Clinicals...ugghhhhh

washyourhands09 · Feb 13, 2009

Uhh yeah. Welcome to clinicals. Sorry to say, but I am about to graduate and I have never felt like I really knew what was going on at Clinicals, it's just kind of a feeling you get used too. A feeling of being lost and it stinks! But I must addmit it will get easier and that feeling will start to feel normal. The nurses I must say aren't always the friendliest and that can make the day even more difficult and frustrating. But then, I must say, you run into those nurses who are just wonderful and accepting to students. They are willing to show you things, get you new experiences and teach you new things. At the end it helps you to decide what kind of nurse you want to be. It's too bad that more nurses aren't accepting, because, as we know.. they were there once too! But good luck and hang in there! It will get easier and you will start feeling more like a nurse everyday. As for clinical instructors, I have also had some wonderful instructors and they have helped to shape me into the nurse I am today. As for the others, again, just hang in there. Sometimes I feel like nursing school is just too see how far you can be pushed!

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Washyourhands09 has described it perfectly.

miss_pitty_pat · Feb 13, 2009

We actually spent a day in the hospital's orientation for students. We learned the IV pumps and were shown the glucometer. After that we were thrown to the sharks! I definitely feel lost and confused most of the time. I just keep being told "You get out of clinicals what you put into it," but have never been told what to put into it! I just keep trying my best and wander around looking for people who want help and are helpful when I have downtime. The patient care techs have been the best resource so far.

mcknis · Feb 13, 2009

You will find that there are many PCA/PCT/CNAs who are willing to help and are an excellent resource for you. There are usually one or two nurses on the unit that are wondeful and valuable to you. When i was going through school, I had the same feeling, and so try to be just as good of a reference as I can be. Things do get easier, but you have to get through these rough times now, before you can appreciated these times later. You will be thankful that you had these experiecnes (no matter how bad) later in your nursing life.

suzy253, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Uhh yeah. Welcome to clinicals. Sorry to say, but I am about to graduate and I have never felt like I really knew what was going on at Clinicals, it's just kind of a feeling you get used too. A feeling of being lost and it stinks! But I must addmit it will get easier and that feeling will start to feel normal. The nurses I must say aren't always the friendliest and that can make the day even more difficult and frustrating. But then, I must say, you run into those nurses who are just wonderful and accepting to students. They are willing to show you things, get you new experiences and teach you new things. At the end it helps you to decide what kind of nurse you want to be. It's too bad that more nurses aren't accepting, because, as we know.. they were there once too! But good luck and hang in there! It will get easier and you will start feeling more like a nurse everyday. As for clinical instructors, I have also had some wonderful instructors and they have helped to shape me into the nurse I am today. As for the others, again, just hang in there. Sometimes I feel like nursing school is just too see how far you can be pushed!

Perhaps it's not really that the 'nurses aren't always the friendliest'. We're just extremely busy with patient loads that are ridiculous and thinking of different things, being pulled one way or another. Yes, we've all been there and I'm a fairly new grad under 3 years but wait until you see what it's like when you get on the floor and experience what RN's are going through.

Cheers

hubcapgirl · Feb 13, 2009

There is just so much to learn. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of things the semester ended. My next clinical rotation was at another facility with new fangled beds, a completely different computer system, and so on. Nothing like a fancy bed to make you look stupid in front of a patient.

My first clinical rotation was tough. Our instructor was new and thought we knew more/could do more than we did and figured us all for idiots the first day. Things do get better though, and usually the unfriendly types are just having a bad day or are crazy busy or you have to get to know them a little.

I find staying busy is the best thing you can do. And if no one will give you anything to do, find something. I spent 20 minutes once tracking down laundry bags...had to go to another floor, you'd think they'd have more around. I might not have learned a lot from the laundry bags, but it needed to be done so why not me. As nurses, we will no doubt have to do things that are technically someone elses job.

Clinicals are hard, but halfway through my second rotation I am really enjoying myself. I am lucky to be on an awesome floor, with great nurses, and a great clinical instructor. But whatever the situation, there is always an opportunity to learn, even if it's what not to do.

P.S. mnknis is exactly right about PCT/CNA... They are a great resource, don't think because they are not an RN they don't have much to share.

dnagene · Feb 13, 2009

clinicals!!!

my first clinicals was like a battle ground but at least i learned many things for the first time.

eyeball · Feb 13, 2009

Washyourhands has said it so well...totally dead-on.