Discouraged in Clinical

[AlmostThere19]

In my current clinical, we have honestly not done a single thing but stand at the nurse's station. Our instructor separates us into groups. One goes with the instructor and the others go to nurses on the floor. We aren't even assigned a patient. We don't get to help do assessments or help pass meds. When we ask if we can help with anything, 99% of the time it's "no, we're good". I worry because I'm in my 3rd semester and I'll be a nurse soon. I need to be learning as much hands on as I can. Any suggestions from people who have experienced a clinical like this? And is this normal?

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Woops duplicate post.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I've never heard of a clinical rotation where nothing is assigned so no, this is not normal. You should be assigned one or two patients. Hopefully this situation is just some quirk with this rotation. Even without an assigned patient to focus on you can find things to learn. Ask nurses if you can perform tasks you've been cleared on, even if you've done them before. Practice makes perfect! Worst case scenario you can always review charts. Look at orders, labs, care plans and figure out what those labs indicate, the rationale for why those order were written, how the nursing process is incorporated in the care plan. There's always something to learn.

[student_B, ADN, RN]

Take it upon yourself to find learning opportunities; they may not be obvious, but there are plenty in any hospital setting. If I find myself not immediately busy in clinical, I will ask if any other students need help (repositioning, ambulate assist, grab supplies, etc.), check for any unanswered call bells, find a piece of equipment I'm not familiar with and read instruction sheet/play with the machine, spend more time examining my patient's hx/labs/orders/charts/VS trends, or I'll look up meds or diseases that I'm not totally familiar with. Also, ask questions to anyone you encounter. I've learned a ton from nurses (obviously), MDs, surgeons, specialists, aides, techs, unit clerks, housekeeping, and maintenance workers; all have valuable insights relevant to hospital nursing.

My favorite thing about being a student in clinical is having time to converse with a patient and not only find out valuable details about their condition (origin, progression, treatments, responses) but also just having the time to really hear what they have to say is a therapeutic catharsis.

I feel bad for my clinical professors, I must be exhausting to deal with! I feel mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the clinical day, but its well worth it since we only have a very limited time in actual clinical practice.