Clinicals

[missy0910]

I start my clinicals on Nov 6th. I am extremely anxious!! I will be doing clinicals once a week starting in Nov. Can anyone tell me what they are like? What I can expect?? Also any tips on what you can put and should put in your clinical bag??

[Kimynurse]

I always had my second uniform in the care if I spilt something, a tide pen, extra pens, a little notepad that fits in your pocket.

Ask instructor if your aloud a bag, we could only carry a folder , and what fit in our pockets.

Good luck, enjoy

[Bouncyball]

I would also make sure to have tampons, Tylenol, and tums in your bag.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Typically our first clinical revolves around meeting the instructor, getting to know your clinical group and what the instructor's expectations are. You'll also probably get a tour of a facility which is good so you know where things are. Afterwards, clinical for your first class will focus more on basic patient care - AM care, bathing, toileting, bed making, vital signs, therapeutic communication and medication administration. I took my health assessment class during my first semester but many students didn't take it until their second semester. We got practice listening to the heart and lungs but we weren't expected to do a whole head to toe assessment for our first clinical. The only injections we were allowed to give were SQ injections for insulin. We weren't allowed to give IM injections until later in my program, but yours might be different.

In my clinical bag I always had my stethoscope, some cash for lunch/the vending machines ($10 max...I would advise against bringing credit or debit cards!), clipboard (I bought a storage clipboard from Walmart for like $10, it opens up so you can store papers and things inside), references (drug book, RNotes), extra pens, penlight, bottle of water and some snacks (granola bar or fruit). I never had issues with theft and neither did anyone in my clinical group(s). We usually stored our stuff in the staff break room.

If you have downtime and all of your patient's needs have been met, help out on the floor and answer call lights. The nurses will love you for it. Take every opportunity as a learning opportunity, even if you are just observing.

Sometimes I really miss being in school, believe it or not! :)

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I would also make sure to have tampons, Tylenol, and tums in your bag.

yes, this is a must! or Ibuprofen...pick your poison lol. Also chapstick/lipbalm. I actually just carried that in my pocket instead of my bag. I also kept some hand lotion in my bag, just be careful with scented things. I always have a bottle of something from Bath & Body Works on my COW (computer on wheels) at work and I haven't had any complaints but some patients may be very sensitive to smells. I recommend not wearing perfume for that reason, too.