or nurse needs the computer you are on, let them have it. It's frustrating sometimes, but I think it shows respect and will help you in the long run.