clinicals

I've heard it depends on your specialty and what you enjoy.

My clinicals so far have been spent mostly in nursing homes that were quite easy. The psych ward was insanely fun, while others hated it.

If you are finding one section difficult, perhaps there is another area that will suit you better.

thanks for the help.

I think work is much easier and less stressful than clinicals. Yes, you still need to know all of the same information (and more) about your patient, diagnosis, meds, etc. but there isn't someone breathing down your neck wanting you to state it right then. You can develop your own routine that is condusive to how you work best, not how the school or instructor works the best.

It's easier in that you don't have your instructor hanging on your every word, ready to flunk you if you mispronounce something, but it's harder because you don't have your instructor holding you up.

It depends...I agree with TazziRN...schedule wise, while on orientation you're pretty much stuck with your preceptors schedule, however after orientation (depending where you work) you can schedule your own shifts. Clinical dosen't get easier as far as patient care...because YOU ARE the NURSE...you are responsible for that patient's outcome, while they're in your care...so you have to be on top of pretty much everything. I really didn't grasp that concept in school, I didn't realize the responsibility level, until I graduated and started working as a nurse. Organizational skills and priortizing goes a long way. You will still have the "nursing instructor" entity that breaths down your back or says ill things about your work, however, it may manifest as a doc or peers. So that never goes away. Some ways it gets easier, in some ways it doesn't...I hope I answered your question.:)