clinical rotations?

nursbee04 · Jan 17, 2003

We did basic care, and our clinical instructor tried to make sure we each gave a shot, passed meds, did a sterile dsg. change, etc. We basically did most of the skills that we practiced in skills lab. That was for the first semester. This semester a major skill will be IV's -- I'm not sure what else they have in store for us!! Good luck!! :)

MidwifeWannaB · Jan 18, 2003

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't even SAY clinicals---I'm already scared enough about my check off next week!!!

memphispanda, RN · Jan 18, 2003

My first semester clinicals were not a big deal. We had clinical labs the majority of the semester--learning skills so we wouldn't look like bumbling fools on the unit. We went to the hospital 3 times for half days. We did vital signs and complete physical assessments. We also did baths and changed beds. The worst part of it to me was I always seemed to have extra time on my hands. My classmates always seemed busy the entire 3 hours we were there, and I would get finished way quicker than that.

Second semester was when we really started getting to DO stuff. We started out spending 1 8 hour day in the hospital, then went to one 8 hour and one 4 hour each week. We hung IVs, gave injections, passed meds, inserted and removed foley catheters, did tube feedings, put in NG tubes, did central line dressing changes, enemas, etc...It was a TON of fun, and most of the time we were very busy. The first couple of days were nerve wracking because it was a new environment, we didn't know how the staff would react to us, and we hadn't really dealt much with patients. After that, I think we all really looked forward to clinical.

Love-A-Nurse · Jan 18, 2003

i just want to wish you well.

CJStudent · Jan 18, 2003

Well, since you are just starting in your BSN program, you will not be doing clinicals until you are a junior (in most programs, I think...) You will start out taking prereq classes like Pharmacology, Nutrition, etc.

When we got into our junior level courses, we started with fundamentals. They taught us stuff in a lab for the first few weeks and then we went to a nursing home for the rest of the semester, two days a week.

Second semester junior year was med-surg. This is more advanced and you will be applying all kinds of skills learned in class. It was very hard. We went to the hospital and another nursing home, two days a week for clinical. I hated med-surg so bad, I took it twice (I failed...)

Senior clinicals were much better- we had Pediatrics and OB-Gyn. Peds was at the hospital, rotating to different units, and the OB clinical was at the hospital dealing with the different OB patients and babies.

I'm in my last semester of my BSN program and we are doing community and leadership clinicals. Sounds interesting. I'm really excited about these.

Good luck to you. Study hard. Be prepared to make sacrifices with your personal life while you are in nursing school! You will be applying everything you learn from this point on in your clinicals!

RNntraining · Jan 20, 2003

WELL IN MY BSN PROGRAM IT'S PREETY MUCH JUST DOING VITALS, SOME ASSESSING, AND ALOT OF OBSERVATION. FOCUS IS ALSO ON NURSING DIAGNOSES AND SOAP NOTES. BUT WHEN I TRIED OUT AN ASSOC. PROGRAM IT WAS HANDS ON RIGHT AWAY. BY THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER I HAD PASSED MEDS (SHOTS INCLUDED), DONE NG TUBES, OSTOMY BAGS, ENEMAS, AND CATHETERIZED. SO I GUESS IT VARIES FROM PROGRAM TO PROGRAM?

peds2bee · Jan 24, 2003

thanx yall!:) anymore comments?