clinicals

mnw9412 · Jul 15, 2015

During my first round of clinicals, we would always eat at the facility because we only had about 15-20 minutes for lunch. We were some relief for the RNs and LPNs who worked there because they could actually sit down and eat for a good half hour while we covered their floor, along side out instructor of course.

You're representing yourschool, as your scrubs might indicate (ours did, anyway). It's kind of normal for students to be treated like kids for a little bit. These are peoples' lives you're dealing with. Throughout the program, I'm sure the clinical instructors will allot you more independence as your knowledge continues to increase. Ya just gotta deal with it, and make the best of it! The people you have clinicals with are the same people who will help you do raunchy dressing changes and code browns. Find camaraderie in it all!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jul 15, 2015

You're not counting yourself and fellow students as staff members are you? Because that would be highly inaccurate and inappropriate...

Count! That's a total of 21 staff members for 15 patients. Also it's a specially designed quiet floor. Which means, the call lights don't come on. The nurses and PAs carry phones and when the patient pushes the call light the phone rings, they answer and go and see to the patient's needs. So we walk the halls glancing in rooms to see if someone looks like they need something.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jul 15, 2015

This is actually a myth. At least in my state...

When you are a nursing student you are functioning under your clinical instructor's RN/NP license. A license he/she has worked many years to obtain. While his/her rules might seem silly I understand not wanting to risk students wandering into an OR (or really, one of the many places in a hospital a nursing student should not be).
Think of it as your clinical instructor respecting his/her own profession and wanting to ensure your safety as well as the status of his/her own employment.
Good luck!

SusanFLRN · Jul 15, 2015

Just a general question. In clinicals do you get to go to lunch on your own or do you have to stay at lunch with your instructors? We aren't allowed to even step outside for anything. We have to stay with our instructors even during our lunch hour. Starting to feel really hemmed in and ultra controlled. Just wondering how other places handle this.

I think it depends on the instructor and the facility. When I was a student we were allowed to eat wherever and with whomever we wanted but we were not allowed to leave the grounds.

AlwaysLearning247, BSN · Jul 15, 2015

When I was in school we did not have to stay with our instructors the whole time. My instructors were pretty lenient. If everything was done for my patients I could go relax and have lunch or go outside (obviously just for a break, not as long as I wanted). I can see why the instructor is making you stay though. As a nurse it is hard to find time to step off the floor for a while, you're being prepared for the real world. I honestly ended up staying with my classmates the whole time anyways. Good luck!

futurepsychrn, ADN · Jul 15, 2015

You're not counting yourself and fellow students as staff members are you? Because that would be highly inaccurate and inappropriate...

No. Just stating how many people are on the floor at the same time.

RescueNinjaKy · Jul 15, 2015

I'm so confused. You only have one patient and you said you barely get to do anything but adls because you need your instructor there. You also say that you're scampering around trying to find something to do but then you go and say that it is tough and that as a new nursing student you are overwhelmed. You also said you wanted some alone time or a mental vacation during lunch which is why you don't want to eat together as a group on the unit that you are assigned to for clinical time. So what are you overwhelmed and stressed about? The lack of work available ?

futurepsychrn, ADN · Jul 15, 2015

I'm so confused. You only have one patient and you said you barely get to do anything but adls because you need your instructor there. You also say that you're scampering around trying to find something to do but then you go and say that it is tough and that as a new nursing student you are overwhelmed. You also said you wanted some alone time or a mental vacation during lunch which is why you don't want to eat together as a group on the unit that you are assigned to for clinical time. So what are you overwhelmed and stressed about? The lack of work available ?

I am in a very accelerated nursing program, that in itself is stressful. I don't remember saying anything about it being "tough" or "overwhelming". I am the type of person that needs a little bit of alone time once in a while. And yes, I am worried about the lack of work available. I'm worried about the fact that when they shove me out there on graduation day I won't be prepared because I haven't had enough experience in clinicals. I like to feel as though I know what I'm doing (at least a little bit).

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 15, 2015

I am in a very accelerated nursing program, that in itself is stressful. I don't remember saying anything about it being "tough" or "overwhelming". I am the type of person that needs a little bit of alone time once in a while. And yes, I am worried about the lack of work available. I'm worried about the fact that when they shove me out there on graduation day I won't be prepared because I haven't had enough experience in clinicals. I like to feel as though I know what I'm doing (at least a little bit).

You did say clinicals were overwhelming...

No I'm not misunderstanding. And clinicals are overwhelming.

No one is completely prepared for the real world of nursing once they graduate. As far as alone time, you will have to get that after work & after school.

futurepsychrn, ADN · Jul 15, 2015

You did say clinicals were overwhelming...

Sorry, the conversations went on so long there's no way to remember everything. I believe that I also said they were overwhelming because I was worried about making a mistake, not because there was 1 patient.

futurepsychrn, ADN · Jul 15, 2015

I was about to respond that the OP sounds really immature. By her posts, I thought for sure she was 20 years old but immature even for that age.
She is in her 50s? Wow, just...wow.
OP has complained that she is bored out of her gourd during clinicals and can't do anything without the instructor at her elbow, then goes on to make a huge deal out of the fact that she NEEDS a break, some time to decompress. How in dog's name is she going to deal with the HUGE amount of stress which comes with being a RN with the current patient load nurses are expected to care for?
OP, there is NO escaping the floor to decompress or get a moment. You MIGHT get your lunch, but you will be expected to be close at hand to answer questions that might come up or respond to an emergency.
You have been extremely disingenuous in your later posts. You did not JUST ask a question about lunch. You waded into other issues, as you well know.
You've said you are reconsidering nursing. I think that's wise. You don't sound like a person who wants anyone telling you what to do. Nursing does not have the kind of autonomy you seem to desire. You already sound like a total grump, so I can't imagine what you will be like when the load is magnified times ten in the real world of nursing. Based on your defensiveness and irritability, I'm not sure nursing would be good for your soul.

Really? You pulled the age card?

noelly10 · Jul 15, 2015

Really? You pulled the age card?

I mean... In all honesty I thought you were in your very early 20's as well. I was surprised to see that you were in your 50's. Still not quite sure if I believe it.