Clinical Alone

[futurepsychrn, ADN]

I'm terrified! This module we are in OB and are doing clinicals on the OB floor, of course. However, we also have 1 outside clinical site that we go to alone. Mine is a community health clinic. I will have no Clinical Instructor with me or even another student. I'm scared to death!

While I would never do anything by myself that I don't know how to do or don't feel comfortable doing because I haven't had enough practice, I don't want to look like an idiot either. My life motto has always been "fake it till you make it" but I realize you can't do that in nursing. You just don't do something you don't know how to do!

Any advice to help me calm down would be greatly appreciated.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I know that when we had days like that, we were mostly observing and possibly doing vitals and assessments. Other than that, it was to give us an idea of what that area does, gave us exposure. This was the first ADN class that I have taken.

[elkpark]

I encourage you to check with your instructor about the expectations (of you) for the outside clinical experiences, and what is and isn't allowed, but, in my experience as an instructor, outside, unsupervised experiences like that are mostly observation experiences (and maybe some basic things, like checking vital signs). The clinic knows you're coming and has agreed to take students from your program. Best wishes!

[nlitened]

That does sound a little scary. It's crazy how dependent we get on having others around;)

I had a day like you mentioned. But my instructor met me at the facility beforehand to give me a brief "this is whats going to happen". Thankfully it was mostly observing and all I had to do was write a reflection paper after.

Take it as an observation day and enjoy your experience. It won't be nearly as scary as you thought.

[USMCRN2015]

I had that exact community health clinical. I was part of a pilot program and I loved it. The independence was awesome and I had a nurse there to check everything I did. Good luck! (Side note, this isn't Quincy College is it?)

[tech1000]

Don't fret. Those are observation days usually. No other nurse wants to be responsible for your actions :)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Definitely clarify with your instructor. I had observation only days with OB, but in peds we were sent to a pediatrician's office and were allowed to give vaccines. Hardest injection I've ever had to give was two syringes in one leg at the same time the office nurse was giving two injections in the other leg. I wanted to cry as much as the kiddo did.

[futurepsychrn, ADN]

No not Quincy College lol.

[futurepsychrn, ADN]

Definitely clarify with your instructor. I had observation only days with OB, but in peds we were sent to a pediatrician's office and were allowed to give vaccines. Hardest injection I've ever had to give was two syringes in one leg at the same time the office nurse was giving two injections in the other leg. I wanted to cry as much as the kiddo did.[

We had one other outside clinical day, we were told we could use it like a preceptorship and do whatever the nurse would let us do. It was mostly wound care/checking and vitals though and I'm pretty confident of those. Oh well, it is what it is. I'm sure I'll be ok. Sometimes I stress more than I should lol.

[futurepsychrn, ADN]

Thanks everyone. It helps to know I'm not the only one who was nervous.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

We had days without our clinical instructor, and we weren't allowed to do anything invasive, including give meds. We could do CNA level stuff and observe.

[Dacatster, ADN]

Oh my I remember mine. I had to observe in an Ob office. They were draining a abcess on the labia the size of a baseball, yeah I passed out. Not that I was squimish. It is just I never eat in the mornings and my sugar dropped.