what can i expect?!

natrgrrl · May 20, 2008

When you go in the room, be prepared to assess the client from head to toe: pupils, condition of mouth and skin, listen to heart, lung and bowel sounds, capillary refill, condition of feet. And don't forget to talk to the pt. If you have trouble getting a conversation going, try to remember something you read in the chart and ask him about it.

There will be many other things to assess, too, but remember that your patient will feel confident in you if you appear confident to him. He doesn't need to know that you've never touched a pt before.

You might be terribly nervous on the inside, but on the outside be relaxed and confident with a smile on your face. Go into the room with the intention of helping your client in any way you can, not to get in and get out as quickly as possible.

Good luck!

madascanbeRNtobe · May 23, 2008

im doing med/surg this semester too. We have two patients a day.

We have to do head to toe (includes vitals) twice day. The vitals are done more frequently, if there is order such as q2hrs. Then there is the basic care, and getting patients to ambulate.

We do all our own charting, including IN and OUT if required.

We give meds, usually oral; will give IM or subQ if opportunity is there. Most patients get oral meds, or through IV.

Also, we do dressing changes, foley insertions and removal, JP removal, administering enema.

Our restrictions are glucometer, starting IVs, and giving IV meds. IV meds is for med/surg 2. Starting IVs is for final semester. We can though change IV to saline lock, flush saline locks, and remove saline locks.

Hope this helps.