So I'm in the middle of my second semester of NS. This is my second and last semester of med-surg clinical. After this its all specialties and we are expected to know how to do all skills taught to us in the first two semesters. I feel like I am not going to be prepared. My clinical instructor is nice, and very educated and knowledgeable but I think its time for her to retire. I will give some examples of things that have happened so far in clinical:
1. She will tell all of the students in my group to let their primary RN know that we will be giving all morning meds to our patients. There are at least 4-6 students under her supervision each day, each with at least 2 patients, often with 10+ meds each. She will spend 45 mins + with each student for ONE med pass. And its not because shes asking questions about the meds. She fumbles around with the computer (that we all know how to work better than her), takes her time getting to the room, will leave mid med pass to go to the bathroom, etc. Many times patients will not get their 9:00 meds until 11:00 or later.
2. She is the only instructor without access to the Accudose. So any narcs that need to be given need to be taken out by the primary RN and given to us. This annoys the RNs, who are already busy. Mine nurse told me today she would rather just give the meds herself if she needs to be running back and forth like that.
3. She left the students on the floor, unsupervised, for 2 hours or more to go to a Dr's appt., and told us to continue giving care, and if our RN would allow us to give meds with them, to do that, until she got back.
4. I watched as she told another student whose pt got crushed meds to soak a potassium supplement ( it was a do not crush), in warm water until it "dissolved". It didnt dissolve, it just dissolved the protective coating off, which is the whole reason it is a do not crush. so she had her take it out of the cup and proceed to stab it with a blunt needle (essentially crushing it, just in a more dangerous manner. I then suggested, since were pretty much crushing it, why not use the pill crusher?? She said "this is just the way things are done" and shrugged her shoulders. Then 5 minutes later, had her crush the soggy pill with the pill crusher.
5. She fell asleep in the middle of post conference.. more than once.
6. She will skip more complicated meds (ie hanging Ivs, PB IVs, IV pushes), in lieu of getting all 4-6 students to give all their PO meds. I would much rather have practice with the things I dont get to do every day. Ive pretty much got popping pills into a cup down.
7. I had a paper due to her on a Friday. I emailed it Friday morning. Now almost 2 weeks later she asks me when I'll be handing in that paper. I told her I had sent it already, and I received a confirmation email saying it was received. I just sent it to her again.
8. We've been in clinical 5 weeks now (2 days a week). I've received one care plan back, as has the rest of the group...
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I mean, I feel confident I will pass this semester, because I feel like she doesnt even pay attention. But I never get to practice skills I need practice on, like inserting/dc foleys, hanging IVs, suctioning, etc... because even if one of those skills came up, shed be busy giving meds for 5 hours.
What can I do, I guess just stick it out, and try my hardest to find skills and maybe have the RNs do them with me?
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this a half rant/half advice seeking post..
So I'm in the middle of my second semester of NS. This is my second and last semester of med-surg clinical. After this its all specialties and we are expected to know how to do all skills taught to us in the first two semesters. I feel like I am not going to be prepared. My clinical instructor is nice, and very educated and knowledgeable but I think its time for her to retire. I will give some examples of things that have happened so far in clinical:
1. She will tell all of the students in my group to let their primary RN know that we will be giving all morning meds to our patients. There are at least 4-6 students under her supervision each day, each with at least 2 patients, often with 10+ meds each. She will spend 45 mins + with each student for ONE med pass. And its not because shes asking questions about the meds. She fumbles around with the computer (that we all know how to work better than her), takes her time getting to the room, will leave mid med pass to go to the bathroom, etc. Many times patients will not get their 9:00 meds until 11:00 or later.
2. She is the only instructor without access to the Accudose. So any narcs that need to be given need to be taken out by the primary RN and given to us. This annoys the RNs, who are already busy. Mine nurse told me today she would rather just give the meds herself if she needs to be running back and forth like that.
3. She left the students on the floor, unsupervised, for 2 hours or more to go to a Dr's appt., and told us to continue giving care, and if our RN would allow us to give meds with them, to do that, until she got back.
4. I watched as she told another student whose pt got crushed meds to soak a potassium supplement ( it was a do not crush), in warm water until it "dissolved". It didnt dissolve, it just dissolved the protective coating off, which is the whole reason it is a do not crush. so she had her take it out of the cup and proceed to stab it with a blunt needle (essentially crushing it, just in a more dangerous manner. I then suggested, since were pretty much crushing it, why not use the pill crusher?? She said "this is just the way things are done" and shrugged her shoulders. Then 5 minutes later, had her crush the soggy pill with the pill crusher.
5. She fell asleep in the middle of post conference.. more than once.
6. She will skip more complicated meds (ie hanging Ivs, PB IVs, IV pushes), in lieu of getting all 4-6 students to give all their PO meds. I would much rather have practice with the things I dont get to do every day. Ive pretty much got popping pills into a cup down.
7. I had a paper due to her on a Friday. I emailed it Friday morning. Now almost 2 weeks later she asks me when I'll be handing in that paper. I told her I had sent it already, and I received a confirmation email saying it was received. I just sent it to her again.
8. We've been in clinical 5 weeks now (2 days a week). I've received one care plan back, as has the rest of the group...
-------------
I mean, I feel confident I will pass this semester, because I feel like she doesnt even pay attention. But I never get to practice skills I need practice on, like inserting/dc foleys, hanging IVs, suctioning, etc... because even if one of those skills came up, shed be busy giving meds for 5 hours.
What can I do, I guess just stick it out, and try my hardest to find skills and maybe have the RNs do them with me?