Clinical instructor

[Em356]

Hello everyone,

This is the first time I post something on allnurses.com.

I am presently a third year student and am on a complex medical floor.

I have a question for you guys regarding my clinical instructor.

She has told me several times that I am late for my medications. But the point is, that I am always early, but I always wait in line to see her because she needs to approve of our medications, and that is the reason why I am late to give my medications. I have been too shy to tell her at that moment.What could I do? I am trying to figure out a way to tell her in a non aggressive way, without sounding offensive. Do you have any ideas?

Thank you :)

[missemerge018]

I too am a third year nursing student. Some advice might be to catch your clinical instructor at a timer army on in the shift prior to giving your medications to remind him or her that you are due to give medications at ___ hours, just to remind him or her. Clinical instructors have a difficult job trying to manage a whole clinical group so sometimes reminders are a good idea. Also, jot down the times you have to give medications and try to begin preparing medications a little in advance so that you aren't waiting for forever and aren't late giving medications! Hope this helps. Best of luck!

[missemerge018]

Time early on***

[SubSippi]

My suggestion: after your assessment, make getting your meds ready your top priority. The charting can wait a bit. Then you'll be first in line. Maybe the problem isn't so much that you're late giving them out. It could be that you're consistently one of the last ones ready to have her check them off, and if you're always late giving them out (whether or not you're actually ready on time) there's no way you're always one of the first in line. If there are other students that have found a way to be on time, learn how to be one of those students.

[Jenngirl34RN]

You need to learn to speak up and tell your instructor you are ready, instead of waiting for her to notice you waiting. You can't be shy about it. Be polite, but you have to be assertive. It is part of that whole "advocating for your patient" thing...your patients need their medications, and your being shy is preventing them from getting their meds on time. If you need help figuring out what to say you can always ask one of your more outgoing classmates how they approach your instructor, but I always find something along the lines of "Hi ____. I have my meds all ready to go, can you please check them off for me?" works well. I am also not sure why you think your instructor would find you asking for her to check you off offensive...it is her job and a requirement of you taking care of patients.

Good luck!