Clinical instructors- low census, what can I do?

babydoll99_99 · Feb 6, 2008

As a student, I had a wonderful instructor whose mantra was, "if you are sitting on your butt doing nothing, there is no opportunity to learn," so if the census was low on the floor we were on, which it was most of the time, we would team up with another student and take the one pt. You would think this would be boring, but at the end of the day we had better be able in post conference to say things we saw done right and (gently) say things we saw done wrong or that could be done better or faster or what have you. It was a great way to see yourself through another's eyes and pick up valuable tips from your fellow student and your instructor. Besides the nurses on the floor loved it, because with two of us handling the patient all they really had to do for them was their assessment, we handled everything else. This instructor would also give us questions to ask the pt to provoke thoughtful conversations from the pt point of view that we were to present in post. For example, we would have to ask the pt what was the worst thing about being in the hospital and what could the nurses do to make it better. It helped a great deal in pulling us back from the technical a bit and let us see the whole picture. I learned a lot in those clinicals where the census was down, and not so much in the clinicals where the nurses were running around with their hair on fire and we were just doing whatever we could to help them out. Hope this helps a bit. :specs:

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 9, 2008

Ohhhh, I've been there and done that, and it stinks. I feel sooo bad when I cannot give the students the opportunities they need.

I think your ideas are great. And since you work there, you are fortunate to have more freedom to do this.

Is there anywhere else you can send your students! Is this their only peds rotation! If you have a general peds unit, PICU, NICU, peds ER, maybe they can be sent there.

You could also do some non-clinical assignments, to possible enhance their didactic component. Assign them each a specific disorder, and have them do a mini-presentation on it, be specific with what you want them to present. Or, you could do some ethical dilemmas (taken right from the pages of real life). I find these things often get the students talking.

Ohmygosh · Feb 9, 2008

Perhaps......A scavenger hunt to find items in the pyxis or to located specific items in a crash cart.

Your charge nurse idea is a good one.

Have one or two be responsible for passing meds -or- maybe find and empty room where they can practice putting the beds in all the different positions.

How about having them locate specific information in a patient's chart (labs,secondary diagnosis, errors -such as improper abbreviations.

Do you think any of them will be looking for a job at your facility when they graduate...If so...maybe give a complete tour of where other departments are located in the hospital (places they will need to know how to get to...blood bank, pharmacy, MRI, CT, etc.)

Because it is a peds unit, how about having them bring a book to read to the patients while mom or dad take a little break.

How about giving them rhythm strips to identify -or- find out what thier next test in on and give them one or two questions each related to what they are currently studying.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 13, 2008

a scavenger hunt to find the right PERSON for a condition. For instance, pheumonia - what disciplines might be involved? People readily think of nurse and RT, but forget about dietary, laundry and even the MD. Find them and ask a question or two. Then discuss what could go wrong and how to plan for that.

Also, include clinical ladder nurses. I am an Educator. I get calls from the instructors wanting a SANE nurse or RT or EKG tech or someone to do quickie inservices.