Dreading clinicals

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

As long as you avoid acting like a 'know-it-all' or bringing unnecessary attention to yourself, clinicals will be a breeze. Just arrive prepared and with the desire to learn something new.

shannon5555 · Jan 10, 2006

What do you hate about it? RN or LPN program? My first clinicals were also in a LTC facility, but I don't remember hating any part of them. We were just learning to do vital signs, baths, pericare, straight caths, foley cath care, Finger stick blood sugars, etc.

Do you like geriatrics? What kind of nursing do you want to practice?

flwannaB · Jan 10, 2006

Well I certainly don't go there with a "know-it-all" attitude nor do I bring attention to myself. Quite frankly, I am not sure what your comment has to do with with my post at all. Thank you for the post none the less.

As long as you avoid acting like a 'know-it-all' or bringing unnecessary attention to yourself, clinicals will be a breeze. Just arrive prepared and with the desire to learn something new.

flwannaB · Jan 10, 2006

Although I love the elderly, I am not found of LTC. I prefer hospital or ER. One of my main issue though is that our clinical instructor is a very bitter and unhappy person and seems put out when asked questions. I would say that at least 3/4 the people in our clinicals feel the same way. The other 1/4 really could care less.

What do you hate about it? RN or LPN program? My first clinicals were also in a LTC facility, but I don't remember hating any part of them. We were just learning to do vital signs, baths, pericare, straight caths, foley cath care, Finger stick blood sugars, etc.
Do you like geriatrics? What kind of nursing do you want to practice?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

Well I certainly don't go there with a "know-it-all" attitude nor do I bring attention to myself. Quite frankly, I am not sure what your comment has to do with with my post at all. Thank you for the post none the less.

In your original post you had stated, "Someone please tell me it gets better."

Maybe I did not express my point clearly enough. I was attempting to emphasize that it does get better, and that things can be done to ensure that it keeps getting better. I apologize for any misunderstandings. :)

shannon5555 · Jan 10, 2006

That is horrible that your misery is due to a instructor with a bad attitude! I hope that you will report this! And I hope that your program will have better instructors for you in the future! That will probably determine if "it gets better" or not.

I din't care for the nursing home setting much at first. The different departments of the hospital were much more exciting! But wouldn't you know that I ended up the opposite reguarding long term vs. acute care. I didn't know it though until I tried them both! Long term care is my calling. I love the memories that I carry in my heart from the experiences I get from repeated contact with the geriatric res. in their home.... the nursing home. Acute care broke my heart due to the fact that I had to meet new people, care for them for a day or two or maybe a week or two and then they were gone forever. I enjoyed acute care during clinicals, but after working in LTC for two years and then going to the med/surg floor at the hosp. I was certain that LTC was my calling. I went back to it after only 3 months in the hospital.

MMARN, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

Aw, man. I hope I have a good experience. I hope it gets better for you. Good luck.

Saved_by_Grace · Jan 10, 2006

I'd say it will get better for you. I'm starting my 2nd semester of my LPN program tomorrow, and I absolutely HATED clinicals at first. Actually hate is an understatement. I almost quit the program because of it. But I hung in there and they most certainly got better, and I'm sure that yours will too. Good luck to you:)

smilin_gp · Jan 10, 2006

When I did my rotation in LTC, I didn't think it was a very valuable learning experience. My clinical instructor was great, but she had 8 students to help. The nurses and staff at the facility seemed to be constantly working short staffed, and weren't as helpful (though I can understand why-they were really busy) in general as the majority of hospital-based nurses that I have had since. Clinicals did get better. :Melody:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

Actually, clinicals did worsen for me during the middle of my school year. While doing a clinical rotation in a LTC facility, I tied a patient's trach tie too tightly and she became cyanotic. As a result, I was written up and watched like a hawk for several months afterward. There was talk that the former clinical teacher was attempting to fail me.

However, things did improve with the passage of time.

mandaleigh · Jan 10, 2006

:balloons: I hope things improve for you in your clinicals! Try to keep your eyes on the end 'prize'. :) Good luck!