BRAND NEW CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR - Nervous!

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 1, 2006

I am about to realize part of my dream - to teach nursing. I am a BSN but am enrolled (just) to get my Masters. I start tomorrow as an adjunct faculty member for clinical only, twice a week, for 10 second-semester students from a 2 yr ADN program. Their first semester was nursing homes. I have a wide range of students, mostly adult learners with some background already- but a few with none... We are on a medical-geriatric unit. I have next to no formal med-surg experience but have done a wide range of nursing over the past 14 years, including long term care. I have been very excited, and enthusiastic - and suddenly, today I realize I am really scared!!! I know they will like me, I know I can communicate well, I am a good mentor and teacher - but 10 students at once??? What have I gotten myself into??

Congratulations, zacsmimi. It is not unusual to have 10 students. My first year as the director of a PN program, I was the only clinical instructor as well. I had 15 students. You can do it. :nurse:

lynswim · Feb 1, 2006

Hang in there! I, too, am doing clinicals with AD students in their first med/surg rotation. I emphasize good assessment skills and have them work on their pharmacology.

See if you can't send some of the students off the floor- OR, ER, etc., and maybe have one or two shadow a nurse. That would cut down on the number of students you have under your direct supervision.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Lyn

JR816, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

Good Luck!! I sometimes wonder if my instructor has eyes in the back of her head. She stays busy with the ten of us, yet she still comes and finds us when there is something new to observe. This is my 2nd semester as well. Congrats on your decision to help educate the newbie nurses.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

you sound just like me last year, and i made it through!! i had 9 last semester, and it was overwhelming at times. but they were first semester, and it was my first sem. at this clinical site, so we were all learning together.

i started back in clinicals today. only 8 students (whew- makes a big difference), and on some day, as few as six (they do or and ob within this sem). i'm really looking forward to those days, where i can really concentrate on teaching).

another idea (depending on the students and their level of competence). we do this at my primary job. we have a 'senior' student come to our group and acts as the 'district leader' (or charge, if you will). they get report on all the students' pts, and assist with questions, help with vitals, am care, etc. of course the cannot do any meds or procedures with them, but they are a pretty good resource. at my other new adjunct (which i start friday, the coordinator said i can do this if i want with the stronger students (that's one less pt you have to worry about). i have ten in that group, so i'm a little more nervous about that group. but they are 3rd semester, so i'm anxious to see how much they know.

rhenmag9 · Feb 19, 2006

I salute you!!! good luck in your career...I had the same feeling last year, dont be scared coz' I know you can make it...my first teaching experience, I had 13 students in med- surg and some of them were 2nd coursers, but I enjoyed, because I let them experienced the actual duties in the clinical area and I let them also know and study medications and grab every opportunity to handle procedural skills...just be supportive to them and have researches also...Godbless!!! :yeah:

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Feb 19, 2006

Just saw this thread today, so I'm assuming that clinicals are underway. If this has been a dream for you, I think that it will show in your enthusiasm and your students should respond well to that.