Do your clinicals at the hosp. you want to work at?

[CNA2bRN13]

I may be getting ahead of myself, but here goes. Some schools let you choose where you want to do your clinicals. There's a hospital RIGHT across the street from my school, but I don't really want to work there one day. There's another hospital about 35 minutes from where I live that I really want to work at as a PCT part time when I get through with my first clinical set. Would you do your clinicals at the hospital across the street, or at the one you want to work, and maybe get some good references? I've heard some people say that if they make a mistake, they want it to be somewhere they don't want to work. I need to get a job as soon as I finish my first set, because I don't think I can squeeze by another year of not working...

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

absolutely

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Yes, you should choose the hospital that you would like to work for to do your clinicals. Don't worry about making mistakes...Lord knows everyone does when they are learning. Your instructors are there for a reason, and will guide you. I worked part time at the hospital where I am currently employed when I was in school, and I made some great friends. The NM offered me a position as soon as I graduated. It is a wise move on your part. Great question!

[CNA2bRN13]

Thanks!

[ACute RN]

I am going to go against the majority here... I wouldn't necessarily select clinical placements based upon where I want to work. My rationale is based upon experience... I went to a hospital-based diploma program through a health system with 2 community hospitals. I did work at one of the hospitals and they were completely different in their nursing practices. It really opens your eyes to other nursing perspectives.

[SnowStar4]

I would do a few at the place you want to work but not all. It's great to do clinicals there to network and also because you use their charting and learn how things work...good selling points during an interview. But, you don't want to pigeon hole yourself if you are unable to get a job there right away. Having a clinical or two elsewehere will give you opportunities at those hospitals as well.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

OK, to be a Debbiedowner, I'll admonish that it depends on the site.

I'd really bend the ear of nursing students that have been at those places/worked at those places and the particular floors. There is a hospital I did clinicals at as a student. I witnessed the most horrible tx of newly hired NG nurses who once were techs there by other techs and some of the nursing staff. It was horrible, and it was actual sabotage. I will not (no matter how starved I ever am) work for that hospital, it still carries the same rep.

I always say it's best to know the best and worst possibilities so that you can hope for the best, and not be stunned to a stupor by the worst.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

the pros of doing clinicals at the place you tech is that you know the system and will be able to do well in clinicals.

the cons... during clinicals and when you graduate, as someone else pointed out, the other techs may retaliate against you! also the other nurses and ancillary staff that cannot get the thought of you being a former tech out of his/her minds, may not show you much respect and may contribute to making your new grad life a living nightmare!

with that said, i would choose to do clinicals where i tech (the pros outweigh the cons in my experience). however, i would not work there as a new grad given the choice (the cons outweigh the pros in my experience). gl!

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

I did my clinicals at ALL the area hospitals. That way when it was time to find employment, I knew how each one operated and treated their employees.. That made my decision easier. I however did not have a chance to do clinicals at my local hospital that is 5 minutes from my house;so I chose to do my preceptorship there.. It was a real eye opener as to the best fit for me post graduation.

Use this time to have access to all the hospitals and find the best fit for you.. It may be the hospital miles away or it may be the one in your backyard.

[CNA2bRN13]

Never thought of it that way...Maybe they will let me change hospitals each semester??

[noelia23RN]

You reallly wont know if you want to work at certain hospital until you actually do your clinical there, sometimes this can be dissapointing, because you already have your mind set up that you want work at a particular hospital and once you get there your bummed by the treatment either toward staff or patients. Getting to know the organization is the best way to know where you really want to work, you have plenty of time for that.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

In the nursing program I went to the hospitals are assigned to us.

But the hospital I had a clinical rotation at is the one that owns the facility I currently work at now. I feel the HR interviewer did like that I had a clinical rotation and feel it got me more "in the door" for the job I have today.